Matt Barrie Names Major SEC Head Coach Who Could Be The Next One Fired
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In Week 12, one of the biggest comebacks in college football history occurred in College Station, Texas. The South Carolina Gamecocks were dominating the No. 3 Texas A&M Aggies.
The Gamecocks took an impressive 30-3 lead at halftime. They forced three turnovers in the first half against the Aggies and scored on five different possessions. It appeared that Texas A&M might face its first loss of the season, which would jeopardize its chances of winning the SEC championship.
The Aggies made a strong comeback, dominating the second half with a 28-0 score to win 31-30. This defeat marked just another setback for South Carolina, which had been aiming for a promising season under head coach Shane Beamer. Last season, South Carolina finished with a 9-4 record and returns several key players, including quarterback LaNorris Sellers and defensive end Dylan Stewart.
South Carolina reached as high as No. 10 in the rankings but has since struggled, losing five consecutive games. As a result, they will not qualify for a bowl game for the second time in the last three seasons under Beamer. This led Matt Barrie, the host of “The Matt Barrie Show” and a “SportsCenter” anchor, to suggest that Beamer will need to address some questions this week after the team’s recent disappointing performance.
“I find Shane Beamer to be a very, very likable man,” Barrie said. “I find Shane Beamer to be very, very, very good for his players. You saw it in the SEC documentary. He is such a warm person to be a part of. Shane Beamer is going to have to answer a lot of questions (Sunday) morning, how it is even possible to blow a 30-3 lead at halftime and to get beaten the way they did at Texas A&M (Saturday).”
Beamer ranks as the 20th highest-paid coach in college football, according to USA Today’s 2025 compensation survey. The head coach of the Gamecocks is projected to earn $8,150,000 in base salary, placing him 9th in the SEC.
As of Dec. 1, 2025, if the school terminates Beamer’s contract without cause, he will be entitled to a buyout of $27,903,958. This amount ranks as the 24th most expensive buyout among the 105 analyzed by USA Today and is the 10th highest in the Southeastern Conference.
With two weeks left in the regular season and frustration mounting, South Carolina must decide whether this collapse marks a temporary stumble or a sign of deeper issues, and whether Beamer is still the coach to steer the Gamecocks forward.
Related: Paul Finebaum Names College Football QB Who Could Be The Best in Program History
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Nov 18, 2025, where it first appeared in the College section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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