Gamecocks Host Vanderbilt Saturday Night
A complete version of the official South Carolina game notes for Saturday’s game versus Vanderbilt can be found here.
QUICKLY: The No. 11/10 South Carolina Gamecocks (2-0, 0-0 SEC) open the conference portion of the 2025 football season when they host the RV/RV Vanderbilt Commodores (2-0, 0-0 SEC) at Williams-Brice Stadium (77,559) in Columbia, S.C. on Saturday, Sept. 13. Game time is set for 7:45 pm.
OVER THE AIRWAVES: The Gamecocks’ 2025 SEC opener will be televised on SEC Network with Tom Hart handling the play-by-play and former Commodore QB Jordan Rodgers providing the color commentary. Cole Cubelic will work the sidelines. Elite Media Radio has the national radio broadcast with Mike Morgan describing the action and Chuck Oliver providing the analysis. The Gamecock Sports Radio Network features a pair of Gamecock Hall of Fame quarterbacks in play-by-play voice Todd Ellis (34th season) and analyst Tommy Suggs (53rd season). Chet Tucker returns for his third year as the sideline reporter.
BEST IN STATE: After a 2:19 weather delay, the Gamecocks used three non-offensive touchdowns in disposing of FCS in-state rival South Carolina State last Saturday night in Columbia by a 38-10 score. For the second-straight week, Vicari Swain was the difference maker, returning punts of 65- and 42-yards for touchdowns in the second quarter to break the game open. Jaron Willis added a 46-yard fumble return for a score. The Carolina offense was held in check for much of the game, but LaNorris Sellers connected on a 35-yard TD pass to Vandrevius Jacobs to highlight the attack. The Gamecock defense was stout for a second-straight week, limiting the Bulldogs to just 270 total yards including 62 on the ground.
FOR OPENERS: The Gamecocks opened the 2025 season at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Sunday, Aug. 31, and came away with a hard-fought 24-11 win over ACC opponent Virginia Tech. Linebacker Fred Johnson (game-high 10 tackles, 1 INT) and punt returner Vicari Swain (80-yard TD return) earned SEC Player of the Week accolades while leading the Gamecocks to victory. Quarterback LaNorris Sellers completed 12-of-19 passes for 209 yards and a touchdown and added 25 yards rushing and another score.
LOOKING TO START 3-0: The Gamecocks are looking to start the season with three-consecutive wins for the first time since the 2012 season when they rolled up six-straight victories to open the season, climbing to No. 3 in the national polls. That season they opened with a win at Vanderbilt, then reeled off consecutive wins over East Carolina, UAB, Missouri, Kentucky and Georgia before losing at No. 9 LSU.
YES THEY CALL IT THE STREAK: The Gamecocks have posted eight-consecutive regular season wins. They finished the 2024 season with six-straight victories, defeating Oklahoma, No. 10 Texas A&M, No. 24 Vanderbilt, No. 24 Missouri, Wofford, and No. 12 Clemson before beginning the 2025 slate with wins over Virginia Tech and South Carolina State.
I AM SIXTEEN GOING ON SEVENTEEN: The Gamecocks have won each of the last 16 games against Vanderbilt and 23 of the last 25 meetings between these two SEC rivals. Of the Division I FBS opponents against whom the Gamecocks have at least 10 all-time meetings, Carolina has its best winning percentage against Vanderbilt at .882, winning 30 of the 34 contests.
