The nation will have eyes on South Carolina vs. LSU in Week 3, having been the choice for ESPN College GameDay to host after the Gamecocks dominated Kentucky 31-6 on the road last weekend.

Despite winning the SEC opener in impressive fashion, South Carolina is still an underdog to the Tigers on their home turf. With the odds stacked against them, College GameDay host Kirk Herbstreit believes South Carolina’s efforts on Saturday begins with the fans in the stands.

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“That’s the key,” Herbstreit said, motioning to the crowd piled around the ESPN College GameDay set. “They’ve got to be able to have their defense playing with their hair on fire, and they’ve got to win special teams. But Shane beamer is known for it, it’s got to be that kind of game for South Carolina where they play complimentary football. They get turnovers, they get a short field.

“They run the football with Rocket Sanders. Their quarterback plays smart, but it is going to start with their defense.”

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South Carolina didn’t have have the full force of Williams-Brice Stadium backing their abilities against Kentucky in Week 2. They were still able to controll the game in every phase, particularly in the second half.

Sanders took 13 carries for 54 yards and a touchdown during the contest, while quarterback LaNorris Sellers threw his first two touchdown passes of the season.

Defensively, it was the defensive line that made the game so lopsided. True freshman EDGE Dylan Stewart led the way, forcing the Wildcats to call 18-straight run plays due to the fact quarterback Brock Vandagriff had no time to breathe in the pocket. The unit finished with five sacks on the day.

“In the SEC, the defensive linemen, they can be game changers,” Herbsreit continued. “They’ve got eight guys they rotate trying to stay fresh. Allow this defense to do what they do, make it tough on Garrett Nussmeier and this LSU offense. You’re asking me how they win the game? That’s what they have to do, is take advantage of being right here in Columbia, South Carolina.”

The Gamecocks escaped their home opener in Week 1 with a 23-19 win against Old Dominion, but Herbstreit’s fellow College GameDay host, Nick Saban, said that South Carolina is the most improved team from Week 1 to Week 2.

How they’ll fare against their stiffest competition yet in the LSU Tigers remains to be seen. Kickoff is set for Noon ET live on ABC.

With College GameDay descending upon Williams-Brice Stadium for the highly anticipated matchup between South Carolina and No. 16 LSU, the recruiting spotlight is brighter than ever. Here’s a look at the recruits visiting for this big weekend:

Class of 2025:

Four-Star Recruits:

OT Shedrick Sarratt Jr. *
WR Brian Rowe *

TE Mikkel Skinner
LB Jaquel Holman *
EDGE Jaquavious Dodd *
EDGE Caleb Williams *
OT Damola Ajidahun (Georgia Tech commit)

Three-Star Recruits:

DB Christopher Hatfield *
DB Damarcus Leach *
WR Jayden Sellers *
QB Cutter Woods *
EDGE Anthony Addison *
EDGE Kobby Sakyi-Prah *
EDGE Taeshawn Alston *
WR Jackson Repp

Class of 2026:

Four-Star Recruits:

RB Carsyn Baker
RB Jaylen McGill
WR Jordon Gidron
WR Donovan Murph
WR Ryan Mosley
WR Gordon Sellars
WR Brody Keefe
TE Xavier Tiller
TE Jamel Howse
IOL Darius Gray
IOL Zykie Helton
IOL Pierre Dean
OT Zyon Guiles
OT Malcolm Gaston
DL Deuce Geralds
DL Rodney Dunham
DL Katrell Webb
LB Rodney Colton Jr. *
LB Keenan Britt *
CB Samari Matthews
CB Chaston Smith

Three-Star Recruits:

WR Tyran Evans
IOL Desmond Green
IOL Anthony Baxter *
WR Jude Hall

Class of 2027:

QB Mason Holtzclaw
WR Amare Patterson
TE Grant Haviland
OL Timothy Harvey
EDGE Jaiden Bryant
CB Joshua Dobson (Four-star)
DB Brennan Drummond

Class of 2028:

RB TJ Williamson

This impressive lineup includes several committed players, marked with an asterisk, and a host of top-tier uncommitted prospects. With College GameDay’s presence and a game against a top-ranked opponent, it’s an exceptional opportunity for South Carolina to showcase its program and make a lasting impression on these young talents.

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By PETE IACOBELLI
Associated Press

COLUMBIA – South Carolina is off to a fast start fueled by first-time starters in quarterback LaNorris Sellers and edge rusher Dylan Stewart. LSU coach Brian Kelly has noticed and knows his 16th-ranked Tigers have, too.

The Tigers (1-1) open Southeastern Conference play Saturday against first-place South Carolina (2-0, 1-0), whose 31-6 win at Kentucky last week is the only SEC game played so far. Kelly was impressed early by Sellers and Stewart.

Kelly sees a physical player in Sellers – he compared him to ex-Florida quarterback and first-round NFL draft pick Anthony Richardson – who uses his 6-foot-3 frame to make plays through the air and on the ground.

“He has a cannon for an arm and can throw it 65 or 70 yards,” Kelly said. “He just reminds you of that physical presence, but he is a new starter.”

Stewart is a 6-6, 248-pound true freshman who has gained a starting spot with his speed and ability to get into the backfield. He has 2.5 sacks and forced a pair of fumbles his first two games.

“Stewart is a pure pass rusher. That doesn’t mean he can’t defend the run,” Kelly said. “He is a guy who they want in there to get after the quarterback.”

Kelly has some significant counters to the Gamecocks’ young talent.

Garrett Nussmeier, LSU’s quarterback, has had 300-plus yards in each of the first two games and leads the SEC with eight touchdown passes. The Tigers offensive line features experienced tackles in Will Campbell and Emory Jones Jr., who are both considered high NFL draft prospects next spring.

South Carolina coach Shane Beamer said LSU’s offensive line will present a big challenge.

“There’s a reason why they’re going to be high draft picks,” Beamer said. “But like I told our players, that’s life in the SEC.”

GUILLORY OUT FOR SEASON

LSU defensive line lost tackle Jacobian Guillory to a season-ending Achilles tendon injury in last week’s win over Nicholls State. Junior college transfer Shone Washington got the bulk of the work after Guillory went down, but Kelly said he may go with other options including adding a faster, end-type to the line to spark the pass rush.

LSU RUNNING BACKS

The Tigers have had to scramble after expected tailback starter John Emery Jr. sustained a season-ending injury at practice. Safety Ju’Juan Johnson was moved to running back to add some depth. Through two games, LSU has run for 181 yards and has no rushing TDs.

GETTING HIS KICKS

South Carolina punter Kai Kroeger can’t wait for the weekend, not only because of the chance to play LSU but because former NFL punter and ESPN personality Pat McAfee will be on hand. “I’d love to meet him, if he’s around,” said Kroeger, who was named the SEC special teams player of the week for his effort in a 31-6 victory at Kentucky last week.

LONG TIME BETWEEN VISITS

LSU and South Carolina have played three times since 2008, all in Baton Rouge. The teams were scheduled to play in South Carolina in 2015, but that game was moved to LSU because of severe flooding from a storm.

REMEMBERING 2008

The LSU-South Carolina game here 16 years ago included an unusual sidelight as official Wilbur Hackett Jr. appeared to step into Gamecocks quarterback Stephen Garcia for a tackle not far from the end zone. The Gamecocks scored three plays later before faltering in a 24-17 defeat. South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier and the SEC said Hackett, a former linebacker at Kentucky, was in proper position and did nothing improper. LSU coach Les Miles, with a smile on his face, took a different tack. Miles joked that Hackett needed some coaching. “He didn’t wrap up,” he said.