The upcoming Vanderbilt-South Carolina matchup was rather unassuming before this season began. If preseason betting odds held true, the matchup would be between two mediocre programs finishing toward the bottom of the SEC. However, Vegas could not have been more wrong, as this is now a matchup between arguably the two best three-loss schools in the country. This game now has playoff implications, with Vanderbilt and South Carolina ranked No. 24 and No. 27 in the AP poll, respectively. This game’s victor can win out and potentially make the inaugural 12-team playoff; the loser cannot. The stakes could not be higher.
To help West End better understand the Commodores’ next opponent, The Vanderbilt Hustler went behind enemy bylines to interview Mingo Martin, Assistant Sports Editor for The Daily Gamecock.
Vanderbilt Hustler: In the second half of last week’s game against Texas A&M, South Carolina had its best performance of the year, putting up four touchdowns in just one half. How do the Gamecocks maintain that offensive momentum?
Mingo Martin: The main way they keep the offensive momentum is through the defense. The defense has been key all season and is what’s been helping the offense gain momentum itself. The defense setting up the offense with good field position and getting the crowd into the game allows the offense to open up and create running lanes for their running backs.
VH: In that dominant second half, the Gamecocks kept Texas A&M scoreless. Who were some key pieces in doing that?
MM: I would definitely name Kyle Kennard and Dylan Stewart. They’re probably two of the most unguardable defensive linemen in college football. You have to game plan for them on both sides of the line; it is reminiscent of South Carolina’s defensive line in the early 2010s, back when they had Melvin Ingram and Jadeveon Clowney on opposing sides. If you’re game planning for one, you’re going to have to deal with the other. Beyond that, in the secondary, Nick Emmanwori is probably having the best season in his career [at South Carolina]. He has the ability to keep the secondary together, even on plays where there’s less coverage.
VH: Looking at the Gamecocks’ past performances, one game sticks out: the 27-3 home loss to Ole Miss. Briefly, what went wrong in that game, and have there been any signs of those problems in games since?
MM: Play-calling and coaching. That situation on the opening drive where they went for it on fourth down and didn’t convert — from there, the offense just could not get it going. Allowing Ole Miss to pick up the momentum there didn’t allow the Gamecocks to get back into it. There [have] definitely been some moments since where the play-calling got really suspect.
This past Saturday against Texas A&M, after we took a 14-0 lead, it seemed like we could script the opening two drives of the game. But from there, it seemed like the play-calling took a step back for the rest of the first half, and that’s become apparent in pretty much all of our games this season against bigger opponents. [Lackluster play-calling was] really evident against Ole Miss.
VH: LaNorris Sellers ranks in the bottom half of FBS for both completion percentage and passer rating. His run game is above average but nothing incredible statistically. How has South Carolina’s offense remained so competitive in the SEC without a juggernaut at quarterback?
MM: I touched on this earlier about how there’ve been a lot of games where the defense has set up the offense with great field position in plus territory. That [has] allowed short drives for the offense to generate there. I’d say Rocket Sanders in the running back room has allowed the offense to stay together, even in situations where, say, Sellers may be having [trouble] throwing the ball. Of the wide receivers, Mazeo Bennett is also helping out Sellers a lot, keeping the offense afloat when he’s having a rough performance throwing the ball.
VH: Are there any other key offensive players that Vanderbilt fans should keep an eye out for?
MM: Not particularly. Nyck Harbor is a big name, if just from [his 99 speed] in “EA College Football 25.” There’ll be times where Sellers may look for him deep, [which they] seemed to [do] pretty early against Texas A&M. So I’d look to see if the offense keeps testing secondaries now that they seem more confident in Sellers and the tight ends, Michael Smith and Brady Hunt, on the shorter routes and the dump-off plays.
VH: What’s your score prediction for this game?
MM: I think it’ll be a close game between the two, but I’m go[ing to] say South Carolina probably takes it 31-24.
Vanderbilt and South Carolina will play in Nashville this Saturday, Nov. 9, at 3:15 p.m. CST. The game can be watched on ESPN’s SEC Network.
