Recap: South Carolina gets the win over SC State
The No. 10 South Carolina Gamecocks are hosting in-state opponent South Carolina State on Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium.
Kickoff for the game was scheduled for 7:02 p.m., but lightning in the area and heavy rain delayed the game more than two hours.. The game finally kicked off at 9:21 p.m.
South Carolina vs SC State score updates
1st Quarter
SC State 3, South Carolina 0: Nico Cavanillas hit a 21-yard field goal to begin the scoring as the Bulldogs have dominated the first quarter. Scoring drive: 9 plays, 54 yards, 4:07
Second Quarter
South Carolina 7, SC State 3: For the second straight game, Vicari Swain returned a punt for a touchdown. This time, it was a 65-yarder to give the Gamecocks the lead.
South Carolina 14, SC State 3: Vicari Swain returned his second punt return for a TD in the second quarter to put the Gamecocks up with 3:04 left in second quarter.
South Carolina 17, SC State 3: William Joyce kicks a 49-yard field goal as time expires in the half. Scoring drive: 9 plays, 44 yards, 1:44
Third Quarter
South Carolina 24, SC State 3: The Gamecocks score on their first drive of the second half as Oscar Adaway takes it in on a 5-yard run. Scoring drive: 8 plays, 65 yards, 3:36
South Carolina 31, SC State 3: The Gamecocks get their first defensive touchdown of the season as linebacker Jaron Willis returned a fumble 46 yards for a score.
South Carolina 38, SC State 3: The Gamecocks continue to pull away as they added another score. LaNorris Sellers found Vandrevius Jacobs on a 35-yard touchdown with 2:22 left in the third quarter. Scoring drive: 5 plays, 52 yards, 2:05
Fourth Quarter
South Carolina 38, SC State 10: With backups in the game, the Gamecocks give up their first touchdown of the year. Ryan Stubblefield found former Dutch Fork standout Nick Sowell on a 9-yard pass. Scoring drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 4:50
Gamecocks down another cornerback
South Carolina junior defensive back Jalon Kilgore wasn’t in the lineup Saturday night. He was seen on the sidelines in street clothes.
No Cocky caboose
South Carolina ditched the pregame train in favor of the old-school Cocky magic box reveal. The move was to save on time because of the late start of the game.
Game-cock chant
South Carolina women’s basketball player Raven Johnson led the crowd in the pre-game Game-cock chant. She was joined on the field by head coach Dawn Staley, assistant coach Khadijah Sessions and guard Tessa Johnson.
Sarratt, Murph to start for Gamecocks
On the pre-game show, USC play-by-play radio voice Todd Ellis said that freshman offensive lineman Shed Sarratt will likely start at left guard and receiver Donovan Murph will start for the Gamecocks. Sarratt missed last week’s game with an injury but USC coach Shane Beamer said this week he would likely have played a lot if he was healthy.
Murph, who played at nearby Irmo High School, skipped his senior season in high school and arrived at USC in the summer. He played 26 snaps last week against Virginia Tech and had his first college catch.
Also, Myles Norwood was announced as starting cornerback in place of injured Judge Collier.
Honoring USC coaches
South Carolina players came through the Gamecock Walk wearing some special digs. They were all wearing custom-made T-Shirts with their position coaches on it.
Hunter Beamer, son of USC coach Shane Beamer, was sporting a T-Shirt with his father on it.
Uniform combo
South Carolina will be wearing garnet jerseys and pants. The helmets are black with a big C Gamecock logo,
South Carolina captains
Game captains for South Carolina are running back Oscar Adaway, tight end Brady Hunt, defensive end Bryan Thomas Jr., and defensive back Peyton Williams.
Injury updates
USC coach Shane Beamer said on his weekly radio show that defensive back Judge Collier and edge rusher Jatius Geer are out this week, but are expected to return next week. Beamer also said offensive lineman Shedrick Sarratt, who missed last week, will play against S.C. State.
How much SC State earns to play the Gamecocks
South Carolina will pay S.C. State $500,000 to travel from Orangeburg to Columbia and suit up for Saturday’s game against USC at Williams-Brice Stadium.
It is the first of two “buy games” for South Carolina this season. In November, the Gamecocks will pay Coastal Carolina $1.4 million to come play in Columbia. It’s also the first of two games S.C. State will play against an FBS opponent. The Bulldogs will play the University of South Florida on Sept. 20.
South Carolina vs. SC State betting odds
ESPN Bet lists the Gamecocks as a 43.5 point favorite. The Gamecocks have a 99% chance of winning the game, according to ESPN’s Analytics. That’s par for the course considering this is a matchup between an SEC school ranked No. 10 in the country and an FCS school.
Watch the Gamecocks play today
Who: No. 10 South Carolina vs S.C. State
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, SC
TV: Streaming only via SEC Network Plus and ESPN+
Broadcast crew: Kevin Fitzgerald, Charles Arbuckle and Ashley Stroehlein
Local radio: 107.5 FM in the Columbia area. See affiliates here. (Todd Ellis, Tommy Suggs, Chet Tucker)
Satellite radio: SiriusXM Channel 146 or 201
Series history: South Carolina leads 3-0 (last game played in 2022).
This story was originally published September 6, 2025 at 5:32 PM.
