SerpApi.Org
Never shy to wade into the waters of arguments about perception, ESPN’s Paul Finebaum has a strong opinion on the Palmetto State’s top offseason discussion.
Who is facing more pressure heading into 2026: South Carolina coach Shane Beamer or Clemson’s Dabo Swinney?
“I think Dabo should have more pressure because at least Beamer’s shown some signs of life lately,” Finebaum told The State at SEC Media Days on Monday. “The only time Dabo is relevant is when he’s talking about the past, and that’s all he does.”
Finebaum isn’t betting on a Clemson renaissance any time soon, that much is clear. But, perhaps surprisingly considering the Gamecocks 4-8 record last season, he’s optimistic about South Carolina.
One big reason for the hopefulness? The precedent Beamer has set in even years. The Gamecocks won seven games in Beamer’s first year, then finished 8-5 in 2022. After missing a bowl a year later, South Carolina had one of the best seasons in program history in 2024. So, naturally, history would indicate a bounce-back in 2026.
“For (Beamer’s) sake, I hope it is because that means they’ll have a good season,” Finebaum said. “I think he’s in a very narrow place where he can’t afford to have a bad season; and he knows that better than I know that.”
Yet, while many around college football think Beamer’s seat is quite hot heading into this season, Finebaum thinks that narrative is the product of the 2025 firing Armageddon, which led to the dismissal of five SEC coaches (not including Lane Kiffin moving from Ole Miss to LSU).
“The reason why Shane Beamer is No. 1 on the SEC hot seat this year is because all the other guys got fired,” Finebaum said. “There was a wipeout, so there’s not much left. And I think if half those guys hadn’t been fired, we wouldn’t be talking about Shane Beamer.”
And to Finebaum, a successful season - meaning, a year good enough for Beamer to keep his job - is not some pie-in-the-sky, 1984 rerun.
“Just show some consistency,” he said. “I don’t think Shane Beamer has to get to the CFP. I don’t think he has to win 10 games. I think eight, nine wins and proof and life (is enough).
“I think most people are still pulling for Shane. I know I am,” Finebaum added. “But with that schedule, cheers aren’t going to be the difference.”
As is the case every year, USC’s faces a gauntlet that runs out of surefire wins after opening games against Kent State and Towson. Looking for the crux in South Carolina’s schedule - the one game likely to make or break the season - it’s easy to look at early October, when the Gamecocks host Kentucky (Oct. 3) and then travel to Florida (Oct. 10).
But Finebaum is circling the contest preceding that stretch, a road game against Alabama in which the Gamecocks will likely be heavy underdogs - just as they were in 2024 and 2025, when USC held fourth-quarter leads before squandering them.
“(South Carolina) is kind of owed that,” Finebaum said of the Alabama game. “If you go down there and win a game … if you get some momentum going, then you can get through (the schedule).”
Of course, it will take stellar performances from quarterback LaNorris Sellers for South Carolina to beat the elite teams in the SEC, which Finebaum thinks is possible given who’s not calling plays anymore.
“I covered Mike Shula as a player and as a head coach, and I knew the day he was hired he’d be a disaster,” Finebaum said of South Carolina’s former offensive coordinator “I don’t know why Shane Beamer didn’t know that.”
To Finebaum, going from Shula to Kendal Briles is upgrading from a camping trip to a stay at the Four Seasons.
“The program is in better shape this year because Briles is a good coach,” he added. “There are some opportunities there, but you’ve got to figure out ways to close games.”
