Although it isn’t strange for the South Carolina Gamecocks to open their SEC slate as early as Week 2, that USC will travel to face the Arkansas Razorbacks is certainly unusual: the two squads, when they do play, usually face off much later in the year. This will be a test right off the bat for Shane Beamer’s crew, as the Hogs are surging under third-year coach Sam Pittman and looking to play spoiler in the always-challenging SEC West.
Last meeting: The last time the Gamecocks faced their one-time “permanent rivals,” South Carolina came away with a decisive 48-22 win in 2017, scoring a program-first three defensive touchdowns and otherwise battering what was a quickly fading Arkansas program under Bret Bielema.