After South Carolina fell to Texas A&M on Saturday, Shane Beamer’s future with the Gamecocks appears increasingly uncertain. With a disappointing 3-7 overall record and just one win in SEC play, South Carolina currently sits near the bottom of the conference standings, ahead of only Arkansas. The possibility of the program parting ways with Beamer is growing by the day.
Last season, Beamer nearly led South Carolina to the College Football Playoff, but the 2025 campaign has so far been a major letdown. As speculation mounts about a coaching change, here’s a look at three potential replacements who could take over the Gamecocks’ reins in 2026.
### Top Three Shane Beamer Replacement Candidates at South Carolina
#### #1 Brent Key – Head Coach, Georgia Tech
Brent Key has been one of the standout coaching stories in college football this season. The Yellow Jackets currently hold a 9-1 record and have their eyes set on a College Football Playoff berth. Key initially took over as interim head coach midway through the 2022 season and was officially named head coach after the year ended.
He inherited a struggling Georgia Tech program under Geoff Collins and has since turned it around, guiding the team to three straight winning seasons. Should South Carolina decide to move on from Shane Beamer, Brent Key would undoubtedly be among the front-runners to take over the program.
#### #2 Alex Golesh – Head Coach, USF
Alex Golesh is another rising coaching talent who has dramatically improved his current program. He took over at the University of South Florida in 2023, inheriting a Bulls team that had won just four games over the previous three seasons.
Since then, Golesh has led USF to three consecutive winning seasons, with the 2025 squad currently holding a strong 7-3 record. Following a stunning upset against Florida, the Bulls were even considered potential College Football Playoff contenders. Despite some recent struggles, Golesh’s coaching ability is widely respected, making him a highly plausible candidate if South Carolina seeks a fresh start.
#### #3 Collin Klein – Offensive Coordinator, Texas A&M
Collin Klein has been making waves as one of college football’s top assistant coaches and is considered poised for a head coaching opportunity soon. As the offensive coordinator for Texas A&M, Klein has been instrumental in the Aggies’ undefeated 10-0 start to the season.
He joined Texas A&M after serving in various roles at Kansas State and has impressed with his offensive schemes during the past two seasons. Given his experience in the SEC and success this year, Klein is expected to be a strong candidate for head coaching vacancies, including potentially replacing Shane Beamer at South Carolina.
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With the season winding down, South Carolina fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if the program decides to make a change at the helm. Any of these three coaches would bring a new direction and energy to the Gamecocks as they look to rebound in 2026.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/college-football/shane-beamer-replacements-top-3-best-candidates-south-carolina-fires-long-time-hc-choke-job-vs-texas-a-m
