⚡ CFB Dashboard

- South Carolina enters its opener generally healthy, with tight end Brady Hunt back to full participation and cleared to play after a leg bruise. - Jayden Sellers and Jayden Gibson remain unavailable among South Carolina's previously announced Week 1 absences. - Dylan Stewart resumed contact work by striking a sled and is expected to progress to full pads and live practice very soon. - Offensive lineman Jacarrius Peak practiced in shoulder pads and completed individual cutting, pass-setting and run-blocking work, with live repetitions against defenders as his next step. - Shane Beamer expects Peak and Stewart to return soon but will require full-pad practice readiness, player confidence and medical clearance before either appears in a game.

- Kendal Briles kept South Carolina's Kent State game plan close to its existing offense with little new installation, prioritizing clean execution and player confidence for the opener. - Briles praised the offensive line's urgency but emphasized that its run blocking and pass protection still depend on communication with the backs and tight ends. - Cutter Woods is established as South Carolina's No. 2 quarterback, while Landon Duckworth and the more experienced Lucian Anderson remain in the QB3 competition. - Recent defensive addition Ethan Johnson is learning the system at an accelerated pace but is currently expected to open in a reserve role.

- Matt Fuller held the preseason edge over Christian Clark at running back and is the high-confidence projection to start, though both are expected to receive carries against Kent State. - Mazeo Bennett Jr. and Nyck Harbor are established receiver starters, while DJ Black is the low-confidence projection to win the remaining spot over Donovan Murph and Nitro Tuggle. - Nolan Hay is the projected left guard after also practicing at center, while veteran Dayne Arnett is a low-confidence right-tackle projection until Jacarrius Peak returns. - Anthony Addison is the high-confidence projection to start opposite Caleb Herring at defensive end within a rotation expected to remain heavy. - Kentucky transfer Quay'sheed Scott is projected to open at nickel over Gerald Kilgore, while David Bucey holds the early safety edge over freshman J'Zavien Currence in competitions expected to continue.

- South Carolina will not publish a Week 1 depth chart and will reveal its first- and second-team groups during pregame warmups against Kent State. - Tackle Jacarrius Peak is out against Kent State and two-year starting left tackle Josiah Thompson will miss the season after surgery, leaving South Carolina to identify its best five available linemen. - UCF transfer Carter Miller is expected to start at center and East Carolina transfer Emmanuel Poku has worked with the first team at right guard since arriving. - Shedrick Sarratt Jr., Seth Smith, Dayne Arnett and Darius Gray are South Carolina's leading healthy tackle options, while Hank Purvis and Nolan Hay continue competing at left guard.

- EDGE Dylan Stewart and OL Jacarrius Peak continued to progress in rehabilitation, but Shane Beamer called both doubtful for the opener against Kent State while leaving open a return soon afterward. - TE Brady Hunt sustained a leg bruise in the latest scrimmage and missed the following Tuesday practice, but Beamer expects him to be fully available against Kent State. - Hunt enters 2026 as an experienced but modestly used receiving option after producing 21 catches for 168 yards last season.