Georgia and Texas led all teams by placing 13 players on the preseason All-SEC teams voted on this week at SEC Media Days in Atlanta.

The Bulldogs placed 10 players on the first team, one on the second team and two on the third team. The Longhorns had four players on the first team, two on the second team and five on the third team.

Alabama was third with 11 players on the All-SEC teams, followed by Florida with nine, LSU with eight and Texas A&M with six. Auburn was next with five, followed by Ole Miss (4), Arkansas (3), Oklahoma (3), South Carolina (3), Tennessee (3), Missouri (2), Kentucky (1), Mississippi State (1) and Vanderbilt (1).

Ties in voting were not broken. In addition players were eligible to be elected at more than one position.

Below is the complete preseason Media Days All-SEC team for 2025:

First-team offense

QB — LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina

RB — Quintrevion Wisner, Texas

RB — Le’Veon Moss, Texas A&M

WR — Ryan Williams, Alabama

WR — Cam Coleman, Auburn

TE — Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt

OL — Kadyn Proctor, Alabama

OL — Cayden Green, Missouri

OL — DJ Campbell, Texas

OL — Austin Barber, Florida

C — Jake Slaughter, Florida

First-team defense

DL — Keldric Faulk, Auburn

DL — Dylan Stewart, South Carolina

DL — Colin Simmons, Texas

DL — Christian Miller, Georgia

LB — Anthony Hill, Texas

LB — Whit Weeks, LSU

LB — CJ Allen, Georgia

DB — KJ Bolden, Georgia

DB — Michael Taaffe, Texas

DB — Daylen Everette, Georgia

DB — Jermod McCoy, Tennessee

First-team specialists

P — Brett Thorson, Georgia

PK — Peyton Woodring, Georgia

LS — Beau Gardner, Georgia

KOS — Peyton Woodring, Georgia

RS — Zachariah Branch, Georgia

AP — Zachariah Branch, Georgia

Second-team offense

QB — Garrett Nussmeier, LSU

RB — Jaydn Ott, Oklahoma

RB — Caden Durham, LSU

WR — Aaron Anderson, LSU

WR — Ryan Wingo, Texas

TE — Oscar Delp, Georgia

OL — Ar’maj Reed-Adams, Texas A&M

OL — Trey Zuhn, Texas A&M

OL — Jaeden Roberts, Alabama

OL — Fernando Carmona, Arkansas

C — Parker Brailsford, Alabama

Second-team defense

DL — Caleb Banks, Florida

DL — Tim Keenan, Alabama

DL — LT Overton, Alabama

DL — R Mason Thomas, Oklahoma

LB — Deontae Lawson, Alabama

LB — Harold Perkins, LSU

LB — Suntarine Perkins, Ole Miss

DB — Malik Muhammad, Texas

DB — Domani Jackson, Alabama

DB — Will Lee, Texas A&M

DB — Jalon Kilgore, South Carolina

Second-team specialists

P — Jack Bouwmeester, Texas

PK — Trey Smack, Florida*

PK — Lucas Carneiro, Ole Miss*

LS — Rocco Underwood, Florida

KOS — Trey Smack, Florida

RS — Barion Brown, LSU

AP — Zavion Thomas, LSU

Third-team offense

QB — Arch Manning, Texas

RB — Nate Frazier, Georgia

RB — Jam Miller, Alabama

WR — Eric Singleton, Auburn

WR — Kevin Coleman, Missouri

TE — Jack Endries, Texas

OL — Earnest Greene III, Georgia

OL — Chase Bisontis, Texas A&M

OL — Xavier Chaplin, Auburn

OL — Trevor Goosby, Texas

C — Connor Lew, Auburn

Third-team defense

DL — Tyreak Sapp, Florida

DL — Trey Moore, Texas

DL — Cam Ball, Arkansas

DL — Zxavian Harris, Ole Miss

LB — Taurean York, Texas A&M

LB — Arion Carter, Tennessee

LB — Princewill Umanmielen, Ole Miss

DB — Keon Sabb, Alabama

DB — Boo Carter, Tennessee

DB — Bray Hubbard, Alabama

DB — Isaac Smith, Mississippi State

Third-team specialists

P — Devin Bale, Arkansas*

P — Aidan Laros, Kentucky*

PK — Alex McPherson, Auburn

LS — Ben Anderson, Oklahoma

KOS — Will Stone, Texas

RS — Zavion Thomas, LSU

AP — Eugene Wilson, Florida*

AP — Jadan Baugh, Florida*

* — Indicates a tie

Alabama football had 11 players named to the preseason All-SEC teams announced Friday after SEC Media Days, as voted on by conference media.

Wide receiver Ryan Williams and left tackle Kadyn Proctor each made the first team. No defensive players were included on the first team.

Meanwhile, six different players made the second team: offensive linemen Jaeden Roberts and Parker Brailsford, defensive linemen Tim Keenan III and LT Overton, linebacker Deontae Lawson and defensive back Domani Jackson.

The third team included running back Jam Mille and defensive backs Bray Hubbard and Keon Sabb.

Alabama is heading into the second season under coach Kalen DeBoer. The Crimson Tide was picked to finish third in the SEC behind Texas and Georgia. Alabama also received the third-most votes to win the SEC Championship Game.

The Crimson Tide will aim to make the College Football Playoff for the first time under DeBoer in 2025 after missing it slightly in his first season.

Nick Kelly is an Alabama beat writer for AL.com and the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X and Instagram.

With the conclusion of SEC Media Days, the conference announced the preseason All-SEC teams as voted on by the media on Friday.

Auburn was represented by six players across the three teams, with Cam Coleman and Keldric Faulk landing on the All-SEC First Team. Connor Lew, Xavier Chaplin, Eric Singleton Jr. and Alex McPherson all made the third team.

Coleman was one of Auburn’s breakout freshmen last season, catching 37 passes for 598 yards and eight touchdowns in 2024. Faulk helped anchor the Tigers’ defensive line last year, tallying 45 tackles and one sack while leading the team in pressures, according to Pro Football Focus.

Chaplin and Singleton are two of Auburn’s most heralded transfer signees this offseason, coming from Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech, respectively. Lew started every game for the Tigers last season at center and was one of Auburn’s player representatives at SEC Media Days, alongside Faulk and Jackson Arnold.

McPherson kicked in just one game for Auburn last season due to issues with ulcerative colitis, but went 13-for-13 on field goal attempts in 2023.

Peter Rauterkus covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @peter_rauterkus or email him at [email protected]m

This is a guest opinion column.

As leaders of Jewish Federations in Alabama, we are coming together to speak openly about the serious challenges our communities are facing and express our positions on some of today’s most pressing issues.

Jewish Federations serve as central organizing hubs—particularly vital in small, Southern communities like ours, where Jews make up only a small minority.

Our mission is to support and sustain vibrant Jewish life. We do this by bringing together community members at all stages of the life cycle, from parent groups to Jewish War Veterans, from summer camp scholarships to Jewish life on college campuses. We create safe spaces for people to express their Jewish identities, and we actively foster relationships across lines of faith and background.

Just as importantly, we work tirelessly to ensure the safety and security of our communities — a responsibility that grows more difficult each year.

Put simply, this is a time of deep fear and vulnerability for the approximately 10,000 Jewish Alabamians who call this state home.

According to FBI data released in 2024, anti-Jewish hate crimes rose by 63% compared to 2023 — a record-breaking increase. Although Jews represent just 2% of the U.S. population, anti-Jewish hate crimes accounted for 15% of all single-bias incidents that year. These statistics underscore a disturbing reality: antisemitism is intensifying at an alarming rate.

Almost two years after the October 7th attacks — in which the terrorist group Hamas slaughtered, raped, and took civilians hostage — antisemitic incidents remain historically elevated.

In Alabama alone, 67 separate incidents were reported last year. (The Anti-Defamation League defines incidents broadly, including harassment, vandalism, and assault. You can read more about their methodology and how they distinguish antisemitism from anti-Zionism here.)

These statistics are not abstract. They are connected to real-world acts of violence that reverberate through our communities—even when they occur beyond our state’s borders. This spring alone saw:

• The firebombing of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s home, who is proudly Jewish and supportive of Israel,
• The murder of two Israeli Embassy staffers after a networking event at the Capital Jewish Museum,
• A terror attack on peaceful demonstrators who were calling for the release of hostages in Gaza. This attack resulted in murder of an 81-year-old Holocaust survivor.

These attacks were driven by rhetoric that conflates all Jews with the Israeli government — a dangerous antisemitic trope that puts Jewish lives at risk. Here in Alabama, we’ve also seen threatening language at demonstrations, some of which invoke calls for death or expulsion, particularly to “Zionists.”

We represent communities in which a majority consider Israel and Zionism to be important aspects of their Jewish identity. Simply put, Zionism means believing that the Jewish people should have the right to self-determination in their historic homeland; it is not tied to a specific political position or party (to learn more, check out this free master class).

In an increasingly polarized environment, we are concerned about the lack of nuance that leads to inflammatory language, including in places like social media. This often includes misinformation about Jews and our relationship to Israel.

These types of threats have made many community members fearful of entering Jewish spaces or being open about their own identities. As a result, our institutions are being forced to spend significantly increasing portions of their budgets on security — funds that could otherwise support education, culture, or youth programs. And we are often left feeling isolated, as if our concerns are not heard or understood by the broader community.

As Jewish Federations, we support Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state and defend itself. We hope for the day that groups such as the Houthis, Hezbollah, Hamas and Iran are no longer able to inflict terror and that all are able to live in peace. At the same time, our communities are not monolithic and we represent a diverse spectrum of beliefs and experiences.

As Jewish leaders, we mourn all civilian lives lost in Israel and Gaza, and grieve the suffering on every side of this conflict. We do so while also holding deep concerned about the mounting threats to Jewish safety here at home.

Since antiquity, Jews have faced antisemitism — ranging from stereotypes to conspiracy theories to group blame that has endangered our existence. Today, antisemitism is rising across the political spectrum, from the far left to the far right.

Combating it — and combating all forms of hate — must be a non-partisan issue and we ask that you call and rid out antisemitism wherever you see it, regardless of political affiliation. We are your friends and neighbors—we are members of your community. And we cannot do it alone.

Here are five suggestions from our statewide Jewish leaders about how you can be an ally.

1. Stand With Us in Visible Ways

In Birmingham, we see every day how much it means when our neighbors show up and stand visibly with us. Speak up when you see antisemitism. Attend community events that celebrate Jewish life. Reach out to your Jewish friends and colleagues to let them know they’re not alone. Acts of allyship, both large and small, remind us that our safety and sense of belonging are shared responsibilities. – Florina Newcomb, Interim CEO, BJF

2. Take the Time to Listen

Take the time to educate yourself and listen to Jewish voices to understand the modern and historical iterations of antisemitism. Antisemitism goes beyond Holocaust denial and overt anti-Jewish slurs. It often comes in the form of insidious conspiracy theories, double standards, coded language, and subtle exclusions. Dismissing Jewish voices about antisemitism only adds harm by invalidating lived experience, which leads to distrust and the silencing the Jewish community when real threats are at our doorstep. – Cassie Morgenstern, Executive Director, Mobile Area Jewish Federation

3. Be Intentional about Including Jews

In a state where Christians are the vast majority, we ask our neighbors to make more space for and be more aware that other belief systems exist in Alabama. We certainly appreciate verbal support for our community here and abroad, but we also ask that Alabamians make a more concerted effort to foster more inclusivity. This includes recognizing that we have different prayers, holidays, and customs. – Phillip Ensler, Executive Director, Jewish Federation of Central Alabama

4. Educate to Understand

Do not apply double standards to Israel or the Jewish People. Recognize that Israel is the only predominantly Jewish State in the world and region. Israel contains about half of the world’s Jewish population. Applying a double standard to that State, demonizing it or attempting to delegitimize it is the essence of antisemitism and warrants condemnation. – Dr. Richard Brooks, President, Jewish Federation of Huntsville and North Alabama

5. Ask the Questions You Don’t Yet Have Answers To

As Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council — the community relations arm of the Birmingham Jewish Federation — I’ve learned that many of our challenges stem from a simple lack of understanding. That’s why we’re here: to help bridge those gaps. We welcome respectful dialogue with anyone who wants to better understand our community and perspective, and we are equally eager to learn from and about other segments of our broader communities. – Margaret Norman, Director, Jewish Community Relations Council (Birmingham)

While we face challenging times, we are a resilient people and with your support, will continue to be a vibrant part of life in Alabama.

This is a joint statement from the Birmingham Jewish Federation, the Mobile Area Jewish Federation, the Jewish Federation of Central Alabama, and the Jewish Federation of Huntsville and North Alabama.

A report from the National Weather Service was issued on Friday at 12:25 p.m. for strong thunderstorms until 1 p.m. for Henry and Houston counties.

Residents can look for wind gusts of up to 40 mph.

“At 12:25 p.m., Doppler radar tracked a strong thunderstorm over Headland, moving northeast at 20 mph,” states the weather service. “Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects.”

Locations impacted by the alert include Headland, Dothan, Kinsey, Cowarts, Webb, Newville, Haleburg, Tumbleton, Sigma, Blackwood, Grandberry Crossroads, Pearce, Enon, Pleasant Plains, Headland Municipal A/P, Dancey, Smyrna and Balkum.

The weather service adds, “If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.”

Preparing for impending lightning strikes: Expert safety recommendations

Lightning strikes the United States approximately 25 million times each year, with the bulk of these electrical discharges occurring during the summer months. Tragically, lightning claims the lives of about 20 individuals annually, as reported by the weather service. The risk of lightning-related incidents escalates as thunderstorms draw near, reaching its peak when the storm directly looms overhead. However, it gradually recedes as the tempest moves away.

To ensure your safety during a thunderstorm, consider the following recommendations:

Lightning safety plan:

• When venturing outdoors, it’s crucial to have a lightning safety plan in place.
• Monitor the sky for threatening signs and listen for the sound of thunder. If thunder is audible, it’s an indication that lightning is nearby.
• Seek shelter promptly in a safe location, preferably indoors.

Indoors safety measures:

• Once you’re indoors, avoid using corded phones, electrical devices, plumbing fixtures, and stay away from windows and doors.
• These precautions help reduce the risk of electrical surges, as lightning can follow conductive pathways.

Wait for the all-clear:

• After the last lightning strike or thunderclap, wait at least 30 minutes before resuming outdoor activities.
• Lightning can strike even when a storm has seemingly passed, so exercise caution.

When indoor shelter isn’t available:

If you find yourself outdoors with no access to indoor shelter during a thunderstorm, take these steps to maximize your safety:

• Avoid open fields, hilltops, or ridge crests, which expose you to greater lightning risk.
• Steer clear of tall, isolated trees and other prominent objects. In wooded areas, stay close to lower stands of trees.
• If you’re in a group, ensure that individuals are spaced out to prevent lightning current from transferring between people.
• Camping in an open setting during a thunderstorm is strongly discouraged. If no alternative exists, set up camp in a valley, ravine, or other low-lying areas. Remember that a tent offers no protection against lightning.
• Do not approach water bodies, wet objects, or metal items. While water and metal don’t attract lightning, they conduct electricity effectively and can pose significant risks.

In summary, when facing the threat of lightning, preparedness and vigilance are your best allies. By following these guidelines, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of lightning-related incidents and prioritize your safety.

Rainy roadways ahead: Essential safety tips for heavy rain

Rain can turn roads into hazards. Stay informed and follow these tips from the weather service to ensure safety during heavy rainfall:

Beware of swollen waterways:

In heavy rain, refrain from parking or walking near culverts or drainage ditches, where swift-moving water can pose a grave danger.

Maintain safe driving distances:

Adhere to the two-second rule for maintaining a safe following distance behind the vehicle in front of you. In heavy rain, allow an additional two seconds of distance to compensate for reduced traction and braking effectiveness.

Reduce speed and drive cautiously:

On wet roads, reducing your speed is crucial. Ease off the gas pedal gradually and avoid abrupt braking to prevent skidding.

Choose your lane wisely:

Stick to the middle lanes to minimize the risk of hydroplaning. Outer lanes are more prone to accumulating water.

Prioritize visibility

Enhance your visibility in heavy rain by turning on your headlights. Watch out for vehicles in blind spots, as rain-smeared windows can obscure them.

Watch out for slippery roads:

The initial half-hour of rain is when roads are slickest due to a mixture of rain, grime, and oil. Exercise heightened caution during this period.

Keep a safe distance from large vehicles:

Large trucks and buses can reduce your visibility with tire spray. Avoid tailgating and pass them swiftly and safely.

Mind your windshield wipers:

Overloaded wiper blades can hinder visibility. If rain severely impairs your vision, pull over and wait for conditions to improve. Seek refuge at rest areas or sheltered spots.

When stopping by the roadside is your only option, position your vehicle as far off the road as possible, ideally beyond guardrails. Keep your headlights on and activate emergency flashers to alert other drivers of your position.

In the face of heavy rain, these precautions can make a significant difference in ensuring your safety on the road. Remember to stay informed about weather conditions and heed guidance from local authorities for a secure journey.

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.

Now is a great time to travel, and, thanks to a great deal from Walmart, you can upgrade your luggage game before you go.

Walmart has a great deal on Travelhouse’s 4-piece Hardshell Luggage set. It’s normally $278 but is on sale for $95. It comes in seven colors: Black, Blue, Green, Light Green, Light Purple, Pink and Wine Red. There are four pieces: 16 inch, 20 inch, 24 inch and 28 inch.

Made of high-quality material, the luggage set is impact and scratch resistant and lightweight. Each piece has four silent and smooth multi-directional spinner wheels which makes navigating easier even through the busiest airport.

The soft-touch handles are adjustable with three lengths for added comfort and convenience.

Inside, you will find a spacious area to hold your travel necessities. The interiors feature a mesh zip pocket, elasticated straps and a squared full-capacity design. The bags also have a combination lock to help keep your items secured.

You can see the color options and order yours here.

Texas is the media’s pick to win the SEC football championship in 2025.

The Longhorns collected 96 of a possible 204 votes in balloting at SEC Media Days this week in Atlanta. Georgia was the media’s pick last year, and went on to win the title.

Eleven different teams got votes to win the SEC championship. Georgia was second with 44 votes, followed by Alabama (29), then LSU (20), South Carolina (5), Oklahoma (3), Vanderbilt (2), Florida (2), Tennessee (1), Ole Miss (1) and Auburn (1).

In overall points, Texas received 3,060, ahead of Georgia (2,957), Alabama (2,783), LSU (2,668), South Carolina (2,109), Florida (1,986) and Texas A&M (1,892). Tennessee leads off the second half of the rankings in ninth place with 1,700 points, followed by Oklahoma (1,613), Auburn (1,272), Missouri (1,170), Vanderbilt (936), Arkansas (764), Kentucky (512) and Mississippi State (343).

SEC media has gotten its preseason pick correct six times in the last 11 years. Alabama was picked to win the SEC in 2014 and every year from 2016-22 — and won the title in 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2021.

Auburn was the preseason pick in 2015, while Georgia was the choice in 2023 and 2024. Alabama won the title in 2015 and 2023.

Auburn catcher/outfielder Ike Irish has signed with the Baltimore Orioles, the American League team announced on Friday.

The Orioles chose Irish with the 19th selection in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Sunday.

Irish joined Baltimore for a $4,418,400 signing bonus, mlb.com reported.

Irish was the second player picked in this year’s draft who wasn’t listed as a shortstop or a pitcher. The Chicago Cubs chose Wake Forest outfielder Ethan Conrad at No. 17.

Irish became the seventh consensus All-American in Auburn baseball history in 2025, when he batted .364 with a .710 slugging percentage.

In his three seasons with the Tigers, Irish hit .350 with a .435 on-base average and a .625 slugging percentage in 160 games. He totaled 160 runs, 223 hits, 48 doubles, five triples, 39 home runs, 167 RBIs and 19 stolen bases.

Irish is sixth on Auburn’s career home run list and ranks eighth in career slugging percentage.

The Orioles’ minor-league system includes the FCL Orioles in the rookie-level Florida Complex League in Sarasota, Fla.; the Delmarva Shorebirds of the Single-A Carolina League, the Aberdeen IronBirds of the High-A South Atlantic League, the Chesapeake Baysox of the Double-A Eastern League and the Norfolk Tides of the Triple-A International League.

Irish was not the first player with Alabama baseball roots to sign after being picked in this week’s draft.

Georgia third baseman Slate Alford from Bob Jones High School in Madison signed with the Los Angeles Angels, who picked him at No. 259 on Monday.

UAB outfielder Logan Braunschweig from Thompson High School in Alabaster signed with the Atlanta Braves, who picked him at No. 277 on Monday.

West Florida pitcher Dalton Neuschwander from Spanish Fort High School and Coastal Alabama-South signed with the Orioles, who picked him at No. 304 on Monday.

But they weren’t the first prospects who played at Alabama high schools and colleges to sign after the 2025 draft. University of Montevallo pitcher Adiel Melendez signed with the Braves as a rookie free agent after going undrafted.

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.

Police believe more people were involved in the shootout at a Woodlawn High School reunion picnic and they are asking for witnesses to come forward.

Hundreds of people were gathered at the school last Saturday, July 12, but Officer De’Rell Freeman said not enough people have been willing to tell police what they know or saw.

“We know that somebody knows something. Somebody knows all the parties,” Freeman said. “They ‘ve been slow coming forward or they’re not coming forward at all.”

“Our detectives want way more information than what they have at this point,” he said.

Four men have been charged with first-degree assault – Camron Hinton, 22, Freddy Hurst III, 22, D’Andre Watkins, 27, and Stefon Todd, 28.

The shooting happened shortly after 7 p.m. in back parking lot of the school in the 5600 block of First Avenue, seriously injuring an innocent bystander and damaging multiple cars.

Police responded to the school after the city’s Shot Spotter gunfire detection system picked up one incident of three shots fired, and then a second burst with 10 shots fired.

Officers arrived to find about seven vehicles damaged by the gunfire.

A young woman then showed up a short time later at UAB Hospital with gunshot injuries. She told staff she was shot at Woodlawn High School.

“There are more individuals that were involved,” Freeman said. “These guys had something going on and they chose to meet up at Woodlawn to settle their beef.”

Freeman said police want everyone involved to be held accountable.

“We know it’s a cultural thing with the no-snitch thing going on,” he said. “They’d rather say something on the internet instead of coming directly to the source which is the police department.”

“We’re trying to break that stigma and let them know you can come talk to us,” he said. “Even if you don’t want to us, talk to Crime stoppers. You can be anonymous and eligible for a reward of up to $5,000.”

The school had reunion activities all week, culminating Saturday with a picnic and other festivities at the school.

“There are other schools that will be having their class picnics and reunions in the coming weeks,” Freeman said. “We want everybody to be comfortable and be safe.”

“When situations like this happen, it causes us to put special attention on the other class days,” he said. “We want everybody to enjoy these things, and we don’t want to have to stop them, but when you have situations like this, the conversations come up.”

Anyone with information is asked to felony assault detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.

While Conference USA will join the Big 12 Conference in eliminating its preseason poll, one in-state program ranked highly in the newly introduced replacement.

Jacksonville State finished third in Conference USA’s new “bowl confidence index,” which will replace the 12-team league’s preseason rankings.

The index is determined by a panel of 24 media members, who vote on whether they believe each team will surpass six wins and be bowl-eligible, providing a confidence score for each team.

Percentages for each team reflect the number of voters who placed each team on their ballot.

Delaware and Missouri State transitioned from the FCS ranks this offseason and are not fully bowl-eligible this season, but would be able to play in a postseason game if there are not enough bowl-eligible teams to fill designated spots.

Jax State was not fully bowl-eligible in 2023, but played in the New Orleans Bowl after not enough bowl-eligible teams finished with six wins; the Gamecocks beat Louisiana 34-31 in overtime.

The Blue Hens appeared on 29.17% of ballots in their first appearance in Conference USA to rank eighth, while Missouri State finished last with 12.5%.

Jax State, which won the Conference USA championship last season, finished third after appearing on 91.67% of ballots; Liberty and Western Kentucky both finished on 100% of ballots.

Under first-year head coach Charles Kelly, the Gamecocks will look to make their third straight bowl game after an appearance in the StaffDNA Cure Bowl last season; Jax State fell to Ohio, 30-27.

The Gamecocks will open the season at UCF on Thursday, Aug. 28, in Orlando before its home opener on Saturday, Sept. 6, against CUSA foe Liberty.