2023 Mississippi State football summer opponent preview: South Carolina Gamecocks

For the fourth game on the 2023 Mississippi State football schedule, the Bulldogs will head to Columbia to meet the South Carolina Gamecocks.

The fourth game lined up on the 2023 Mississippi State football schedule is a rather intriguing road trip for Zach Arnett and the Bulldogs. The Mississippi State football team will hit the road and head to Columbia, South Carolina for the first meeting with the South Carolina Gamecocks in what has been a rather long time.

For Mississippi State football fans who haven’t kept up with the Gamecocks since the last time these two middle class SEC teams met back in 2016, let’s get you up to speed on who South Carolina is right now.

Because a lot has changed for this SEC East team in that timeframe.

Mississippi State football: Can the Bulldogs upend the LSU Tigers in 2023?

Back in 2016, when MSU hosted South Carolina, the Gamecocks were led by Will Muschamp. Now, in 2023, as the Bulldogs face the Gamecocks in Columbia, Mississippi State will get the pleasant opportunity of facing off against Shane Beamer, who is heading into his third season in Columbia.

If Beamer seems familiar, there’s a good reason for that.

In addition to being the son of a legendary Virginia Tech Hokies head football coach, Beamer was also a part of the Mississippi State Bulldogs‘ coaching staff from 2004 to 2006.

So, he’s familiar with MSU and Starkville.

And he’s doing a pretty good job of helping rebuild the Gamecocks. In his second season, Beamer led the Gamecocks to win eight games and that includes surprising and thrilling wins over the Tennessee Volunteers and the Clemson Tigers.

This contest could be tough. As such, let’s get prepared. Let’s get to know South Carolina a little better.