It's only Week 7, but a lot is on the line for both the LSU Tigers and South Carolina Gamecocks when they meet this Saturday night at Tiger Stadium. It's a game that both teams need to have, as the Tigers are looking to avoid a second consecutive SEC loss and the Gamecocks are eyeing a 2-2 SEC record. Both teams are coming off bye weeks, meaning both coaching staffs have had ample time to get their respective game plans together. The urgency to win this matchup is heightened when looking at the remaining schedules for both teams.
Both teams have daunting upcoming schedules
Despite LSU being favored by 8.5 points against South Carolina, picking up wins in the SEC is never easy. But, it's essentially a must-win for Brian Kelly and the Tigers if they want to compete for an SEC title and a spot in the College Football Playoff. That's because their upcoming schedule is a gauntlet. After battling South Carolina, LSU's next three games are at No. 20 Vanderbilt, vs No. 5 Texas A&M, and at No. 8 Alabama.
Vanderbilt will be coming off a loss to Alabama as well as a bye week. That means they'll be well-rested and well-prepared. Betting odds for the game haven't been released, but ESPN Analytics Matchup Predictor currently gives the Commodores a 61% chance to beat the Tigers.
LSU then hosts No. 5 Texas A&M on Oct. 25. The Aggies are arguably the best team in the SEC right now, and Marcel Reed seems to be taking a big step forward. Reed's passing prowess takes the Aggie offense to another level, which poses a lot of problems for their opponents.
Then, LSU heads to Tuscaloosa to face Alabama on Nov. 8. The Tide seem to have gotten back on track in recent weeks, and Ty Simpson has rarely had an incomplete pass since Week 1. He's thrown just one interception on 158 pass attempts on the season. Then after home games against Arkansas on Nov. 15 and Western Kentucky on Nov. 22, LSU wraps up the regular season at No. 6 Oklahoma on Nov. 29.
South Carolina also has an intimidating schedule ahead, as Shane Beamer's squad faces five consecutive current top-15 teams and four top-10 teams over the next month and a half.
South Carolina’s next 5 games pic.twitter.com/itgLIpI01h
— Josh Pate (@JoshPateCFB) October 7, 2025
That's about as tough of a stretch as it gets. South Carolina entered the season ranked No. 13 in the AP Poll, but quickly fell outside of the top-25. Beamer is already feeling the pressure after suffering a pair of SEC losses this season. The Gamecocks fell to Vanderbilt at home by a score of 31-7 in which they were out-scored by the Commodores 24-0 after the 1st quarter. South Carolina then fell to Missouri on the road before picking up a win vs Kentucky in Week 5.
Kick-off between the Tigers and Gamecocks is set for 6:45 p.m. CT on Saturday night in Death Valley. With such daunting schedules on deck for both teams, the road ahead could get even longer for the losing team on Saturday night.