Paul Finebaum Reveals Reason for Optimism Around Struggling SEC Program

The South Carolina Gamecocks enter into a make-it-or-break-it season under head coach Shane Beamer.

South Carolina Enters Pivotal Season Under Shane Beamer

Beamer has a 33-30 record entering his sixth season in Columbia. But there have been some bright spots. South Carolina went 8-5 in 2022 and 9-4 in 2024. However, there have been some down years as well. After that promising season in 2022, the Gamecocks went 5-7 in 2023.

Then, after narrowly missing the College Football Playoff in 2024, the team entered 2025 with great expectations. They started the year ranked No. 13 and climbed as high as No. 10, but ended the season going 4-8, including 1-7 in the SEC. This has many thinking Beamer is on the hot seat entering 2026.

South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback Lanorris Sellers (16) looks to pass. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Paul Finebaum Believes South Carolina Can Bounce Back in 2026

ESPN's Paul Finebaum discussed South Carolina on "The Paul Finebaum Show." He said that there are some reasons for Gamecock fans to be optimistic.

"It seems like every other year, South Carolina is good, and this is that every other [year]," Finebaum said. "... There are some people on that team who should make this a really good team."

LaNorris Sellers and Dylan Stewart Give South Carolina Hope

To Finebaum's point, South Carolina has two of the best players in the sport. Quarterback LaNorris Sellers is entering his third season as the starter. He burst onto the scene as a redshirt freshman in 2024, throwing for 2,534 yards, 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions, while rushing for 674 yards and seven scores.

His 2025 season wasn't as strong. He struggled behind one of the worst offensive lines in college football. He threw for 2,437 yards, 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions. The biggest drop came in the rushing numbers, as he totaled just 270 yards and five scores.

EDGE Dylan Stewart also burst onto the scene as a freshman in 2024. He had 10.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. He followed that up with 12 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. With Stewart entering another season before becoming eligible for the 2027 NFL Draft, the Gamecocks have one of the premier defensive playmakers in the country.

Ultimately, South Carolina's season could come down to whether Beamer can put Sellers and Stewart in position to make enough plays. If those two stars deliver and the supporting cast improves, the Gamecocks have a chance to make 2026 a much different story than 2025.

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