Sellers and South Carolina test Oklahoma's defense

Neither team has separated against Power 4 teams

Against Power 4 opponents, South Carolina is -17 in point margin, 42nd nationally and 11th in the SEC. Oklahoma is -32, 56th nationally and 13th in the SEC. Both have given the ball away more than they have taken it: South Carolina is -2 in turnover margin, Oklahoma -5.

The yardage splits the teams by unit. South Carolina gains 409 yards a game, 23rd nationally, and allows 397, 43rd. Oklahoma gains 327, 56th, and allows 307, 11th.

South Carolina is penalized 69 yards a game, 12th in the SEC, to Oklahoma's 60. The Gamecocks cover kicks well, allowing 17.8 yards a return on 9 returns, 13th nationally, and average 21.0 yards on 6 kick returns, 20th. Oklahoma allows 5.0 yards a punt return on 9 returns, 12th nationally. The punt return games are even: 5.3 yards on 8 returns for South Carolina, 5.6 on 7 for Oklahoma.

Where it's decided

When South Carolina has the ball, it throws for 240 yards a game against Power 4 opponents, 32nd nationally, and converts 41.6% of its third downs, 27th. It scores on 46.6% of its drives, 19th nationally. Oklahoma ends 70.2% of the drives it faces without a score, 13th, holds opponents to 75.0% in the red zone, 11th, and allows 128 rushing yards a game, 28th.

Quarterback LaNorris Sellers leads South Carolina in passing yards with 1,548, with 13 touchdowns, 5 interceptions and a 60.7 completion percentage. He is second on the team in rushing yards with 507 and leads the SEC at 6.0 yards a carry among players with 10 or more carries a game. Matt Fuller leads the Gamecocks in rushing yards with 513 on 90 carries, with 5 touchdowns. Mazeo Bennett Jr. leads in catches and receiving yards, 31 for 324, and Nyck Harbor is second in receiving yards with 278 on 17 catches.

Oklahoma linebacker Owen Heinecke leads the Sooners in tackles with 55, with 7.5 tackles for loss. Defensive lineman Adepoju Adebawore leads them in sacks with 4.

When Oklahoma has the ball, it scores 17.2 points a game against Power 4 opponents, 67th nationally and 15th in the SEC. It converts 30.1% of third downs, 16th in the SEC, and scores on 66.7% of red zone trips and 25.9% of its drives. It runs for 102 yards a game and throws for 226.

South Carolina's defense has given up plenty in the same games: 33.6 points a game, 64th nationally, and 260 passing yards, 61st. Opponents score on 94.4% of their red zone trips, 75th, convert 41.3% on third down and score on all but 51.8% of their drives. The run defense holds up better, allowing 137 yards a game, 33rd. Linebacker Justin Okoronkwo leads the Gamecocks in tackles with 53.

Quarterback John Mateer leads Oklahoma in passing yards with 1,591, with 11 touchdowns, 7 interceptions and a 66.7 completion percentage, and he is tied for second in rushing yards with 116. Lloyd Avant leads the Sooners in rushing yards with 322 on 73 carries. Sategna leads in catches and receiving yards, 41 for 578, and tight end Rocky Beers is second in receiving yards with 395 and has 4 touchdowns.

South Carolina's best scoring since 1995

In all games, South Carolina scores 36.1 points a game, up from 22.7 last season and its best average since 1995. It also gains 456.0 yards a game in all games, third in the SEC. Against Power 4 opponents, the scoring figure is 30.2 points a game, 21st nationally and sixth in the SEC.

Todd Bates' defenses keep finishing near the top

Oklahoma defensive coordinator Todd Bates' defenses have ranked in the top 11% of FBS in EPA a play in a typical season across his 4 seasons as a coordinator, with a best of No. 4 at Oklahoma in 2025. In all games this season, Oklahoma allows 273.7 yards a game and stops 75.6% of the drives it faces, both second in the SEC.

Close games and 2-point tries

South Carolina has converted a 2-point try in three games this season, tied for the most in FBS. The Gamecocks are 1-2 in one-score games, and Oklahoma is 3-2. Falling far behind has rarely ended well for the Sooners: since 2008 they have won 4 of 29 games in which they trailed by 17 or more at any point, most recently against Texas in 2021.

Transfers in, draft picks out

South Carolina defensive lineman Tomiwa Durojaiye transferred from Illinois and is tied for the team lead in sacks with 3, with 5.5 tackles for loss. Edge rusher Caleb Herring came from Tennessee, and offensive tackle Jacarrius Peak came from NC State.

Oklahoma rebuilt its receiving production through the portal. The Sooners return 43% of their 2025 receiving yards, and transfers brought in 2,361, led by Trell Harris with 847 and Parker Livingstone with 516. Harris came from Virginia and Livingstone from Texas, and tight end Jack Van Dorselaer arrived from Tennessee. Avant was a transfer too, bringing 417 rushing yards from 2025.

Oklahoma had 7 players drafted, one each at defensive edge, guard, defensive tackle, linebacker, safety, tight end and receiver. Edge rusher R Mason Thomas was Oklahoma's only pick in the first two rounds, going in round 2 with pick 40 to Kansas City. South Carolina had 3 drafted, a cornerback, a defensive tackle and a safety, and cornerback Brandon Cisse went in round 2 with pick 52 to Green Bay.

Offensive line lists on both sides

Update, Sat, Oct 31, 1:45 PM CT: Since Friday's report, Oklahoma downgraded Peyton Bowen (probable to a game-time decision), Eli Bowen (doubtful to out) and Jake Maikkula (questionable to out). On the latest report, Oklahoma lists Eli Bowen, Trell Harris, Cole Sullivan and 9 others as out or doubtful, and Peyton Bowen as a game-time decision. South Carolina lists Jawarn Howell, Quay'sheed Scott, Kobby Sakyi-Prah and 4 others as out or doubtful.

Beamer said Oct. 8, according to 247Sports, that Bennett was hurt in a Wednesday practice before the Florida game but practiced Thursday, and that he fully expected him to be OK. Beamer said Oct. 22, according to On3 Gamecock Central, that starting center Carter Miller, who missed the Florida game, was expected to be available for Tennessee. He said Oct. 20, according to the same outlet, that everyone who missed the Florida game, including defensive tackle Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy and edge rusher Julian Walker, was expected back for Tennessee.

South Carolina lists three offensive linemen Out: Josiah Thompson, Seth Smith and Dayne Arnett, who is new on this week's report. Defensive back Quay'sheed Scott, receiver Jayden Sellers, running back Jawarn Howell and defensive end Kobby Sakyi-Prah are also Out.

Oklahoma lists offensive linemen Eddy Pierre-Louis and Ryan Fodje Out, Fred Hinton Doubtful and Jake Maikkula Questionable, with Hinton and Maikkula new this week. Linebacker Cole Sullivan, a transfer who brought 44 tackles from 2025, is newly listed Out, as is defensive back Dakoda Fields. Harris, linebacker Taylor Heim, tight end Trynae Washington and defensive back Jacobe Johnson are Out, receiver Elijah Thomas is Doubtful and running back Xavier Robinson is Probable.

Defensive backs Peyton Bowen and Eli Bowen are Questionable, Peyton's tag new this week. Venables said on his Monday coach's show Oct. 26 that Peyton Bowen "is good" after he was hurt against Mississippi State, according to Yahoo Sports.

Oklahoma won going away last year

The series is tied 1-1 since 2024. Oklahoma won the last meeting 26-7 at South Carolina in 2025, and Tory Blaylock ran for 101 yards.

That 2025 Oklahoma team went 10-3, scoring 26.2 points a game and allowing 15.5, and Tate Sandell won the Lou Groza Award. The South Carolina team it beat finished 4-8.

Three things to watch

Sellers and the run game against Oklahoma on third down: a 169-yard rushing attack meets a defense allowing 25.8% conversions against Power 4 opponents.

Oklahoma's path is the clock: the Sooners hold the ball 31:28 a game against Power 4 opponents, 21st nationally, to South Carolina's 29:22, keeping a potent offense on the sideline.

Malik Orsan's range: the South Carolina kicker ranks third in the SEC with 2 field goals of 50-plus yards.