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Shane Beamer talks Citrus Bowl Prep, transfer portal, and CFP selection process

Shane Beamer talks Citrus Bowl Prep, transfer portal, and CFP selection process

DraftKings Network College Football

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By: Darian Kelly

South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer joined Monday’s edition of GoJo and Golic to share insights on the Gamecocks’ preparation for the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl matchup against Illinois — The Gamecocks are 9.5-point favorites at DraftKings Sportsbook — as well as his thoughts on the CFP.

The opening weekend of the College Football Playoff’s first round sparked mixed reactions — some were thrilled by the home game atmosphere, while others were in their feelings about the blowouts. Mike Golic Sr. asked Beamer what he thought of the CFP opening weekend. Well for one, he expressed gratitude for living in the South after seeing the cold weather in some of those matchups. More seriously, he thought the first round was awesome and a reminder of what makes college football special, particularly the on-campus atmosphere. Despite being in the middle of bowl preparations, he caught part of the Notre Dame game on Friday and most of the Saturday games. Beamer specifically mentioned memorable moments like the social media image of the snowman overlooking Notre Dame’s stadium in South Bend, calling it a fantastic scene. He envied not being part of the action but remains excited about the rest of his team’s season and South Carolina’s upcoming bowl game.

Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin was VERY active on Twitter this past weekend, voicing his displeasure about the College Football Playoff committee’s 12-team selection decisions. Beamer offered his take on Kiffin’s frustrations, ultimately agreeing that changes are needed. He acknowledged how hard it is to win games in today’s college football, noting the parity across the sport, and stressed that strength of schedule and the quality of wins should matter more in the selection process. Beamer shared his frustration with committee chairman Warde Manuel’s statement that conference championship results wouldn’t change the rankings of certain teams, with Beamer pointing out South Carolina’s win over ACC champion Clemson on their home field and asking why it didn’t affect their ranking, especially since the ACC champion and runner-up SMU were both included in the playoffs.

While Beamer believes conference championships should matter and winning one should secure a playoff spot, he also highlighted concerns around seeding. He pointed out that two teams with byes in the next round are double-digit underdogs, which he argued raises questions about the fairness of the current system. He likened it to a No. 1 seed in the NCAA basketball tournament being a heavy underdog in their first game, suggesting that the automatic bye system might need to be re-evaluated. Beamer also criticized the inconsistency in how injuries are considered in rankings. He cited South Carolina’s narrow loss to LSU without their starting quarterback, contrasting it with Florida State being excluded from the playoffs last year due to an injury. He called for a clear, consistent protocol year-to-year. Senior supported Beamer’s stance, pointing out South Carolina’s 15th-place ranking and criticizing the pre-championship claim that their position wouldn’t change regardless of results. He also highlighted the disparity with teams like Boise State, who received a first-round bye, a double-digit underdog against Penn State in the Fiesta Bowl, and Arizona State, a double-digit underdog to Texas in the Peach Bowl.

Senior has been pounding the table to bring back the old BCS computer system to sort out the selection chaos. Beamer expressed that he was open to the idea of bringing back computers to play a role in CFP selection decisions, suggesting they could provide valuable data. Drawing from his father’s experience on the playoff committee, Beamer emphasized how the wealth of information, including computer models and stats, was instrumental in evaluating the best teams under the four-team format. Additionally, Beamer stressed the importance of arming the committee with as much information as possible, including computer rankings, while valuing the committee members’ diverse perspectives. He suggested increasing the presence of more coaches on the committee, as their expertise allows them to evaluate teams beyond scores and win margins, providing deeper insights.

As the Gamecock’s Citrus Bowl matchup against Illinois approaches, Beamer talked abou how he’s gearing up for the game while managing the transfer portal and his current roster. Beamer strongly supports bowl games, emphasizing their importance for team bonding and player development. He shared his disappointment for teams eliminated from the CFP without the chance to have a bowl experence, contrasting that with his team’s upcoming trip to Orlando for the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl. He talked about the unique opportunities for players and families to enjoy activities like visits to Universal Studios, Disney World and an Orlando Magic game, which allows his players to spend valuable time together as a team.

When it comes to actual game prep, Beamer emphasized balancing game readiness with player development. He viewed these last few weeks as an extension of spring practice, particularly for younger players, noting how valuable it was for incoming high school seniors to join practices early if they’re eligible. However, he acknowledged the challenges posed by the transfer portal, which has reduced the number of younger players available for development. Despite this, Beamer praised his team’s focus and energy in practice and emphasized the need for a mental and physical reset after a taxing season of elimination games leading to the playoffs.

Watch or listen to the full show below and tune into GoJo and Golic weekday mornings from 8-10 a.m. ET on DraftKings Network! See more about how to watch DraftKings Network here.

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Watch GoJo and Golic every weekday on Samsung TV Plus, Roku, Xumo Play, Google TV and DraftKingsNetwork.com from 8 to 10 a.m. ET. The show is also available via audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also follow Mike Golic Sr. on X at @golic and Mike Golic Jr. on X at @mikegolicjr.

I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information

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Darian Kelly

I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.