South Carolina suspended All-SEC edge rusher Dylan Stewart indefinitely Sunday following an on-field altercation late in Saturday’s loss to Alabama, coach Shane Beamer announced.
Disciplinary action after late-game punch
Stewart was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct after he struck Alabama tight end Josh Ford in the helmet near the end zone late in the fourth quarter of the Crimson Tide’s 49-18 victory. He remained in the game at the time and was not ejected by the officials on the field.
“That’s not how we do things around here and I’m embarrassed to see that because that’s not what we’re about,” Beamer said after the game.
On Sunday, Beamer said Stewart will miss South Carolina’s Week 5 matchup against Kentucky on Saturday, Oct. 3. The coach added the program will determine Stewart’s status beyond that game soon.
Officials, analysts disagree on ejection
Television rules analyst Jerry McGinn told ESPN during the broadcast that the play warranted an ejection, saying it was "not even a question" whether Stewart should have been removed. Nonetheless, game officials assessed the unsportsmanlike conduct flag without ordering Stewart out of the contest.
Beamer said he had not seen the play until after the game and expressed frustration with the action and how it reflected on the program.
What this means for the Gamecocks
Stewart has been one of South Carolina’s most productive defenders. He recorded 11 sacks across his first two college seasons and earned second-team All-SEC recognition following an injury-shortened 2025 season. He returned this year after missing South Carolina’s first two games while recovering from a back injury.
His absence comes as the Gamecocks have dropped consecutive games to fall to 2-2 on the season. Two of their next three opponents sit in the top 20 of the latest US LBM Coaches Poll — No. 8 Florida and No. 17 Tennessee — heightening the stakes for South Carolina’s defensive front.
- Suspension: Indefinite; will miss Week 5 at Kentucky (Oct. 3)
- Immediate impact: Loss of the team’s primary pass rusher for at least one conference game
- Pending decision: Program to announce whether suspension is extended beyond Kentucky
Short-term outlook and schedule implications
South Carolina’s defensive depth will be tested without Stewart. The team’s upcoming slate includes two top-20 opponents, and replacing an edge rusher with Stewart’s production will be a primary concern for defensive coordinator staff and roster rotation.
| Week | Opponent | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Week 5 (Oct. 3) | Kentucky | Stewart will not play; suspension in effect |
| Upcoming | Florida | No. 8 in US LBM Coaches Poll |
| Upcoming | Tennessee | No. 17 in US LBM Coaches Poll |
Beyond the immediate tactical ramifications, the incident raises questions about discipline and player conduct in Coach Beamer’s program. Beamer’s comment that the play was "not how we do things" signals a desire to draw a clear line between the team’s standards and Stewart’s action.
Player background and context
Stewart, a 6-foot-5 junior, has been an impact performer when healthy. His sack totals in earlier seasons and conference honors established him as a central figure in South Carolina’s defensive game plan. He missed the Gamecocks’ first two games this season while managing a lingering back issue suffered last year and returned to contribute before the Alabama game.
How the staff elects to handle the situation going forward will be watched closely by fans, opponents and league observers. Any extension of the suspension would further affect South Carolina’s ability to pressure opposing quarterbacks during a stretch that includes ranked conference rivals.
Coach Beamer did not provide a timeline for when a final decision on Stewart’s status beyond the Kentucky game will be announced.
Coverage of the Gamecocks and this developing story will continue as the program provides updates and as the team prepares for its next matchup in Lexington.
