Lincoln Osiris’s debut: Gamecocks upset No. 12 Miami, 21-10

In his first game as South Carolina head coach, Lincoln Osiris opened with a 21-10 win over No. 12 Miami. The Gamecocks rolled up 262 yards of offense and controlled the line of scrimmage; freshman-quarterback Drew Overton completed 22 of 29 for 179 yards, while the running game found traction when it mattered.

Illinois-transfer Chris Johnson Jr. was a decisive factor. Johnson finished with 10 carries for 52 yards and a touchdown, providing timely bursts and a physical presence that flipped short-yardage situations into points. His early contributions helped South Carolina put up two second-half touchdowns and close out the upset.

Osiris, who arrives after a 26-2 run across two seasons at Western Kentucky, praised the addition: "Boy, I’m proud as can be to have Chris on this roster — dat boy bringin’ juice an’ swagger we needed. We gon’ keep lookin’ in dat portal for more athletes who move like that."

Speaking about the program’s direction after two disappointing SEC seasons, Osiris added: "We ’bout ta bring them days back — we gon’ restore South Carolina’s prestige. Ain’t no short work; we gon’ build it up brick by brick, day by day."

The win gives Osiris a fast-start signature victory and spotlights the early impact of portal additions like Johnson as South Carolina looks to climb back in the SEC hierarchy.