All set to be one of the hot teams coming off a great 2024, South Carolina hit the field against a bad Virginia Tech to start the 2025 season and … blah.
It won 24-11, but it was way too much of a fight. The win over South Carolina State wasn't any better, and then the losing started and didn't seem to stop in a 4-8 run.
New year, new attitude, lots of new players – at least on offense – for a team with the talent to be what everyone thought it would be last year.
Kent State might be in this to collect a paycheck, but head coach Mark Carney has the program on the upswing with a strong – remember, the Golden Flashes aren't used to winning – 5-7 run.
South Carolina star quarterback LaNorris Sellers has elite NFL tools, but he's been forgotten about with all the top pro prospects coming into the season. This needs to be the game when that starts to change.
Kent State beat Merrimack to start last season. It hasn't beaten a power conference team to start a season since a shocking 23-14 win over Iowa State in 2007.
South Carolina hasn't lost to a team outside of the power conferences since a 20-15 loss to App State in 2019.
Date:Saturday, September 5, 2026
Game Time:12:45 pm ET
TV:SEC Network
Location:Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, SC
– CFN Week 1 Schedule, Predictions
South Carolina has dealt with a slew of injuries this offseason. The wide receiver depth took a hit, top pass rusher Dylan Stewart is likely out, and star offensive tackle transfer Jacarrius Peak from NC State is trying to get back from a knee injury suffered while playing basketball this offseason.
The Gamecocks might want to get off to a big start, but with the injuries coming into this, and then Towson next week before starting the SEC season against Mississippi State, they might be a bit cautious overall.
– Kent State 2026 Preview
Kent State has a few nice parts – like quarterback Dru DeShields and all-around playmaker Da'Realyst Clark – but the offensive line is being reworked, and there won't be enough of a pass rush to bother Sellers.
As long as the Gamecocks don't start turning the ball over, the offense should control the game from the start by powering away with the ground game. They went 4-2 last season when running for at least 115 yards.
– South Carolina 2026 Preview
Kent State will get run over for well over 200 yards and won't be able to keep up the pace.
The Golden Flashes will come up with a few nice moments in a decent first half, but South Carolina will step on the gas early in the second to put this away. The Gamecock defense will do a lot of bending without breaking.
South Carolina 51, Kent State 10
Latest Consensus Line: South Carolina -36.5, o/u: 53.5
ATS Confidence (out of 5)
: 3.5
Must See Rating (out of 5)
: 2
Consensus line based on BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, and FanDuel. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
