dpThe other team is the Florida Gators.
Don’t let the “HC” on the schedule fool you. This is a homecoming game in name only. For that matter, don’t let South Carolina’s winless mark in the SEC fool you, either.
When the 16th-ranked Gators (4-1, 2-1) square up against the Gamecocks (2-3, 0-3) Saturday afternoon at Spurrier/Florida Field they’ll be facing a very dangerous opponent that has contributed mightily to its early season woes with turnovers and penalties.
The biggest difference between the two teams, though, is that UF, with its laundry lists of defensive woes after last week’s decisive 45-17 loss at Missouri, has a first-season coach in Jon Sumrall, who was brought to fix the program.
[Read senior writer Scott Carter‘s comprehensive “Opening Kickoff” setup here]
USC is in the sixth season under under-fire Coach Shane Beamer, who was beaten 35-34 by visiting Kentucky on a two-point conversion in overtime last weekend.
These are two programs trending in different directions, but with a lot in common now.
The Gators assumed the early season as college football’s shiny, new thing in rolling to four wins, including blowout win over third-ranked Ole Miss. That was two weeks ago. The lopsided loss at Missouri, where the Tigers blew open a 10-10 game with 35 consecutive points, brought UF back to earth, what with Mizzou finishing with 560 yards of offense, including 220 on the ground, and stonewalling tailback Jadan Baugh’s Heisman Trophy hype by holding him to 13 yards on 12 carries.
Where Florida sat in the top three in scoring, total offense and rushing last week, UF fell back to 46.2 points (fifth nationally), 491.2 yards per game (12th), including 216.4 on the ground (25th). Without his ground game, quarterback Aaron Philo (69.4%, 1,114 yards, 8 TDs, 2 INT) was under pressure all afternoon. He was also without wide receiver Vernell Brown III (knee), but the sophomore playmaker could be available.
They’ll need Brown, but they’ll also need to get Baugh (613 yards, 11 TD), backup running back Duke Clark (260 yards, 3 TD) and the running game going.
Defensively, the Gamecocks rate 55th in the country (331.6 ypg), but 101st in scoring (26.8 ppg). Their wildly talented (and mercurial) defensive end Dylan Stewart, a projected top-10 NFL draft pick who’s been suspended last week after multiple incidents in the team’s loss against Alabama, returned to practice this week and could be back on the field. USC has an outstanding run defense, allowing just 100.4 yards an outing (29th).
On offense, South Carolina is at 491.0 yards per game, fueled by duel-threat quarterback LaNorris Sellers (60.5%, 1,059 yards, 8 TDs and 4 INT, plus 391 yards, 1 TD rushing). Sellers is 6-foot-3 and nearly 240 pounds. Last week, he passed for 226 yards and rushed for 147. In the open field, he is a challenge to bring to the ground. Roll tailback Matt Fuller (433 yards, 5 TD) into the equation and the Gamecocks boast the No. 1 run game in the SEC (seventh best in the country). Wideout Nyck Harbor (13 catches, 195 yards, 1 TD), who goes 6-5, 240 pounds and will be in the NFL next season, figures to the latest test for a UF secondary that was bombed for 340 yards and two long touchdowns just seven days ago.
South Carolina has lost eight consecutive conference games dating to last season. The Gamecocks held leads in the last five, including a 17-0 first-half advantage in the loss last week.
Do we have your attention?
Better yet, do the Gamecocks have the Gators attention? They’d better.
Broadcast coverage starts at 12:45 p.m. on SEC Network, with the crew of Taylor Zarzour on play-by-play, Matt Stinchcomb providing analysis and Tori Petry reporting from the sidelines. The Gators Sports Network broadcast will air with pregame coverage beginning at 9:30 a.m. and eventually give way to Sean Kelly, Shane Matthews and Tate Casey on the call. For GSN stations, click here.
Replays will air on Sunday at 4 a.m. and again Thursday at 10 a.m. on the SEC Network.
Follow senior writer Scott Carter (@GatorsScott) for commentary and analysis throughout the game. FloridaGators.com will have complete post-game coverage late Saturday night and follow-up content Sunday as well.
Email senior writer Chris Harry at [email protected]. Find his story archives here.
