South-Carolina
Examining PrizePicks offensive player projections for South Carolina in Week 2 at Kentucky
South Carolina is only one day away from kicking off SEC play against a familiar conference foe. The Gamecocks will travel to Lexington to face the Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. on ABC, and the offensive player projections are out, according to PrizePicks.
This is shaping up to be a massive, early season game for both sides. The stakes are higher than ever, with each program looking to get off to a good start in conference play.
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South Carolina comes into this matchup fresh off a 23-19 win over Old Dominion in Columbia. It was a great day for the defense with four turnovers and five sacks. However, the offense could never get into a rhythm, specifically in the passing game. Though, the Gamecocks did end up rushing for 174 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
Meanwhile, Kentucky dealt with a pair of lightning delays that ultimately shut its opener down with 9:56 left in the third quarter. But the Wildcats did manage to cruise to a 31-0 win over Southern Miss. New starting quarterback Brock Vandagriff threw for 169 yards and three touchdowns in his team debut on Saturday.
Before the game gets rolling, here’s a full look at each offensive player projections for the Gamecocks from PrizePicks with some added thoughts.
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Pass Yards: 169.5
Rush Yards: 30.5
Pass+Rush Yards: 205.5
With his first college start out of the way, there’s reason to believe Sellers should be more comfortable and know what to expect. At the same time, he hasn’t made a road start before, let alone in the SEC. He had a tendency to rely on his feet to do some of the work last Saturday, rushing 22 times for 68 yards and a touchdown. If Kentucky brings pressure, this will either force him to throw more or take sacks if he looks to run. So it’s tough to say what’s the best play. If it comes down to it, I’d say to trust what he does on the ground. Even if he throws the ball more often, he’s still going to take off and run sometimes. 30.5 rushing yards feels like a good number he can surpass. There’s also just a lot of question marks at wide receiver to where it feels hard to see him having more than the listed projection in pass yards.
Rush yards: 52.5
South Carolina was so run-heavy in Week 1. How much is that going to change this weekend? Shane Beamer and Dowell Loggains have made it abundantly clear they would like to have more explosive plays in the passing game. But it’s easier said than done. It’s not like everything is going to change overnight and the offense turns into an elite passing unit. Either way, Sanders is going to get his touches. If he gets some space, he’s going to take it and run for good chunks of yards. Plus, he’s not on any sort of pitch count as he played 64 snaps last weekend. This feels like a clear more for yardage. And if you’re feeling good about Sanders, he also has a demon listing for more than 0.5 Rush+Rec TDs. If the Gamecocks get within goal line distance, he’s more likely than not going to be fed the ball.
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Receiving Yards: 22.5
In his South Carolina debut, Jacobs totaled two catches for 59 yards with a game-high long of 41. If he creates separation and has room to move, he’s going to turn a medium pass into a long gain. As mentioned earlier, Sellers still doesn’t have a true No. 1 receiver to throw to in the passing game. If he does end up throwing the ball more like his coaches want him to, he’s going to need a reliable pass catcher on the other end. Jacobs could certainly be that guy. But if the offense is more of what we saw last week with a focus on the run game, Jacobs would need some long plays to finish with more than the projection.
Receiving Yards: 26.5
Much like what I said about Jacobs, it really comes down to what South Carolina decides to do as an offense. This looks like a favorable projection if Sellers is using his arm more. But when Brown did get his opportunity to rack up big yards last time out, he dropped a 50-plus yard bomb that was right in his hands. He didn’t finish with any catches. Earlier in the week, Brown said he lost focus on that play and makes those plays “100 times in practice.” It wouldn’t take much to see him go for more than the projection. But with how limited his opportunities were in the receiving game, this might be tough to roll with.
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Kicking Points: 5.5
Because of how much South Carolina’s offense struggled against ODU, Alex Herrera was called on quite a bit. And he delivered most of the time, making three of his four field goal attempts. This game could be more of a challenge with Kentucky’s defense and the fact it’s on the road. It’s still very early in Herrera’s playing time since this is his first season as the starter. If the Gamecocks can consistently get into Wildcat territory, I would feel great about this projection. That’s really what it comes down to. But if you don’t like the idea of him kicking in a hostile environment, this might be a harder choice to make. There just isn’t enough to go off of to prove whether or not he can do it. Then again, all it takes is two chip shot field goals and you’ll be golden.
Joe Cash’s Scoundrel and Lewis Barbecue collaborate on menu items
Two-star brands offer a prime rib steak mash-up for both restaurants’ menus. Joe Cash’s Scoundrel and John Lewis’ Lewis Barbecue talk collaboration.
Residents who live in Greenville know it’s a gem that shines brightly among other top cities in the U.S.
Word about the mid-size city is spreading with CNN Travel ranking it No. 3 on its list of best towns to visit in America in 2026. The only other cities ahead of it were Sarasota, Florida at No.1 followed by New Haven, Connecticut.
And CNN had a lot to say about Greenville’s southern charm and vibrant downtown.
“Greenville’s got a Main Street that lives up to its name, at the heart of a lively downtown connected to other parts of the city by the Swamp Rabbit Trail, a 28-mile pedestrian and bike network lined with parks and local businesses,” said CNN.
Those new to the area may be enjoying all that it now has to offer, but much has changed since the 80s. Here’s how far the city has come and other aspects that make it special, according to CNN.
Greenville’s transformation ‘decades-in-the-making’
Compared to other cities, Greenville’s downtown feels safe, a description worlds away from what it once was. Russell Stall, executive director of the Greenville County Historical Society, told CNN the area currently known as Fall Parks used to be a place of prostitution and drug use. When Greenville was known as the “Textile Capital of the World,” its industrial hub for cotton mills and manufacturing were powered by the Reedy River in the late 19th and 20th centuries. As a result, dyes and chemicals polluted the river’s waters, hence the nickname the “Rainbow Reedy.” What remains of the era are a few former mill house loft apartments. In the 1990s, the city’s mills began to shutter.
Stall called downtown’s uplift “one of the most significant revitalizations in the history of the city,” referencing the Hyatt Hotel, Peace Center, music venues Coach Music Factory and The Mockingbird, and Fluor Field among key precursors of city change.
Although many positives have come with Greenville’s rise, there have been some downfalls, like the loss of the historic City Fall.
“We tore down a lot of the historic structures that we shouldn’t have,” Stall told CNN.
CNN spotlights Greenville’s sights, recreation, dining scene
Often referred to as a “city with a small town feel,” Greenville has a wealth of things to do, so don’t let the saying mislead you. Sightseeing is an activity that doesn’t cost a dime, with CNN highlighting Liberty Bridge and the Falls as two places with amazing views. The Grand Bohemian Lodge was mentioned due to its “rustic wood-and-stone aesthetic,” accessible through Reedy River’s paths.
Other things to do include riding a bike along the Swamp Rabbit Trail, visiting the Greenville Zoo, and exploring the Village of West Greenville, the city’s art district. CNN also spotlighted Michelin-starred restaurant Scoundrel and Chef Joe Cash, a Greenville native with experience in New York and Copenhagen’s restaurants scene.
“You come home and you see, you know, there’s some new restaurants, some fun things to do. Some more interesting, a little more modern, a little less steak and potatoes, a little more farm-to-table,” Cash said. “And so kind of just watching that over the years, it made sense for me to come back.”
CNN’s Top 10 best towns to visit in America 2026
- Sarasota (Florida)
- New Haven (Connecticut)
- Greenville
- Bethlehem (Pennysylvania)
- Fort Collins (Colorado)
- Burlington (Vermont)
- Juneau (Alaska)
- Iowa City (Iowa)
- Lawrence (Kansas)
- Roanoke (Virginia)
Nina Tran is the breaking news and education reporter for The Greenville News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her via email at ntran@usatodayco.com.
COLUMBIA — Coach Dawn Staley gave fans an early look at what’s to come with South Carolina women’s basketball and Nike.
The university officially switched to the brand as its uniform supplier on July 1 after 19 years with Under Armour. This move brings the chance to support A’ja Wilson, a former Gamecocks star who has had her own signature shoe with Nike since May 2025.
In the contract of the Nike agreement, it specifically stated Staley’s team would get Wilson’s shoes, including custom team colors. On July 2, Staley posted photos of the shoes.
While it’s unconfirmed as of now if they are the exact shoes the team will get and wear, the ones Staley posted are garnet, black and white “A’Twos” with Gamecocks logos. One shoe has a black top, the other with white, with matching logos and garnet detail around the base of the shoe.
The bottom of each shoe has Wilson’s logo from her Nike line, in addition to the signature Nike swoosh.
Staley captioned the post, “Why are my feet on fire? Here’s why?!! @GamecockWBB 1 of 1s but are @_ajawilson22 A’Twos!”
Wilson started with her shoes called the “A’One” and then released a second version in May called the A’Twos. South Carolina players can now wear any Nike shoes they want, but the contract specifically mentions the latest version of the A’Twos.
Staley had her own Nike signature shoe released in 1999 called the “Nike Zoom S5.”
“Having been a Nike athlete most of my life, I’m well-versed in what partnership with them means to an organization and its athletes,” Staley said in the July 1 news release. “I am excited that all of our teams at South Carolina will get to feel that, too. For our women’s basketball team, only good things have happened when we’ve partnered with A’ja Wilson, so I look forward to what’s coming next in that legacy.”
Five South Carolina athletes signed signed NIL deals as part of Nike’s new Blue Ribbon Elite NIL program, including women’s basketball stars Joyce Edwards and Chloe Kitts. Quarterback LaNorris Sellers, wide receiver Nyck Harbor and edge rusher Dylan Stewart round out the group of five Gamecocks who are part of the inaugural Blue Ribbon class for South Carolina.
Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at LKesin@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X@Lulukesin and Bluesky@bylulukesin.bsky.social
LANCASTER COUNTY, S.C. (WPDE) — Police said two people were hurt in a plane crash on Thursday morning, according to reporting from WSOC.
They said it happened near a scrap yard near West Brooklyn Avenue and Springdale Road.
Online flight records show a Beechcraft airplane owned by Pressley Aviation LLC was last seen flying near the crash site at 1 a.m.
Furthermore, the records show the plane had been flying from Laredo, Texas before heading towards the Carolinas.
WSOC reported seeing wreckage of the plane among trees near the scrap yard.
The two involved both reportedly survived the crash but were sent to hospital for burns, according to WSOC’s reporting.
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