Tune-up game: The Gamecocks committed 13 penalties in their first loss of the season last week. Two of those came at the cost of pick-sixes by USC’s defense, which would’ve won the game. Akron is a perfect opportunity for South Carolina to get right heading into its first of two bye weeks.

MACtion visits the SEC as we continue our college football odds series with an Akron-South Carolina prediction and pick.

LSU, led by tackles Will Campbell and Emery Jones Jr., held Kennard and Stewart mostly in check. The true freshman was held without a tackle and Kennard did have 1.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss but also got flagged for numerous penalties.

The SEC has a new policy enforcing mandatory “availability reports” before every conference game. But because South Carolina is playing a non-conference foe, it did not need to disclosure any injury information and, thus, does not have to divulge Sellers’ true status.

The Appalachian State Mountaineers return to Kidd Brewer Stadium Thursday night for a Sun Belt Conference matchup with the South Alabama Jaguars.

Every athletic director has battled different headwinds. If nothing else, each era running the Gamecocks has been eventful in its own way.

The No. 5 Ole Miss Rebels look to keep their momentum going this week when they play host to the Georgia Southern Eagles in Oxford. Ole Miss is currently 3-0 on the year, having blown out its non-conference opponents by a combined score of 168-9.