Nov 15, 2025; College Station, Texas, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback Lanorris Sellers (16) runs with the ball during the first quarter against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

The 2025 season has not gone according to plan for Shane Beamer and the South Carolina Gamecocks.

They started out the year with a Heisman Trophy candidate in LaNorris Sellers, one of the best athletes in the nation in TE Nyck Harbor, and dreams of competing for an SEC title. But now, midway through the month of November, they sit with a 3-7 record, and hopes dashed of even making it to a bowl game.

While 2025 might have been a disappointment, Beamer knows that 2026 can be different, though.

At least that's what he is telling his team, his fans, and the boosters who are putting money into the program, hoping that they will shell out more cash to build him a competitive roster for another season.

“We’re not there right now, but I do know next year at this time, we’re going to be sitting here on this Tuesday night watching the playoff rankings to see where we are in the ranking show,” Beamer said Tuesday, according to video from ABC25‘s Noah Chast.

That's one thing to say, and another to actually make happen. A lot of it will have to do with what Sellers decides to do with his future, and whether or not he chooses to return to South Carolina and stave off the NFL draft for one last year. Should that happen, then the Gamecocks may have a good chance at competing. What will be interesting to see, though, is if Beamer is there leading the way.

In his five years at South Carolina, Beamer is just 32-29, with a 1-2 record in bowl games and no College Football Playoff appearances to speak of. His team almost got a massive win last weekend against the No. 3 Texas A&M Aggies, going up 30-3 in the first half, but they were held scoreless after the break, eventually losing 31-30. Many fans claim it was a fireable offense to lose that game.

Whether or not the decision-makers at South Carolina agree is another question, but if they choose to keep Beamer on through this offseason, he's got a big check to write.

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This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: Shane Beamer makes bold College Football Playoff prediction for South Carolina in 2026

Reporting by Zachary Neel, College Sports Wire / College Sports Wire

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