Shane Beamer’s South Carolina football program has spent much of the 2026 offseason occupying the fringes of national relevance — a team with enough talent and momentum to crack the top 25, but with enough question marks to keep it from being a consensus pick. One prominent national voice has now made it official, at least in his own estimation.
Mandel Slots the Gamecocks at No. 22
Stewart Mandel, editor-in-chief of college football coverage at The Athletic, released his updated post-spring top 25 rankings and placed South Carolina 22nd in the country. The Gamecocks were absent from his way-too-early preseason list earlier this offseason, making this a notable upgrade in how he views the program entering the summer.
Mandel explained his reasoning directly: “Shane Beamer has zig-zagged from 8-5 to 5-7 to 9-4 to 4-8. This feels like another rebound year. The Gamecocks rank No. 5 in ESPN’s returning production metric. (LaNorris) Sellers should benefit from new OC Kendal Briles and (Nitro) Tuggle’s emergence alongside star (Nyck) Harbor. The run game needs to get much better. South Carolina’s strength should be its defense, led by potential All-American (Dylan) Stewart. He’ll have more impact players around him.”
The assessment captures both the optimism and the caution that surrounds this program. The alternating pattern of strong and disappointing seasons under Beamer has become a defining characteristic, and 2026 — following a 4-8 collapse in 2025 — sets up as the next potential rebound.
The Pieces Mandel Likes
Mandel’s confidence in the Gamecocks is built on a combination of returning contributors and high-impact additions. On the returning side, he highlighted quarterback LaNorris Sellers, pass catcher Nyck Harbor, defensive end Dylan Stewart, Justin Okoronkwo, and Fred “JayR” Johnson as key figures. Among newcomers, he pointed to running back Nitro Tuggle, Jacarrius Peak, Caleb Herring, Julian Walker, and Quay’sheed Scott as players capable of elevating the roster.
South Carolina’s standing in ESPN’s returning production metric — fifth nationally — gives statistical backing to what the eye test suggests: this is a veteran group that should not need a lengthy adjustment period heading into the fall.
The Schedule Gauntlet
Sitting ninth among SEC programs in Mandel’s hierarchy, South Carolina faces a demanding road to double-digit wins. Four of the teams ranked above them in his top 25 appear on the Gamecocks’ schedule — Georgia (No. 6), Oklahoma (No. 9), Texas A&M (No. 13), and Alabama (No. 19) — with Florida also looming as a dangerous opponent from his “just missed” group. Tennessee and Clemson, who have appeared on other preseason lists, did not make Mandel’s cut.
Mandel’s Full Post-Spring Top 25
1. Indiana
2. Oregon
3. Ohio State
4. Miami
5. Notre Dame
6. Georgia
7. Texas
8. BYU
9. Oklahoma
10. LSU
11. Ole Miss
12. USC
13. Texas A&M
14. Texas Tech
15. Washington
16. Missouri
17. Michigan
18. Houston
19. Alabama
20. SMU
21. Penn State
22. South Carolina
23. Boise State
24. Louisville
25. TCU
Just missed: Iowa, Cal, Arizona, Florida, Utah
Bottom Line
A top-25 ranking in June carries no guaranteed value come September, but for a program trying to reestablish itself after an 4-8 season, the recognition matters. Mandel’s assessment reflects a legitimate belief that the talent is present for a meaningful bounce-back. Whether Sellers takes the next step under Kendal Briles, whether the run game improves, and whether Stewart anchors one of the conference’s better defenses will determine if South Carolina is still in these conversations when the games actually begin.
