About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement COLUMBIA — When Shane Beamer walked out of the press conference in Gainesville, Florida, two weeks ago, the season could've gone one of two ways.
It could be like last year for South Carolina football , where the first SEC win of the season came right before an open date but ultimately didn't lead to anymore conference victories.
Or it could be like 2024, when his Gamecocks started 3-3, beat a team on the road, had an open date then beat the No. 11 team in the country at home.
After beating Florida to get to 3-3, South Carolina returned two weeks later and beat No. 11 Tennessee 27-24 on Oct. 24. Beamer fielded questions in his post-game on-field interview while fans stormed in around him, just like they did two years ago when they beat then No. 11 Texas A&M.
"I don't know where to start, what a win," Beamer said. "That's a heck of a team we just beat. We knew it was going to be a four-quarter war ... proud of the resiliency of our group."
Tennessee tight end DaSaahn Brame (7) forces his way into the end zone for a touchdown during a college football game between Tennessee and South Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C., on Oct. 24, 2026. (Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel) Tennessee defensive back Ty Redmond (4) celebrates after a defenseive play during a college football game against South Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C., on Oct. 24, 2026. (Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel) South Carolina wide receiver Donovan Murph (6) is stopped by Tennessee linebacker TJ White (51) and defensive lineman Xavier Gilliam (2) during a college football game at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C., on Oct. 24, 2026. (Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel) Tennessee tight end DaSaahn Brame (7) is grabbed by South Carolina defensive back Judge Collier (8) during a college football game against South Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C., on Oct. 24, 2026. (Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel) Tennessee defensive lineman Mariyon Dye (9) and linebacker Amare Campbell (0) celebrate after making a defensive stop during a college football game against South Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C., on Oct. 24, 2026. (Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel) Tennessee linebacker Jeremiah Telander (22) tackles South Carolina running back Matt Fuller (28) during a college football game at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C., on Oct. 24, 2026. (Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel) Tennessee running back DeSean Bishop (18) carries the ball during a college football game against South Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C., on Oct. 24, 2026. (Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel) Tennessee wide receiver Braylon Staley (14) carries the ball while grabbed by South Carolina defensive back Gerald Kilgore (1) during a college football game at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C., on Oct. 24, 2026. (Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel) Tennessee tight end DaSaahn Brame (7) carries the ball during a college football game against South Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C., on Oct. 24, 2026. (Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel) South Carolina wide receiver Donovan Murph (6) is stopped by Tennessee linebacker TJ White (51) and Tennessee defensive back Jamyan Theodore (21) during a college football game at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C., on Oct. 24, 2026. (Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel) Tennessee defensive lineman Xavier Gilliam (2) celebrates after defensive stop against South Carolina during a college football game at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C., on Oct. 24, 2026. (Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel) Tennessee running back DeSean Bishop (18) is grabbed by South Carolina defensive back Peyton Williams (31) during a college football game at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C., on Oct. 24, 2026. (Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel) Tennessee running back Javin Gordon (6) carries the ball during a college football game against South Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C., on Oct. 24, 2026. (Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel) Tennessee quarterback George MacIntyre (12) runs the ball during a college football game against South Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C., on Oct. 24, 2026. (Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel) Tennessee wide receiver Mike Matthews (4) escapes tackles on his way to the end zone for a touchdown during a college football game between Tennessee and South Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C., on Oct. 24, 2026. (Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel) Tennessee running back Javin Gordon (6) runs with the ball during a college football game between Tennessee and South Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C., on Oct. 24, 2026. (Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel) Tennessee linebacker Jeremiah Telander (22) and Tennessee defensive lineman Nathan Robinson (19) try to take down South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers (16) during a college football game between Tennessee and South Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C., on Oct. 24, 2026. (Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel) South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers (16) escapes a tackle attempt by Tennessee defensive back Qua Moss (6) during a college football game between Tennessee and South Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C., on Oct. 24, 2026. (Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel) 1 / 18 South Carolina football vs Tennessee, LaNorris Sellers, Gamecocks in on walkoff field goal Tennessee tight end DaSaahn Brame (7) forces his way into the end zone for a touchdown during a college football game between Tennessee and South Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C., on Oct. 24, 2026. (Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel) 1 / 18 South Carolina football vs Tennessee, LaNorris Sellers, Gamecocks in on walkoff field goal Tennessee tight end DaSaahn Brame (7) forces his way into the end zone for a touchdown during a college football game between Tennessee and South Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C., on Oct. 24, 2026. (Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel) 2 / 18 South Carolina football vs Tennessee, LaNorris Sellers, Gamecocks in on walkoff field goal Tennessee defensive back Ty Redmond (4) celebrates after a defenseive play during a college football game against South Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C., on Oct. 24, 2026. (Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel) 3 / 18 South Carolina football vs Tennessee, LaNorris Sellers, Gamecocks in on walkoff field goal South Carolina wide receiver Donovan Murph (6) is stopped by Tennessee linebacker TJ White (51) and defensive lineman Xavier Gilliam (2) during a college football game at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C., on Oct. 24, 2026. (Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel) 4 / 18 South Carolina football vs Tennessee, LaNorris Sellers, Gamecocks in on walkoff field goal Tennessee tight end DaSaahn Brame (7) is grabbed by South Carolina defensive back Judge Collier (8) during a college football game against South Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C., on Oct. 24, 2026. (Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel) 5 / 18 South Carolina football vs Tennessee, LaNorris Sellers, Gamecocks in on walkoff field goal Tennessee defensive lineman Mariyon Dye (9) and linebacker Amare Campbell (0) celebrate after making a defensive stop during a college football game against South Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C., on Oct. 24, 2026. (Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel) 6 / 18 South Carolina football vs Tennessee, LaNorris Sellers, Gamecocks in on walkoff field goal Tennessee linebacker Jeremiah Telander (22) tackles South Carolina running back Matt Fuller (28) during a college football game at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C., on Oct. 24, 2026. (Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel) 7 / 18 South Carolina football vs Tennessee, LaNorris Sellers, Gamecocks in on walkoff field goal Tennessee running back DeSean Bishop (18) carries the ball during a college football game against South Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C., on Oct. 24, 2026. (Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel) 8 / 18 South Carolina football vs Tennessee, LaNorris Sellers, Gamecocks in on walkoff field goal Tennessee wide receiver Braylon Staley (14) carries the ball while grabbed by South Carolina defensive back Gerald Kilgore (1) during a college football game at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C., on Oct. 24, 2026. (Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel) 9 / 18 South Carolina football vs Tennessee, LaNorris Sellers, Gamecocks in on walkoff field goal Tennessee tight end DaSaahn Brame (7) carries the ball during a college football game against South Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C., on Oct. 24, 2026. (Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel) 10 / 18 South Carolina football vs Tennessee, LaNorris Sellers, Gamecocks in on walkoff field goal South Carolina wide receiver Donovan Murph (6) is stopped by Tennessee linebacker TJ White (51) and Tennessee defensive back Jamyan Theodore (21) during a college football game at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C., on Oct. 24, 2026. (Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel) 11 / 18 South Carolina football vs Tennessee, LaNorris Sellers, Gamecocks in on walkoff field goal Tennessee defensive lineman Xavier Gilliam (2) celebrates after defensive stop against South Carolina during a college football game at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C., on Oct. 24, 2026. (Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel) 12 / 18 South Carolina football vs Tennessee, LaNorris Sellers, Gamecocks in on walkoff field goal Tennessee running back DeSean Bishop (18) is grabbed by South Carolina defensive back Peyton Williams (31) during a college football game at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C., on Oct. 24, 2026. (Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel) 13 / 18 South Carolina football vs Tennessee, LaNorris Sellers, Gamecocks in on walkoff field goal Tennessee running back Javin Gordon (6) carries the ball during a college football game against South Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C., on Oct. 24, 2026. (Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel) 14 / 18 South Carolina football vs Tennessee, LaNorris Sellers, Gamecocks in on walkoff field goal Tennessee quarterback George MacIntyre (12) runs the ball during a college football game against South Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C., on Oct. 24, 2026. (Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel) 15 / 18 South Carolina football vs Tennessee, LaNorris Sellers, Gamecocks in on walkoff field goal Tennessee wide receiver Mike Matthews (4) escapes tackles on his way to the end zone for a touchdown during a college football game between Tennessee and South Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C., on Oct. 24, 2026. (Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel) 16 / 18 South Carolina football vs Tennessee, LaNorris Sellers, Gamecocks in on walkoff field goal Tennessee running back Javin Gordon (6) runs with the ball during a college football game between Tennessee and South Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C., on Oct. 24, 2026. (Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel) 17 / 18 South Carolina football vs Tennessee, LaNorris Sellers, Gamecocks in on walkoff field goal Tennessee linebacker Jeremiah Telander (22) and Tennessee defensive lineman Nathan Robinson (19) try to take down South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers (16) during a college football game between Tennessee and South Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C., on Oct. 24, 2026. (Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel) 18 / 18 South Carolina football vs Tennessee, LaNorris Sellers, Gamecocks in on walkoff field goal South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers (16) escapes a tackle attempt by Tennessee defensive back Qua Moss (6) during a college football game between Tennessee and South Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C., on Oct. 24, 2026. (Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel) Shane Beamer, South Carolina flips script after ugly start to 2026 South Carolina blew a 16-point lead and lost 41-34 to Mississippi State in Week 3. Two weeks later, the Gamecocks blew a 17-point lead to Kentucky, losing 35-34 in overtime.
When the Gamecocks (4-3, 2-3 SEC) lost a 14-0 first-quarter lead against the Vols (6-2, 4-2) it looked like that type of history was going to repeat itself.
And for a program that only won four games last year, Beamer needed things to turn around quickly in his sixth season. A loss vs the Vols would've been the ninth time since 2022 that Beamer's lost a game after leading by double-digits.
"I think you just go back to the men in that locker room, I know it's cliche but we got some special men in that locker room," Beamer said. "I told you guys before the season, all summer, last winter, I like this team because it's an older group and you saw that tonight, just the leadership."
Beamer kept promising his team would be judged on its ability to "respond" after losses, but it wasn't until the Florida game that the Gamecocks showed that. But even in that win, it was so one-sided that it didn't necessarily give a clear picture of what the rest of the SEC schedule would hold.
The ugly, messy and mistake-filled performance against Tennessee was a bit more accurate, giving more weight to Beamer's praise when talking about his team's resiliency.
"I just see a team that continues to get better, I really do," Beamer said.
After the hot start, South Carolina couldn't do much after the Vols responded, producing only 70 total yards of offense and zero points from the start of the third quarter until late in the fourth.
During that same period, Tennessee had two touchdowns negated by penalties and still had the lead.
Until the game-tying and game-winning drives, the Gamecocks' offense only went 20 yards in the fourth quarter.
"We just kept fighting," quarterback LaNorris Sellers said. "It wasn't pretty by any means ... We had a lot of opportunities, probably could have scored more, we missed them, I missed but we found a way."
South Carolina went from losing the same way to showing it can win in at least two different ways: nearly perfect and dominate vs. Florida, then persevere to beat a physical Vols team.
Ahead of the trip to Norman for a Halloween game against Oklahoma (4-3, 2-1) on Oct. 31 (4:15 pm ET, SEC Network), things look more like the second-half turnaround in 2024 than the season-long crumble in 2025.
"This is a rugged, workman-like group," Beamer said. "We'll celebrate the heck out of this one tonight and then we'll come right back to work tomorrow."
Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at LKesin@usatodayco.com . Follow her on X @Lulukesin and Bluesky @bylulukesin.bsky.social
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Shane Beamer flips script on ugly 2026 start with South Carolina's win vs Tennessee
Source: Sports
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