South Carolina vs Florida kicks off Saturday at 12:45 p.m. ET at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, with the Gamecocks looking to snap a three-game losing streak against a No. 16 Gators team coming off its own letdown. South Carolina enters at 2-3 overall and 0-3 in SEC play, while Florida sits at 4-1 and 2-1 after a 45-17 loss at Missouri last week. The biggest question hanging over the Gamecocks is whether LaNorris Sellers keeps his starting job at quarterback.
South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer has never beaten Florida, dropping a 38-6 decision in Gainesville in 2022 and a 41-39 home loss in 2023, according to Yahoo Sports. Beamer now tries to end that streak while managing a quarterback controversy that surfaced this week.
South Carolina Vs Florida Game Information
- Date: Saturday, Oct. 10
- Time: 12:45 p.m. ET
- Venue: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Florida
- TV: SEC Network
Is LaNorris Sellers In Danger Of Losing His Starting Job?
South Carolina has given backup quarterback Cutter Woods increased first-team reps in practice this week, a sign the coaching staff is willing to make a change if Sellers continues to struggle, according to ESPN. Sellers has completed 62.1% of his passes this season, the second-worst mark among SEC quarterbacks, and has thrown six touchdowns against four interceptions, the third-most picks in the conference. The drop-off is notable given his track record.
In 2024, Sellers accounted for 25 total touchdowns as South Carolina went 9-4 and factored into the College Football Playoff conversation. Woods, a second-year player, has appeared in six career games, all in relief, completing 17 of 25 passes for 161 yards with one touchdown and one interception. South Carolina has not named a starter, and Sellers is still expected to take the first snap based on current practice patterns, but the increased reps for Woods signal the staff is prepared to pull him if the passing struggles continue.
Can South Carolina’s Running Game Carry The Offense?
South Carolina leads the SEC in rushing, and Sellers himself has been a major part of that, averaging 6.8 yards per carry and nearly matching his rushing total from a season ago. Against Kentucky last week, Sellers threw for 226 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 147 yards, even in a 35-34 overtime loss. Matt Fuller leads the Gamecocks on the ground with 433 yards and five touchdowns on 71 carries this season.
The Gamecocks’ passing attack has lagged behind, ranking ninth in the SEC. South Carolina’s season totals show 1,175 net passing yards on 169 attempts, a 60.9% completion rate and a 7.0 yards-per-attempt average, numbers that explain why the staff is exploring other options at quarterback.
How Did Florida’s Offense Respond To The Missouri Loss?
Florida’s rushing attack was stifled at Missouri, which forced quarterback Aaron Philo into a larger workload than usual, and he had a rough outing in the 45-17 loss, according to Sports Illustrated. Philo has completed 84 of 121 passes for 1,114 yards with eight touchdowns and two interceptions on the season, numbers built mostly before the Missouri setback. Florida’s season totals still show a potent offense overall, averaging 46.2 points, 491.2 total yards and 274.8 passing yards per game. Running back Jadan Baugh has been the engine of that production, rushing for 613 yards and 11 touchdowns on 95 carries, and the Gators will likely lean on him to reestablish the ground game after Missouri shut it down.
By The Numbers
- Points per game: Florida 46.2, South Carolina 37.6
- Total yards per game: Florida 491.2, South Carolina 491.0
- Passing yards per game: Florida 274.8, South Carolina 235.0
- Rushing yards per game: Florida 216.4, South Carolina 256.0
- Third-down conversion rate: Florida 45.00%, South Carolina 44.29%
- Turnover differential: Florida +3, South Carolina -4
- Sacks recorded: Florida 14, South Carolina 13
- Total giveaways: Florida 4, South Carolina 8
Key Matchup: South Carolina’s Ground Game Against Florida’s Defense
South Carolina’s rushing attack, the best in the SEC, projects as the Gamecocks’ clearest path to moving the ball regardless of who lines up at quarterback. Fuller and Sellers have combined to produce most of a team total of 1,280 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns on 196 carries this season. Florida, meanwhile, just watched its own rushing attack get shut down at Missouri, a reminder that a strong front can disrupt even a productive offense.
The turnover battle adds another layer. South Carolina has given the ball away eight times against only four takeaways, a minus-4 differential, while Florida sits at plus-3 with seven takeaways against four giveaways. If the Gamecocks can run effectively and protect the football, they keep themselves in the game longer than their SEC record suggests.
Players To Watch
LaNorris Sellers, QB, South Carolina
Sellers is on notice after South Carolina increased Cutter Woods’ practice reps this week. His dual-threat ability remains evident, with 6.8 yards per carry, but his 62.1% completion rate and four interceptions have put his starting job in question.
Jadan Baugh, RB, Florida
Baugh leads the Gators with 613 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns on 95 carries. After Florida’s ground game was neutralized at Missouri, Baugh’s workload figures to be a focal point as the Gators try to reestablish balance on offense.
Aaron Philo, QB, Florida
Philo has thrown for 1,114 yards with eight touchdowns and two interceptions this season but struggled in a larger passing role at Missouri. How he responds against a South Carolina defense that has recorded 13 sacks this season will be worth tracking.
What To Watch
South Carolina is trying to avoid an 0-4 start in SEC play, while Florida looks to bounce back from its most lopsided loss of the season. The quarterback situation in Columbia remains the central storyline entering kickoff, with South Carolina’s staff having already shown a willingness to turn to Woods if Sellers struggles again. South Carolina’s previous matchup is covered in the Kentucky vs. South Carolina preview.
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