A new season of Gamecock football has officially begun as the team started the season with a dominant shutout win over Kent State, 57-0. 

South Carolina played a near-perfect game, overwhelming Kent State’s defense and shutting down its offense. 

It was the first shutout win for the Gamecocks since the 46-0 win over Eastern Illinois in 2021. That was also Shane Beamer’s first game as the team’s head coach. 

“There’s a standard that we play with every time we go out there on the field, and I’ve been around plenty of opening games against a team that you’re favored big over that turned into a four-quarter struggle. Way too many to count. That didn’t happen today,” Beamer said. “So, great opener. A lot to evaluate, but great day to be back out there in Williams-Brice, and really pleased with the way we played.”

The Gamecocks will be back in action next week, aiming to improve to (2-0) with a win over Towson. Kickoff time is slated for 7 p.m. on Saturday. The game will be broadcast on the SEC Network.

Here are three takeaways from South Carolina’s win over Kent State. 

The offensive line and run game look much improved 

South Carolina’s offense was a mess last season, especially up front. 

The Gamecocks’ offensive line has been a weak point for the team in the Beamer era, allowing at least 40 sacks in each of the past three seasons. Last year was a new low as the team failed to protect their mobile quarterback and create gaps in the rush game. 

To address the issue, the team made numerous additions in the offseason, including the addition of transfers and freshmen. 

Those solutions seem to be working so far, as the unit put together an outstanding effort against Kent State. 

After moving past a shaky first drive, the Gamecocks settled in and executed their game plan to perfection. 

Quarterback LaNorris Sellers faced almost no pressure and took zero sacks after the opening drive. The run game got going and finished the day with 278 rushing yards and four touchdowns. 

“That offensive line group, that’s a rugged, gritty group,” Beamer said. “We’ve got a lot of position flexibility on that offensive line, guys that can play both sides.”

Irmo’s Donovan Murph makes some noise 

South Carolina’s rushing game wasn’t the only thing clicking. The passing attack was on fire as Sellers was dishing the ball out to whoever he could find. 

In total, 11 different Gamecocks caught a pass, and seven caught multiple balls. The most productive pass-catcher of the day was former Irmo standout Donovan Murph. 

He finished with four catches for 92 yards and two touchdowns. It was his best game in a South Carolina uniform to date. 

“I’ve been on the receivers' butts, especially the last couple weeks, just about, we got competition in that room,” Beamer said. “You’ve got to compete and perform. Murph has just continued to work and stay the course.”

There was still a lot of competition in the receiver room heading into the game, and there will be over the next few weeks. Murph’s experience last season gives him a bit of an edge over some newcomers. 

He left Irmo a year early to join the Gamecocks last season. While he didn’t put up a lot of counting stats, he regularly contributed as a true freshman. 

This season is only just beginning, but one game in, Murph is already showing signs of improvement and the potential for an exciting sophomore campaign. 

South Carolina’s defense dominates 

South Carolina’s offense took the spotlight as it was the debut of new offensive coordinator Kendal Briles, but the defense quietly did something the team hasn’t done in five seasons. 

The Gamecocks shut out Kent State, keeping a team scoreless for the first time since the 2021 season opener against Eastern Illinois. That was also the first game Beamer coached. 

South Carolina completely dismantled Kent State’s offensive plans. The Gamecocks never had their backs against the wall and never let the opposition come close to scoring. Kent State never even made it to the plus side of the field. 

When it was all said and done, Kent State finished the game with only 179 yards of offense and 10 first downs. 

South Carolina’s defense put a nice bow on their performance late in the game when the team forced its first turnover of the season. Kosci Barnes got the interception. 

“We didn’t have penalties. We didn’t have mechanical issues, none of that stuff,” Beamer said. “Really pleased with the way we played.”