Good afternoon from Colonial Life Arena in South Carolina, where the Gamecocks (10-5, 0-2 SEC) are set to face the No. 2-ranked Auburn Tigers (14-1, 2-0 SEC) this Saturday. Tip-off is at 1 p.m. ET, with doors opening at noon for fans. The game will be broadcast on SEC Network.
This marks the sixth time this season that South Carolina will face a top-25 opponent, with Auburn being the third consecutive ranked team for the Gamecocks. However, South Carolina will be without two key players for this matchup. Senior guard Jamarii Thomas is out after suffering a right knee sprain in practice on Friday night. He’s expected to miss 3-4 weeks, a significant blow to the Gamecocks’ lineup. Additionally, Myles Stute will also be sidelined for this game.
Auburn enters the game riding a seven-game winning streak, the seventh-longest active streak in the nation. The Tigers have had the upper hand in their recent meetings with South Carolina, winning their last seven matchups, including a dominant 86-55 victory over the Gamecocks in the SEC Quarterfinals on March 15, 2024.
Despite the challenge, South Carolina has performed well at home against top-25 opponents this season. They hold a 1-1 record, with an exciting 91-88 overtime win over No. 25 Clemson on December 17. The Gamecocks will be looking to break Auburn’s streak and secure a much-needed win as they continue their SEC campaign.
After this game, South Carolina will hit the road for their next two SEC matchups, heading to Vanderbilt on Wednesday and facing No. 17/16 Oklahoma next Saturday. Stay tuned for more updates as we approach tip-off.
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Ex-South Carolina QB Jake Bentley Named Head Coach at In-State High School
In a major announcement on Wednesday, Nation Ford High School has named former South Carolina quarterback Jake Bentley as its new head football coach. The Fort Mill-based school, which opened its doors in 2007, has seen just two other head coaches in its history, making Bentley the program’s third-ever leader. He comes to Nation Ford from Rock Hill High School, where he served as the quarterbacks coach and co-offensive coordinator.
Bentley inherits a program in need of a major turnaround. The Falcons have struggled in recent years, with no winning season in the past five years and no more than six wins in any season since 2016. After the 2024 season, MaxPreps ranked Nation Ford 43rd out of 54 5A programs in South Carolina. Bentley follows Michael Allen, the previous head coach, and Jason McManus, who served as the interim head coach.
Coaching runs in Bentley’s family. His father, Bobby Bentley, is a well-known figure in South Carolina high school football, having led the Byrnes Rebels to an incredible four consecutive state championships from 2002 to 2005.
Before beginning his high school coaching career, Jake Bentley had a brief stint in college coaching. After finishing his playing career, he spent one year as an off-field analyst at Florida Atlantic and another year as the quarterbacks coach at North Alabama.
Bentley’s football career at South Carolina was impressive. Despite battling injuries and a partial redshirt season, he ranks 4th all-time in Gamecock history with 7,527 passing yards. His 55 passing touchdowns and 63 total touchdowns both place him 3rd on USC’s all-time list. He also set a Carolina record with 510 passing yards against Clemson in 2018. Like current quarterback LaNorris Sellers, Bentley is one of only eight Gamecocks to throw for five touchdowns in a single game.
