THUMBS UP

Walking on the team over the summer

Garrett Chisolm started and played throughout at left guard. Tailback Bryce Sherman saw his first significant action, returning three kicks for 69 yards and catching a 48-yard pass on the final drive.

Defensive tackles

Reserve Melvin Ingram had a shoulder-rattling tackle behind the line. Nathan Pepper had a 10-yard sack. Ladi Ajiboye had five tackles.

THUMBS DOWN

The offense

South Carolina managed 16 points and 380 yards against an Arkansas defense that had been averaging 27.4 points allowed and 410.6 yards per game.

Clock management

The Gamecocks used two timeouts before the same play in the first quarter, and had a delay-of-game penalty a few plays later.

Arkansas' fake punt

The decision to try a fake punt from its own territory in the first half had little justification. The Razorbacks were ahead 7-3, and there was no reason to risk giving the Gamecocks a short field - which happened.

- Seth Emerson