Tune-up game: The Gamecocks committed 13 penalties in their first loss of the season last week. Two of those came at the cost of pick-sixes by USC’s defense, which would’ve won the game. Akron is a perfect opportunity for South Carolina to get right heading into its first of two bye weeks.

South Carolina will try and start 3-1 for the first time in seven years and bounce back from a heart-breaking, 36-33 defeat to No. 16 LSU last week when it takes on Akron.

The SEC has a new policy enforcing mandatory “availability reports” before every conference game. But because South Carolina is playing a non-conference foe, it did not need to disclosure any injury information and, thus, does not have to divulge Sellers’ true status.