Can we blow out Kent State?

[18IsTheMan]

They are pretty bad. They lost to TTU, FSU and OU by a combined 172-24 last year. They beat Merrimack 21-17.

I say it every year and it never happens. This is the kind of game we need to put away in the first half. If we have any designs on being a good team, challenging even to be in the CFP discussion, this a game that will be over at halftime. It seems in Beamer's tenure we have played lesser teams close and then pile it on late for an impressive final score, but it takes a while to get there.

I want to see a blitz in this game. 21-0 at the end of the first quarter. Starters should maybe the play the first series of the 2nd half, but that's it.

 

[Sirgolfalot]

Its a scrimmage. Get better and get reps. No need to abuse the poor. Thats a dabo move

 

[18IsTheMan]

Its a scrimmage. Get better and get reps. No need to abuse the poor. Thats a dabo move

That's a tired line. We here that every year, but I think our fans say that as a pre-emptive defense b/c they know we have not often been able to manhandle these kinds of opponents.

It's also a terrible approach. Take the Nick Saban approach: play your absolute best and execute the same against every opponent. We should not have to go out of our way to blow out Kent State. It should just happen because we are playing our best.

 

[DannyTree1]

in 2024, we opened the season with a 23-19 win over Old Dominion- a team that finished the year with 5 wins.

Longtime gamecock fans know how many times we've made teams that appear to be vastly underpowered look like NFC title contenders.

Can we blow Kent State out? Yes

Will we?

 

[gamecockrev]

Old enought to remember blowing out teams during George Rogers era. Many games he only played one half.

 

[18IsTheMan]

in 2024, we opened the season with a 23-19 win over Old Dominion- a team that finished the year with 5 wins.

Longtime gamecock fans know how many times we've made teams that appear to be vastly underpowered look like NFC title contenders.

Can we blow Kent State out? Yes

Will we?

We were extremely fortunate to even win that ODU game. Of course, many will point out the fact that we went on to have a very good season as evidence that such games don't really matter.

Reality is, as a pattern, good teams take care of business in games like this.

 

[adcoop]

in 2024, we opened the season with a 23-19 win over Old Dominion- a team that finished the year with 5 wins.

Longtime gamecock fans know how many times we've made teams that appear to be vastly underpowered look like NFC title contenders.

Can we blow Kent State out? Yes

Will we?

I never take too much stock in 1st Games. Get in some rhythm, get the victory, don't get hurt. That second game is usually the tell. For example, we were bad in that Old Dominion game in 2024 and went on to have a pretty good season. In 2025, we were okay in Game 1, but were really bad against SC State in Game 2. I was worried after that game, because our offense should have looked better against an FCS opponent by Game 2. We went on to have a disappointing season.

 

[Lurker123]

They are pretty bad. They lost to TTU, FSU and OU by a combined 172-24 last year. They beat Merrimack 21-17.

I say it every year and it never happens. This is the kind of game we need to put away in the first half. If we have any designs on being a good team, challenging even to be in the CFP discussion, this a game that will be over at halftime. It seems in Beamer's tenure we have played lesser teams close and then pile it on late for an impressive final score, but it takes a while to get there.

I want to see a blitz in this game. 21-0 at the end of the first quarter. Starters should maybe the play the first series of the 2nd half, but that's it.

It sure would be nice to play with a comfortable lead. We should, but I dont think we will.

 

[Piscis]

I foresee a pretty easy win. This should be a physical mismatch.

 

[Gamecock Jacque]

Its a scrimmage. Get better and get reps. No need to abuse the poor. Thats a dabo move

It is a regular season college football game that counts.

 

[92Pony]

"Kent St. RB and QB in early Heisman discussion after week 1 performances."


Kendall Briles gives me guarded hope. We *need* to put up over 50pts on our side of the scoreboard or it's a disappointment for me.

 

[I4CtheFuture]

I foresee a pretty easy win. This should be a physical mismatch.

Agreed. Especially considering all the off season hires / new coaches.

Those new coaches are not idiots. They know Beamer is on the hot seat and they're going to want to see crisp, sharpness from the O and especially the O line.

If we look mediocre, it will really be a huge disappointment and a sign of very little progress.

 

[Skuddy]

"Kent St. RB and QB in early Heisman discussion after week 1 performances."


Kendall Briles gives me guarded hope. We *need* to put up over 50pts on our side of the scoreboard or it's a disappointment for me.

And not defensive or special teams points to get there.

 

[will110]

Kent State is terrible. This game is going to be a bloodbath.

 

[Uscg1984]

As much as I would love for this game to be safely over at halftime, I could certainly see something like a 38 - 14 victory where we get a couple of late touchdowns to make the victory look bigger than it really was.

I don't think an ugly performance in the first game is automatically a sign that we're going to have a tough season, but I would certainly hope that a supposedly improved O-line blows a lot of holes through Kent State for our rbs and/or Sellers to exploit.

 

[JohnnySolo]

27-7

 

[treyno2722]

Do we ever blow out anyone other than Coastal Carolina?

 

[Freddie.B.Cocky]

They are pretty bad. They lost to TTU, FSU and OU by a combined 172-24 last year. They beat Merrimack 21-17.

I say it every year and it never happens. This is the kind of game we need to put away in the first half. If we have any designs on being a good team, challenging even to be in the CFP discussion, this a game that will be over at halftime. It seems in Beamer's tenure we have played lesser teams close and then pile it on late for an impressive final score, but it takes a while to get there.

I want to see a blitz in this game. 21-0 at the end of the first quarter. Starters should maybe the play the first series of the 2nd half, but that's it.

If we can't we are hurting.

 

[cocksx5]

even the 84 team beat citadel on td in last few minutes. our victory vs vt last yr was dreadfully boring and certainly unimpressive. I agree ,we never seem to have it all together in opening games.

 

[kidrobinski]

That's a tired line. We here that every year, but I think our fans say that as a pre-emptive defense b/c they know we have not often been able to manhandle these kinds of opponents.

It's also a terrible approach. Take the Nick Saban approach: play your absolute best and execute the same against every opponent. We should not have to go out of our way to blow out Kent State. It should just happen because we are playing our best.

I get it, but Saban had depth we can only wish for; five stars on the three deep.

I agree with @adcoop here. In the fabled 84 season we needed a late trick play to squeak by the citadel in the opener; in 85 we came in as the toast of the town, blew out the citadel in the opener, squeaked by app state in game 2, then got dog walked by Michigan for the picture of the rest of the season.

Get reps. Execute tight and clean. Stay healthy. Show the opponent some respect. Move on to the next game.

 

[Lurker123]

I get it, but Saban had depth we can only wish for; five stars on the three deep.

I agree with @adcoop here. In the fabled 84 season we needed a late trick play to squeak by the citadel; in 85 we came in as the toast of the town, blew out the citadel in the opener, squeaked by app state in game 2, then got dog walked by Michigan for the picture of the rest of the season.

Get reps. Execute tight and clean. Stay healthy. Show the opponent some respect. Move on to the next game.

As 18 mentioned, the ODU game too. From a couple years ago.

I would certainly like a comfortable lead to allow us to get more people in. But also know we can flounder around and keep it closer than is comfortable.

Any win will be fine.

 

[kidrobinski]

I would certainly like a comfortable lead to allow us to get more people in. But also know we can flounder around and keep it closer than is comfortable.

Any win will be fine.

We certainly have demonstrated a consistent habit of playing to the level of a given opponent. There’s some heavy expectations and hopes on this program right now and they’re going to be feeling it come game day, cupcake or not. Going to be interesting.

 

[Lurker123]

We certainly have demonstrated a consistent habit of playing to the level of a given opponent. There’s some heavy expectations and hopes on this program right now and they’re going to be feeling it come game day, cupcake or not. Going to be interesting.

Yes, I freely admit one of my failings is taking some teams too lightly. Not some openers like UNC, or VA Tech. But the lower division ones, or really small G5 schools.

There is an apparent undeserved feeling that our talent should just outmatch them.

 

[Piscis]

I foresee the new OC and OL getting a nice head start on offensive stats with the first two games. We can coast on those two games for four to six weeks into the season. When you start the season with 100 points and 1000 yds in the first two games, your averages hold up pretty well even if you are average as unsalted grits in the next few games.

With the well known love of stats by SC fans, the new OC and OL will be the toast of the town until halfway through the season at least. I can easily see a 4-1 start to the season with some nice numbers put up. The playoff talk will be hot and heavy by the UF game.

 

[Gr8spur]

Right now, the weather report is not so good. It's going to be very hot and humid. I just hope the boys on both sides survive the heat.

 

[18IsTheMan]

I wonder how long it'll be into the game before I start doom posting.

 

[Go Gamecocks]

Keep it vanilla....UGA's on the schedule.

 

[Lurker123]

I wonder how long it'll be into the game before I start doom posting.

Can we get a prediction thread and some wagers?

 

[Skuddy]

As long as Kent State doesn't have a good quarterback, we should be ok. Seems like when the lesser teams are good at that position, we struggle.

 

[Uscg1984]

Right now, the weather report is not so good. It's going to be very hot and humid. I just hope the boys on both sides survive the heat.

Couldn't we assume that would be the forecast once the date was announced?

 

[Cockofdawn]

A comfortable win, Get a lot of players Field time, If in anyway you can get Stewart on the field for a few plays DO IT, Dont make him wait till he needs to go Full out in game 3!! I am happy with something like a 35-10 game..

 

[Gr8spur]

Couldn't we assume that would be the forecast once the date was announced?

True! I remember going to some really hot games back in the day. Haven’t been to a game in a long time. Used to get sunburned on the early September games.