Shane Beamer asked about potential changes after latest USC loss. Here’s what he said
South Carolina returned home to Williams-Brice Stadium looking to bounce back against No. 14 Oklahoma after a loss to LSU in Baton Rouge. Instead, USC put on one of its poorest performances of the season.
The Gamecocks fell to the Sooners, 26-7, as boos and chants of “Fire Shula” rained down from the home crowd — with criticism coming in toward USC offensive coordinator Mike Shula.
Here’s what Gamecocks coach Shane Beamer had to say about potential changes and more after the game:
Potential changes?
Beamer was asked if additional changes were needed on offense with a 3-4 record (1-4 in the SEC) seven weeks into the season. He immediately pushed back against the idea and shut down any follow-up questions.
“I made a change. I made a change last week,” Beamer said. “Every week we’re looking at how look at how to be better, and every week I do that, and every week I will continue to do that and continue to evaluate that.”
The change Beamer was referring to was the firing of offensive line coach Lonnie Teasley after USC’s 20-11 loss to LSU and a season where the Gamecocks struggled with pre-snap penalties and various issues with the offensive line. The Gamecocks committed just one false start penalty against Oklahoma.
The reporter who asked about changes clarified that he was referring to play-calling. South Carolina scored seven points for the second time in 2025 and had a season-low 224 yards.
Beamer was then asked what gives him hope that things could get better.
“What gives me hope? I see the way we practice during the week. What gives me hope? I see the number of guys that we had out today that I wasn’t sure was going to be able to play, that fought their asses off to get back out there and get healthy and be able to play today. What gives me hope? I know the talent we have on our offense.”
“What I just told our team, we’re not playing up to our potential right now. We’re not. I’m not. I am not getting the most out of this team right now, offensively, defensively and special teams.”
Injury report
Dylan Stewart, who’s arguably USC’s most talented defensive player, left the game twice in the first half because of injury and didn’t return after the second injury. Beamer didn’t have much of an update on his status postgame.
“Got a hip both times. Thought he could go. He went back in the second time, and I guess got hit on it again,” he said. “I don’t have much of an update, other than just hip injury.”
Beamer said there were a handful of Gamecocks who weren’t 100% guaranteed to play Saturday, including Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy, Brandon Cisse, Monkell Goodwine and Markee Anderson, but all ended up being available. Vicari Swain had surgery Wednesday night on a midweek practice injury.
“Vicari Swain breaks his finger in practice on Wednesday and has to have surgery on Wednesday night and is out there catching punts today,” Beamer said.
Sellers under pressure
Sellers had a lackluster day overall, finishing 17-for-25 for 124 yards and a touchdown. He struggled mainly due to being under pressure for most of the game. He was sacked six times for minus-53 yards and had 14 rushes for minus-9 yards.
The team needs to continue to put Sellers in better situations to see the quarterback perform at his potential, Beamer said.
“We’ve got to continue to help him. We’ve got to be able to continue to run the ball, we’ve got to be able to move the pocket. We tried to some today. They do a good job defensively,” he said. “None of us were good enough. And he, statistically, made some nice runs and did a nice job throwing the ball.”
Offensive issues
USC’s offense finished with 226 yards, but had only gained 167 yards up until the final drive with Cutter Woods under center. The Gamecocks also went 3-for-15 on third downs against a Sooners defense that ranked first in the SEC for least points and yards allowed per game.
“I looked up one time, I think we were 0-for-10. That’s not ideal to say the least, particularly with our depth on defense and being down guys,” Beamer said. “We knew this was gonna be an ugly game in a lot of way. Nobody scored points on these guys. ... You’ve got to be able to sustain drives and stay on the field, and we weren’t able to do that. And disappointing too, on some of the short-yardage where we weren’t able to finish drives and convert in short-yardage situations.”
One of the biggest examples of short-yardage struggles came on USC’s opening drive. The Gamecocks got down to the goal line before running for three straight plays without a score. Beamer chose to go for it on a fourth down where LaNorris Sellers felt immediate pressure in the pistol, tried to scramble for a touchdown and fell short.
“I told Mike on first down, ‘You’ve got four downs to get this,’’’ Beamer said. “I knew I was going to go for it on fourth down regardless. One, I wanted a touchdown. Felt like we were down there, had a nice drive going and I wanted to make a statement about that. Two, went for it knowing that if we don’t get it, they’re backed up.”
Looking ahead
Next week, South Carolina will host the current No. 6 team in the country, the Alabama Crimson Tide. Beamer said he still has high expectations for his team through the end of the year.
“What’s the goal for this season? What’s a successful season? To get this most out of this team. And right now, I’m not getting the most out of this team as the head football coach,” Beamer said. “It’s back to work tomorrow to continue to see if we can maximize the ability and potential of this year’s team.”
“I see the way our guys are competing. I see the way our guys are working. We’ve got to get healthy. Give Oklahoma credit. They kicked our butts, but the injuries that we had today was tough to begin with, down some guys, and then to have guys go out in the game, and our guys continue to fight, I got to be able to do more to help them, as the head coach, and we as coaches got to continue to do more to help them, but we’ve got the right culture in our building, and that’s what gives me hope.”
This story was originally published October 18, 2025 at 5:01 PM.
