Ain’t nothing worse than thinking you’re on top, only to realize the game ain’t finished yet. South Carolina wrapped up 2024 feeling like kings—9-4, their best season in years, and a legit argument that they got robbed against LSU. The energy in Columbia was electric. But just when it looked like Shane Beamer had all the pieces lined up for a 2025 CFP push, the offseason pulled up with a reminder: This ain’t checkers, it’s chess.
On March 5th, the SEC’s iconic duo, Cousin Shane and SEC Mike, jumped onto their ‘That SEC Football Podcast’ and gave their take on South Carolina’s 2025 schedule after a successful 2024 season. Cousin Shane wasn’t holding back: “I like the way it’s set up,” Cousin Shane said. “I think the home-field advantage could be monumental this season for them to have a real run. Oklahoma, Bama, Clemson—those are games, man. You win those…then you’re looking at four true away games: Mizzou, LSU, A&M, Ole Miss. Find a couple wins there, and guess what? You’re back in playoff contention.”
SEC Mike doubled down. “All the road games are winnable. Not saying they’ll win ’em all, but man, you beat Mizzou last year. LSU? You did beat them till the refs got involved. Ole Miss is in a total rebuild. A&M? You dominated them. It ain’t crazy to say South Carolina can make a run.”
The Gamecocks’ 2025 schedule is no joke, but it’s also not an impossible gauntlet. First up, they’ll take on Missouri on the road—a team they beat in 2024 in a tight 34-30 battle. Then, Kentucky, LSU, and Oklahoma—three teams that finished outside the rankings last season but have the talent to shake things up in 2025. The LSU game will be personal for South Carolina, given how that controversial loss in 2024 left a bad taste in their mouths.
And then, there’s Alabama. The Tide barely edged out the Gamecocks last season, 27-25, in a heartbreaker. This year, the rematch is in Columbia, and you better believe Gamecock fans have that one circled in red. They’ll wrap up SEC play with road games against Ole Miss and Mississippi State, two teams eyeing CFP contention themselves. To close the season? Coastal Carolina, and then the big one—Clemson. The Tigers will be hunting for revenge after their 17-14 loss last year. South Carolina’s schedule is tough, no doubt, but it’s also full of opportunity.
And for a second, Gamecock fans could dream. A schedule that ain’t brutal, a QB in LaNorris Sellers who’s got that juice, and a coach in Shane Beamer who’s got Columbia believing again. But then reality hit—South Carolina’s biggest weapon ain’t even in uniform. It’s hype. And right now, the hype train’s speeding right past them.
DJ Lagway’s getting more love than LaNorris sellers, and South Carolina’s Shane Beamer gotta fix wideout woes
Ain’t gonna lie, DJ Lagway’s been getting more flowers than LaNorris seller while doing less than South Carolina QB in 2024. On 3rd over on 247 Sports, Cooper Petagna, Brad Crawford, and Smoke Dixon were chopping it up about SEC quarterbacks when Crawford’s tweet popped up: “Why is DJ Lagway getting more preseason hype, love, and adoration than LaNorris Sellers right now?”
Petagna wasted no time. “Yeah, Crawford, explain that!” Crawford came ready. “I think both these guys are gonna be top-three, maybe top-four SEC quarterbacks next season. Both are probably in the Heisman conversation. But here we are, March 3, and I don’t understand why DJ Lagway’s getting way more offseason hype than Sellers after both these guys had incredible years. Sellers was the National Freshman Quarterback of the Year.”
He wasn’t just talking. Sellers put up over 2,500 passing yards, 18 touchdowns, and kept turnovers low while adding another 600 yards on the ground. He led South Carolina to six straight wins, three of those against ranked teams, and had the Gamecocks flirting with the playoff convo for the first time ever. But Lagway? The kid started seven games for Florida, went 5-2, and suddenly, Billy Napier had a new lease on life. Cooper Petagna called it out: “Florida was dead in the water. Then Lagway comes in, starts against Tennessee, and flips their whole season.”
Look, 2024 was nice because Sellers had a stacked receiver room. Gage Larvadain, Jared Brown, Ahmari Huggins-Bruce—they all made life easier. But now? Tyshawn Russell dipped for Syracuse. Dalevon Campbell played his last snap. The Gamecocks are out here looking for a No. 1 target like it’s a scavenger hunt.
Brad Crawford called it out. “Who’s WR1 in South Carolina? Florida and Lagway? We know their weapons. Some guys coming back, some portal guys. South Carolina? They still need to find one. Unless Nyck Harbor steps up in a big way—which I don’t see happening—you gotta wonder, will Sellers have the same numbers?” And that’s the real issue. Sellers is the guy, but a QB can’t throw to air. Shane Beamer gotta to hit the portal this spring and fix his woe. Find some wideouts. Because right now, their WR depth chart looking thinner than a dollar store paper towel.
If they don’t, Sellers could be in for a rougher 2025 than he should be. And that playoff dream? Man, it might stay just that—a dream.
The post Shane Beamer’s CFP Fate Takes a Turn as DJ Lagway’s LaNorris Seller Sabotage Adds to South Carolina HC’s Woes appeared first on EssentiallySports.