Briles takes South Carolina’s revamped offense into Alabama test

01 · The NewsBriles Takes South Carolina Into Alabama Test

South Carolina carries a 2-1 record and a revamped offense into Saturday, Sept. 26, when it visits No. 8 Alabama for its first major test of whether the early scoring surge can survive an unbeaten SEC defense.

The Gamecocks fired offensive coordinator Mike Shula and hired Kendal Briles, whose shorter passing concepts and expanded rushing attack have helped lift South Carolina to a 52% offensive success rate and 45 points per game. South Carolina scored 57 against Kent State and 45 against Towson, then put up 34 in a 41-34 loss to Mississippi State on Saturday, Sept. 19.

Matt Fuller has driven the change. The feature back has 272 rushing yards at 7.2 yards per carry and 93 receiving yards after receiving only a handful of carries as a freshman. He carried 17 times and caught seven passes against Mississippi State, giving South Carolina a dependable second path beyond Sellers’ big plays.

That workload faces its clearest test against Alabama, which has improved against the run. The Crimson Tide also must handle the shorter RPO throws and rushing concepts Briles added. If those plays disappear, South Carolina will need more from LaNorris Sellers, a third-year starter who has thrown for 648 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions while completing 62.8% of his passes.

Sellers remains dangerous when the first answer is gone. He has rushed for 172 yards on 23 carries, and South Carolina still has explosive options led by senior receiver Nyck Harbor. Alabama allowed several deep gains to Florida State, but South Carolina’s offense cannot depend on Sellers scrambles and isolated shots the way it did a season ago.

South Carolina scored 22 points against Alabama last season, with one touchdown coming after a turnover and another on a deep pass to Harbor. This time, Fuller’s production gives the Gamecocks a more direct way to challenge Alabama. Against the Crimson Tide, he has to make the feature-back job travel.

02 · The StakesThe Stakes

Alabama is 3-0 after beating East Carolina 48-10, Kentucky 45-17 and Florida State 50-36. South Carolina can turn its offensive improvement into an SEC upset; a loss would drop the Gamecocks to 2-2. Alabama is protecting an unbeaten start and its place in the playoff race. Josh Pate’s preseason bracket placed Alabama at No. 10, making an upset loss an immediate problem for that projection.

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