South-Carolina
A Desperate South Carolina Program Returns to Oklahoma in 2026
Sooners On SI will break down Oklahoma’s 2026 schedule, opponent by opponent, for a series dubbed “Know Your Foe.” You can look forward to an opponent breakdown each day. Catch up by checking out the preview for the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
Former Oklahoma assistant coach Shane Beamer finds himself on shaky ground heading into 2026. This is a make-or-break year for Beamer, whose South Carolina squad retained a great deal of talent while also adding some exciting names.
For Beamer, it could very well come down to how his team performs in his second game in Norman as an opposing head coach.
How the Sooners enter their third consecutive matchup with the Gamecocks could very well tell us how the rest of the 2026 season is going to go. South Carolina is banking on experience to extend Beamer’s future.
How will the Sooners fare against the Gamecocks? But first, some history.
Past Battles
South Carolina has been sort of a spotlight game for Oklahoma in their initial two seasons in the SEC.
In 2024, following their second loss of the season, the Sooners returned to Norman with their sights set on rebounding with a win to set up a strong finish. Those hopes were dashed immediately when the Gamecocks scored 21 points in the blink of an eye, leading to a comfortable victory. OU’s season would not rebound.
2025 saw the Sooners in a similar spot. After losing their first game of the season to Texas, OU traveled to Columbia for the first time ever hoping to rebound. They didjust that—setting them up to have an opportunity for a strong finish.
Returning Starters
The dynamic LaNorris Sellers returned to Columbia despite rumors speculating that he may try and find greener pastures elsewhere. This was more than good news for Beamer. Sellers’ big play ability keeps defensive coordinators up at night.
Wide receiver Nyck Harbor followed suit by returning to South Carolina as well. Harbor gives Sellers and the USC offense a gamebreaking factor that pairs well with Sellers’ capabilities. Last year, Harbor scored six touchdowns and had three games of 100 or more yards receiving.
Edge rusher Dylan Stewart—who OU was able to avoid last year following a hip injury sustained early in the first quarter—also announced he would return for a final season of college ball. At 6-6, 250 pounds, Stewart projects as one of the more talented defensive players in the country.
New Faces
With 25 new players via the transfer portal, Beamer left no stone unturned to try and right the wrongs of 2025.
After sitting out the last two seasons due to injuries and some legal trouble, Jayden Gibson landed in Columbia to attempt to revive his career. When he was healthy in 2023, Gibson proved to be a valuable pass catcher with his size and hands.
Big 6-5 tight end Max Drag chose to play for the Gamecocks following a career jumping from Appalachin State to UCF. Drag was primarily used as a blocker, which bodes well for USC’s QB-run oriented attack.
Linebacker Kelby Collins came in from Alabama. In a rotational role, Collins earned two sacks and three tackles for loss last year. Oklahoma saw Collins twice in 2025.
Key Departures
Edge rusher Byrant Thomas Jr. entered the draft, taking away USC’s one-two punch at defensive end. Thomas’ blend of size and speed made him a force on the defensive line for South Carolina.
Big play pass catcher Vandrevious Jacobs took his 17 yards per catch talents to South Beach to play for the Miami Hurricanes.
Tight end Michael Smith was on his way to a promising start of his Gamecock career following a solid true freshman outing in 2024, but was limited last season due to injuries.
Schedule Placement
For OU, the back half of their schedule begins after hosting USC. With two tough home games bookended by two tough road games, Oklahoma’s matchup with the Gamecocks could prove pivotal for how the rest of the season goes.
If the Sooners navigated their initial brutal three games of Michigan, Georgia and Texas well, then by the time they’ve made it to late October, the Gamecocks should only serve to provide Oklahoma as a final open-book test sort of matchup.
But if OU goes 1-2 or worse in those initial three games, then the Sooners may be fighting for their season’s very life hosting the Gamecocks.
USC finds OU on the crucible section of their schedule. The Gamecocks travel to Knoxville the week before Norman, only to then play Texas A&M, Arkansas, Georgia and Clemson.
South-Carolina
South Carolina store owner found not guilty of murder in fatal shooting of Black teen
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WACH) — Chikei Rick Chow has been found not guilty by a South Carolina jury on murder charges in the shooting death of a Black 14-year-old in Columbia.
Chow was charged in the May 28, 2023, shooting death of Cyrus Carmack-Belton outside Chow’s Shell gas station on Parklane Road.
Carmack-Belton ran from the store while being chased by Chow and his son, according to prosecutors.
Authorities said the pair pursued the teen after accusing him of stealing four bottles of water from the store.
Chow shot Carmack-Belton once in the back after his son claimed the teen had a gun. He was arrested the following day.
In November 2025, a judge denied Rick Chow immunity under South Carolina’s Stand Your Ground law and also denied bond, ruling the 60-year-old store owner was a danger to the community and a flight risk.
The ruling came after prosecutors presented surveillance video and photos in court showing Carmack-Belton running from the store. Authorities said the allegation of theft was not supported by surveillance video.
Chow has served three years in prison.
The unanimous decision came Monday evening after eight hours of deliberation.
South Carolina sees early voting records in opening two days
Record early voting in South Carolina: 56,000 (May 26), 34,000 (May 27). Early voting ends June 5; primary is June 9.
Voters in Anderson County will decide four contested South Carolina House primary races this June as incumbents face challengers on issues ranging from taxes and government spending to immigration, education, and public safety.
For the 2026 primaries, there are four contested races in Anderson County.
Candidate filing for the 2026 election cycle closed in March, officially setting the stage for the June primaries and November general election.
Polls opened for early voting on May 26, and election day will be on Tuesday, June 9. For residents looking to find where to vote, scvotes.org lists precinct locations.
State House District 6
April Cromer
Age: 49
Family: Cromer has a husband, Brent Cromer, and two children
Experience: She has been the incumbent since being elected on Nov.14, 2022. Outside of that, she’s an internal operations auditor for her family’s business, Cromer Food Services.
Top issue: She said the state government has a spending problem, not a revenue problem, and argued lawmakers should focus on reducing inefficiencies before considering any tax increases.
“As a businesswoman who has helped run a company of more than 100 employees, I know that throwing money at broken systems never works. Rather than raising your taxes, yet again, increase our state budget, I’ll work to bring down costs and make our government more efficient by slashing wasteful spending,” Cromer said.
Kyle White
Age: 41
Family: Kyle is married to his wife, Ashlea, and they have a daughter and a son.
Experience: White is currently an attorney. He works at the White, Davis, and White Law Firm in Anderson.
Top issue: White said he supports conservative policies focused on gun rights, lower taxes, stricter immigration enforcement, and support for law enforcement, veterans, and small businesses. He also pledged to improve infrastructure and public education, expand school choice, protect natural resources and property rights, and push for government reform and accountability in Columbia.
“I will hold all branches accountable to ensure they work for us, not themselves or any special interest group. I am not a politician, and I have spent most of my career holding the government accountable in our courts, and I will take that experience to Columbia,” White said.
District 8
Sherry Hodges
Age: 70
Family: Sherry is married to Scott Hodges, and the pair has several children and grandchildren.
Experience: Hodges serves as vice-chair of the Anderson County Foster Care Review Board and an executive committee member of the Anderson County Republican Party. She served as chair of the Coalition Against the Anderson County Sales Tax Referendum.
Top issue: Hodges presents a platform focused on limited government, lower taxes, fiscal restraint, and redirecting state spending toward infrastructure, roads, and core services while opposing what she describes as wasteful government spending and tax increases.
She also emphasizes positions on a range of social and constitutional issues, including abortion, education and parental rights, gun rights, election integrity, immigration enforcement, and medical freedom, while advocating for stronger support for families, law enforcement, and small businesses.
Don Chapman
Age: 60
Family: Chapman is married to his wife, Amy.
Experience: Chapman is the incumbent in District 8 and was sworn in on Nov. 14, 2022. Chapman owns anarchitectural firm, Chapman Design Group, based in Anderson. He was formerly on the Anderson City Council from 2008 to 2021.
Top issue: Chapman points to efforts to strengthen public safety, secure the border, support education and school funding, protect life, and pass laws to safeguard children and expand parental and constitutional rights.
“Serving my hometown of Anderson County has been the honor of my life, and I’m grateful for the trust you’ve placed in me. I remain committed to fighting for our conservative values and the families of District 8,” Chapman said.
Patrick Orr
Age: 53
Family: Orr has one daughter
Experience: Orr served in the U.S. Navy and currently works as the vice president of information security in Anderson.
Top issue: Orr has cited his commitment to budget transparency, ending state income taxes on active-duty military, and judicial accountability.
“My background has reinforced the importance of transparency, discipline, and practical decision-making. I believe South Carolina deserves leaders who understand real-world challenges, respect taxpayers, and focus on solutions that work. I am running to bring experience, accountability, and steady leadership to the State House,” Orr said.
District 10
Thomas Beach
Age: 51
Family: Beach is married to Glair DaSilva, and they have three children.
Experience: Beach is the incumbent and is a former U.S. Army Ranger. He is currently a licensed realtor. He was elected on Nov. 8, 2022.
Top issue: Beach listed his goals as limiting government power, enforcing immigration laws, protecting taxpayer dollars, and opposing corporate subsidies and government waste, while emphasizing transparency and fiscal accountability. He also highlighted his support for stricter immigration enforcement, pro-life legislation, child protection policies, and Second Amendment rights, including the passage of Constitutional Carry in South Carolina.
“I am a principled constitutional conservative. I have and will continue to base all of my legislative activity on the enumerated rights laid out in the Declaration and the Constitution,” Beach said.
Stewart Watson
Age: 48
Family: N/A
Experience: Watson is a former professor at Mississippi State and Miami University Ohio. He’s now the owner of Antonio Pasta and Pizzeria in Powdersville.
Top issue: Watson said he’s looking to bring transparency, fight for abortion legislation, improve road infrastructure, and fight against undocumented immigration.
“I was raised to prioritize kindness, integrity, and being present for others when it matters most. It is now my desire to bring those same principles to Columbia by representing every resident of this district with dedication and honor,” Watson said.
District 11
Craig Gagnon
Age: 65
Family: He has two children, Leah Gagnon Crumley and Anna Gagnon Smith.
Experience: Gagnon was first elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 2012. He operates the Abbeville Chiropractic Center.
Top issues: He’s highlighted improving S.C. roads, increasing state education funding, and boosting the economy through job creation.
“I believe our area is very special and our workers can compete with any workers anywhere. We deserve the chance to show it. I have and will continue to work to help our district grow through bringing more economic opportunity here,” Gagnon said.
Jesse Turner
Age: 30
Family: N/A
Experience: After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, Turner owns and operates Abduction Dispensary, a vape and hemp store in Anderson.
Top issue: He cited state-level corruption, the need for accountability, and the end of property taxes as reasons for his decision to run.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) — Voter turnout is surging across South Carolina as the primary approaches, with more than 100,000 voters already casting their ballots early.
Election officials say participation is on track to be especially strong this year, with more voters expected before the week is over.
South Carolinians have already cast nearly 30% of the total number of primary ballots that were cast in 2024, and early voting isn’t over yet.
The South Carolina State Election Commission says voters cast more than 151,000 ballots last week. In the first week of 2024 early voting, voters cast 120,000 ballots.
Across the entire 2024 primary season, including runoffs, voters cast 527,000 ballots total. Nearly 3.4 million South Carolinians are registered to vote.
Early voting runs from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. through the end of this week. There is no early voting on Monday, June 8, and primary day is Tuesday, June 9. Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.
Elections Director Conway Belangia said the numbers should only continue to grow.
“We always feel that as we get closer to that last day of voting early that our numbers will increase,” Belangia said. “If that happens then again we’re looking at just phenomenal numbers.”
Richland, Charleston and Greenville counties are leading the state in voter turnout.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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