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Gamecock season preview: Tailgates, Sandstorm, and Saturdays in Columbia

A look at the 2025 Gamecock football season, including key players, biggest games, and what’s new on gameday at Williams-Brice.

Williams-Brice stadium during a day game.

Get ready to wave those white towels, Gamecock fans. | Photo by @jacobreevescreative

College football season is here, and hopes are high for the Gamecock squad that enters the season ranked No. 13 in the country. Today, we’re diving into key players, top matchups, and what’s new on gameday at Williams-Brice Stadium.

Key players on offense

LaNorris Sellers | From Heisman buzz to preseason accolades and watch lists, Sellers leads the team at QB.

Rahsul Faison | The transfer running back from Utah State was named second-team All-Mountain West Conference in 2024, rushing for 1,109 yards and eight touchdowns.

Key players on defense

Dylan Stewart | This highly touted defensive lineman can get after the quarterback and is expected to be one of the SEC’s and the nation’s top pass rushers.

Jalon Kilgore | Tied for the SEC lead in interceptions last year, the junior defensive back from Georgia already appears in 2026 NFL Draft projections.

Freshman to know

Malik Clark | The wide receiver from Rock Hill was a top 150 player in the country out of high school.

Shedrick Sarratt Jr. | Named “Gamecocks’ Newcomer of the Spring for the Offense,” the Gaffney recruit recently landed on the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award Watch List.

Top five matchups

According to ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI), these are the Gamecocks’ toughest matchups this season. USC has a 6% chance of winning the SEC and a 35.6% chance of making the playoffs.

  • Sept. 20: at Mizzou — 56.6%
  • Oct. 11: at LSU — 43.3%
  • Oct. 25: vs. Alabama — 39.8%
  • Nov. 1: at Ole Miss — 42.6%
  • Nov. 15: at Texas A&M — 43.7%

Williams-Brice updates

Fans will see several upgrades at Williams-Brice this fall. New perks include limited-edition YETI tumblers with free refills, streamlined alcohol sales, two new bookstore locations, nursing pods, and sensory-inclusive certification through KultureCity. Fan favorites like Forever Garnet Memories, Friday stadium tours, and auctions for game-day experiences are also back.

Looking to dive in deeper and learn more about each player and the history of the Gamecock football program? The 2025 media guide has you covered.

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