How South Carolina football surprised Shane Beamer in hottest game in program history

COLUMBIA — South Carolina football set a program record for hottest game in the 2026 opener.

At kickoff on Sept. 5 against Kent State , the temperature in Williams-Brice Stadium was 95 degrees, breaking the school record for hottest game by one degree. By the fourth quarter it reached 99 with temperatures that felt like 110 degrees, according to AccuWeather.

South Carolina won 57-0, with the lead already at 50 by the fourth quarter. So combined with the heat, the final quarter was shortened to 10 minutes. It reached 100 degrees with a thunderstorm rolling in by the time coach Shane Beamer got into the press conference.

The Gamecocks made it out injury and cramp free, Beamer said.

"To not have any heat issues ... it's remarkable," Beamer said, saying the word he'd use to describe his team was "rugged." "That's just who they are and they showed that today."

South Carolina football vs Kent State: LaNorris Sellers, Shane Beamer see top photos

The only South Carolina player who left the game was star wide receiver Nyck Harbor , but it was not related to the heat. He appeared to have bumped his helmet with a Kent State player's helmet while making a block. He didn't finish the drive with under two minutes until halftime but was on the field for the third quarter. He finished with five catches for 70 yards.

The athletic department, led by AD Jeremiah Donati , had large buckets of ice and water placed around the stadium and put extra fans on the concourse. Fans were able to bring in portable handheld fans.

By the fourth quarter, most students had left as the section is in the sun with zero shade but the remaining group was given free water. Donati and his staff rolled out large coolers and Donati went through handing out water bottles to students.

After the game, Beamer went over to high five the students who stayed the entire game.

"Thanks to our fans, they told me this was the hottest game in the history of South Carolina football out there today, and I've been part of some hot ones in Columbia," Beamer said. "Kudos to them, thanks to all of our EMS people."

South Carolina defensive back Judge Collier said there was "a little bit of a breeze" and it felt better playing than just standing, despite using more energy.

All week, the program said that the weather wouldn't impact the team because they practice in South Carolina heat every day.

"We're kind of used to it at this point," sophomore wide receiver Donovan Murph, who had a team-high 92 yards on four catches with two touchdowns. "When you're on the field, that adrenaline pumping, it's not that hot out there."

Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at LKesin@usatodayco.com . Follow her on X @Lulukesin and Bluesky ‪@bylulukesin.bsky.social‬