Special USC football show debuts on ESPNU today. Here’s how to watch, what to expect

Wednesday night will give Gamecock football fans a unique look at the squad — right in the comfort of their home.

ESPNU is debuting “Welcome Home: South Carolina Football” at 7 p.m Wednesday. The show’s aim is to give a behind-the-scenes look at USC’s team, the players and the coaching staff. It’s a weekly, five-part series scheduled to conclude after the season opener against Georgia State.

How to watch South Carolina football show on ESPNU

When: 7 p.m. Wednesdays, Aug. 10 through Sept. 7

TV: ESPNU

Stream: ESPN app

Length: 30 minutes

What to expect from USC football show

The series is said to have footage from meetings, practices and other team activities. The show’s name, of course, serves as a nod to head coach Shane Beamer’s catchphrase, “Welcome home.”

“This show will give our fans a look at the hard work our team goes through to prepare for the season,” Beamer said in a news release. “My hope is that as you watch our team play during the season, fans will have an appreciation of what goes into a season, a game and a practice.”

According to Sport & Story president Bo Mattingly — who partnered with USC athletics to make the project — the series will spotlight important figures and themes on the team that will develop throughout the five episodes.

“We’ll build on some characters on the show,” Mattingly said in an interview with radio host Heath Cline on 107.5 The Game. “There are a lot of football players that are making a big difference, and you can’t feature every one of them. There are some that, for whatever reason, have a little bit of a different story, so maybe we spend more time getting to know them.

“Then you weave in the grind of camp, what it looks like behind the scenes to train. What’s the nutrition like? What are these guys like off the field. What’s a staff meeting look like with coach Beamer?”

South Carolina finished 7-6 last season after its bowl game win against North Carolina, and has since bolstered its roster. Still, the team plays in a competitive SEC and was picked to finish fifth in the SEC East by media.

“For South Carolina fans, you’re definitely going to get a unique look at what it’s like to play for the Gamecocks,” Mattingly said.

Gamecocks to look for on ESPNU show

Though specific players who could be featured on “Welcome Home: South Carolina Football” were not revealed, here are some key Gamecocks to watch for on the show and in the 2022 season.

▪ QB Spencer Rattler: Rattler was the team’s biggest offseason acquisition, given his pedigree as Oklahoma’s former starting quarterback. Despite winning 14 starts in a row, he was benched for Caleb Williams in 2021. Beamer coached Rattler at Oklahoma while serving as an assistant, so he’s familiar with his game. Once a Heisman hopeful, Rattler heads into this season looking to re-establish his footing in college football on a team that used numerous starting quarterbacks in 2021.

▪ TE Jaheim Bell: Bell made noise with his Duke’s Mayo Bowl performance, accumulating 180 all-purpose yards on just eight touches and scoring two touchdowns. He is entering his junior year as a legitimate first-round NFL prospect. He’s drawn many comparisons to former Gamecock Deebo Samuel for his versatility, as he can line up in the backfield, split out wide or fill in at the tight end spot. Though his overall numbers last season weren’t eye-popping, his versatility combined with having a steady quarterback to target him can change that.

▪ DB Cam Smith: Like Rattler and Bell, Smith has NFL potential. The team uses him both outside and as a nickel corner, giving the defense different options. Smith was part of a defense that led the SEC in takeaways a season ago. He led South Carolina with 11 pass deflections and finished second on the team with three interceptions in 2021.

South Carolina 2022 football schedule

Sept. 3: vs. Georgia State, 7:30 p.m. (SEC Network Plus/ESPN+) Sept. 10: at Arkansas, noon (ESPN) Sept. 17: vs. Georgia, noon (ESPN) Sept. 24: vs. Charlotte Oct. 1: vs. South Carolina State Oct. 8: at Kentucky Oct. 22: vs. Texas A&M Oct. 29: vs. Missouri Nov. 5: at Vanderbilt Nov. 12: at Florida Nov. 19: vs. Tennessee Nov. 26: at Clemson