CHARLESTON, S.C. - Charleston Southern looks ahead to potential sunny skies this weekend as the Buccaneers make the trip to Williams-Brice Stadium for a FBS matchup at the University of South Carolina. Kickoff for CSU and the Gamecocks is set for noon on the SEC Network.

Charleston Southern at South Carolina
Date/Time: Saturday, September 7 at Noon ET

Tickets: General Admission
Location: Columbia, S.C. | Weather | Radar
Stadium: Williams-Brice Stadium (80,250 Capacity)
South Carolina Game Day Central: Football Game Day Information | Parking Map
Gates: Open at 10 a.m.
TV: SEC Network
Listen: Gamecocks All-Access
Live Stats: GamecocksOnline.com
History: First Meeting
More Information: Follow us on Twitter @CSUSports and @CSUGameDay for up-to-date information on Game Day

Charleston Southern (0-1, 0-0 Big South): Head Coach Autry Denson | Roster | Schedule | Game Notes
South Carolina (0-1, 0-0 SEC): Head Coach Will Muschamp | Roster | Schedule | Game Notes

Hurricane Affect - Fourth Consecutive Season
Having a September week affected by the weather is no surprise for the Buccaneers as this week marks the fourth consecutive season CSU has had a game week adjusted due to a hurricane. The Bucs' 2016 game against Albany State was canceled due to Hurricane Matthew. The 2017 season saw CSU lose a game against S.C. State due to Hurricane Irma, but add a game against Indiana in the same season. Last year, CSU and The Citadel's September matchup ended up being postponed to a post-Thanksgiving affair between the two teams due to Hurricane Florence. This season with Hurricane Dorian, the Bucs packed up from Charleston and moved to Charlotte, N.C., while practicing at the Gamecocks' facilities in Columbia. 
 
Charleston Southern vs. the SEC
Saturday marks the third consecutive season Charleston Southern will line up against a Southeastern Conference opponent. In fact, it's the sixth time in as many years CSU will line up in an SEC stadium as the Bucs make the trip to Williams-Brice Stadium on Saturday. CSU is 0-7 all-time against the SEC dating back to their first matchup against Florida in 2009. Over the last two seasons the Bucs have fallen in their season opener to Mississippi State (49-0) and Florida (53-6). CSU's closest contest against the SEC came back on Oct. 11, 2014, when the Bucs narrowly missed upsetting Vanderbilt, 21-20.
 
Series Against South Carolina
Although the two teams reside in the Palmetto State, Saturday's matchup between the Bucs and the Gamecocks marks the first time the two programs will meet in each program's respective history. Neither Head Coach has also faced off against each other in their respective head coaching careers with Autry Denson taking over the reins of the Bucs this season, while Will Muschamp was the head coach at South Carolina when the Bucs took on Florida in 2018. South Carolina marks the seventh SEC program CSU will take on in program history, while USC has only lined up against Presbyterian (12-3) with the last matchup against the Blue Hose coming in 1945.
 
Charleston Southern vs. FBS
The Buccaneers enter Saturday with a career record of 0-20 against FBS opponents dating back to their first matchup against South Florida in the 2002 season. Since 2007, CSU has lined up against at least one FBS program annually, while taking on two FBS teams in the same year on six separate occasions. CSU took on both Miami and Miami (Ohio) in 2008, Hawaii and Kentucky in 2010, Florida State and Central Florida in 2011, Vanderbilt and Georgia in 2014, Troy and Alabama in 2015, and Mississippi State and Indiana in 2017. CSU has held FBS opponents under 30 points on three different occasions, while scoring at least 20 points twice.
 
Buccaneers Looking to Bounce Back
Charleston Southern took on a difficult opponent in their first game under Head Coach Autry Denson as the Buccaneers fell to then-No.17/19 Furman this past Saturday, 46-13. The Bucs racked up over 350+ yards offensively, including 192 through the air behind the arm of redshirt sophomore quarterback Jack Chambers, but struggled to contain the Furman running game as the Paladins picked up 369 rushing yards in the contest. CSU showed flashes offensively with a textbook touchdown drive to start the second half, while Chambers went 18-of-25 through the air against the Paladins. CSU is looking to avoid an 0-2 start for the third consecutive season.
 
Jack Chambers Solid in Start
The key story line in the Bucs' spring and fall camps was the quarterback competition, but following the first game against Furman, any questions can be put to rest. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Jack Chambers was effective through the air going 18-of-25 for 192 yards, while targeting eight different receivers this past Saturday. Chambers looked solid for the most part in avoiding the pass rush, but did fumble on a backside corner blitz. The Lilburn, Ga. native set new personal records in completions, passing attempts, and yards against the Paladins and will look to continue spreading the ball around to a deep receiving corps this weekend against the Gamecocks.
 
Targeting Wall
Working in concert with Chambers this past weekend, senior wide receiver Geoffrey Wall established new personal bests in receptions (7) and yards (80) against the Paladins. Wall lined up primarily in the slot for the Bucs and was active early with five catches for 66 yards in the first half. The High Point, N.C. native is tied for the Big South lead in receptions on the year, while sitting third in the conference in overall receiving yards. He was one of four receivers with multiple catches in the game and posted the Bucs' longest catch of the day (22 yards).
 
Dialing Up Salley
Senior defensive end Nick Salley proved the Bucs have another star on the outside this past weekend as the Walterboro, S.C. native led all players with nine tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, and a sack. The captain was active early and often in the game with two tackles on the opening drive, while also holding Furman to a late field goal and ending a drive with his sack in the second quarter. He added two more tackles for loss in the second half to pace the Bucs and lead the Big South in the category following the opening week of the season. Lining up in place of former All-American Solomon Brown, Salley will be expected to help carry the Bucs' pass rush this season.
 
Cline Can
Cody Cline led the Big South defensive freshmen this week with six solo tackles among his seven stops, and added a pass breakup at the CSU goal line to highlight his first performance of the 2019 season. Cline was active early with three solo tackles over the first two Furman drives, while his pass breakup late in the second quarter on a ball thrown over the middle held Furman to a field goal and gave the Bucs a gasp at keeping the game within reach at the halftime break.
 
Reighard Moving Up the Ranks
Kyle Reighard has shown up in key games for the Buccaneers throughout his career and Saturday was another glimpse of what he brings to the field. The redshirt senior punter paced the Big South with a 46.9 yard-per-punt average on Saturday afternoon and added four 50-plus yard punts to his totals. Reighard had punts of 51, 52, 53, and 50 with one punt downed inside the 20 and three placed at the Furman 21 in helping the Bucs in the field position battle. Reighard's four 50+ yard punts moved him into sole possession of sixth place all-time in the Big South annals with 22.
 
Recapping South Carolina's Last Week
UNC True freshman quarterback Sam Howell threw for 245 yards and two touchdowns, Myles Wolfork had two late fourth quarter interceptions and North Carolina battled back to beat South Carolina 24-20 on Saturday. Howell capped second half drives of 98 and 95 yards with a 22-yard TD strike to Dyami Brown and a 17-yard scoring toss to Beau Corrales to cap the game. The Tar Heels' defense was strong in the second half, and Wolfork sealed the win by intercepting Jake Bentley twice on South Carolina's final three possessions helping North Carolina register its first win over a power-conference opponent in a season opener since topping Indiana in 1997, Brown's final season in his first stint at the school.
 
Quick Notes on the Gamecocks
True freshman Ryan Hilinski was given the starting nod this week at quarterback following an injury to starter Jake Bentley as he leads the Gamecocks' offense onto the field this week against the Buccaneers. South Carolina is looking to avoid going 0-2 for the first time since 1999 when the Gamecocks went 0-11 on the year. USC was picked fourth in the SEC Eastern Division by the media in the preseason, sitting behind Georgia, Florida, and Missouri.
 
Looking Ahead to Community
One of the initiatives set by the Bucs Athletic Department this season was getting back into the community and CSU looks ahead to next week's home opener featuring their first Lowcountry Appreciation Day. The Bucs Sept. 14 game against North Carolina A&T has been dubbed 'Hanahan Day' and will feature the following amenities for Hanahan residents at the game: Fans from within these cities will be able to purchase a $5 general admission ticket to their recognized game at the gates following proof of residency. Kids wearing their recreation uniforms will be admitted free of charge. Mayor Christie Rainwater will be recognized and participate in pregame festivities, including the coin toss, while members of youth leagues, first responders, and others will also be recognized throughout the game.