Kentucky football is set to head to South Carolina for a road clash with the Gamecocks coming out its first bye of the 2025 season.
The “Across the (By)line” series gives football fans an inside look at the opposing team for that week from the mind of the opposing team’s beat reporter.
This week: The Daily Gamecock, Will Miller, South Carolina
South Carolina is coming off back-to-back losses, what do you think has gone wrong in this two-game skid?
“I think it has a lot to do with the offensive line. I just think that group hasn’t meshed together yet, against Missouri they gave up five sacks, obviously the -9 rushing yards is the big stat that jumps out, just not being able to keep (LaNoriss) Sellers Jr. clean.
“Then also defensively, once again, last year’s defense, I think after the NFL Draft, people kind of looked around and realized how stacked South Carolina was. I think they had seven players drafted, a lot of those guys are on NFL teams right now, and so it’s natural to assume that there was going to be a drop off on that side of the ball.
“But as of right now, I think South Carolina fans are a little concerned. It’s been too far of a drop off, that group has not really been what it was last year, obviously, against Missouri, gave up seven third downs, you know, just couldn’t get off the field, couldn’t stop the running game.”
Are South Carolina’s problems related to the player of Sellers Jr., or are they bigger than him entirely?
“I think it’s a little bit of that. I think what a lot of fans and what a lot of people have noticed is he’s running significantly less.
“I know (Shane) Beamer was kind of asked that in a press conference a week ago, and he flat out said he’s like, ‘we’re not calling different plays for him. I mean, it’s not like we’re saying it’s not we’re saying don’t run.’ In Sellers’ mind, I think he’s kind of focusing more on the passing game.
“Last year (he) was like, okay, if option one isn’t there, I’m taking it and I’m going to run. That’s great because he’s talented at that, and he can go get you six yards, and fight through tackles and things like that. A lot of the issues, I think, goes back to that kind of O-line.”
“So, I mean, I think that certainly letting him just be him, kind of not turning him into a pocket passer, is going to be the best thing for South Carolina, letting him run, letting him get out of the pocket, he’s the best when the play breaks down, and he can just improvise.
“I think just continuing to let him do that is going to be key for South Carolina for the rest of the season.”
Where do you see South Carolina being able to win this game?
“Stopping the run, not allowing Kentucky to get these third and shorts that allow for easy conversions, pushing them behind the sticks and kind of allow your defense to get off the field and let Sellers have as many opportunities as possible to touch the ball.
“It all starts on defense, getting third down stops, getting turnovers too. That’s been such a big thing in the Beamer era, and something he preaches is win the turnover battle.”
If you had to make a prediction, how does this game go?
“I think there’s a lot of South Carolina fans have kind of maybe thrown this season out the window.
“I think that you look at what happened against Missouri, 14 penalties, -9 rushing yards, seven third-down conversions, all that makes you sound like, oh, well, you guys lost by 30. They were in the game in the fourth quarter.
“I think that South Carolina will win the game. I’m going to go 21-14, I think it’s not going to be a super high scoring contest.
“I think it’s going to be not a high scoring contest and that, you know, defense is going to do their job, get Kentucky off the field and just put Sellers in good situations.”
