Okay, so the 2024 season has been the most successful season for the South Carolina Gamecocks. They rounded off the season with a 9-4 overall record. While the 2025 season has yet to pull up the curtains, Gamecocks HC Shane Beamer will now be doing some HC duties. However, not in the college football landscape. Beamer now has a crucial role to play in the House NIL hearing. While he will be a renowned presence in the hearing of the lawsuit, his fight for a new rule in the CFP playoffs is still on.

The lawsuit dates back to June 2020. Back then the Plaintiffs Grant House and Sedona Price filed a complaint asserting various antitrust and unjust enrichment claims against the NCAA. Going by the terms proposed in the House settlement, it includes a third-party clearinghouse. It would scrutinize the NIL deals over $600 intending to determine whether the deals are in line with the athletes’ market value. On the other hand, the NCAA is aiming to establish a new enforcement entity with court backing to constrict NIL collectives’ role. As these take shape, there is a House Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade hearing on NIL on Tuesday, March 4. And Beamer will be among the witnesses, as confirmed by Ross Dellenger.

Beamer will be accompanied by Illinois AD Josh Whitman. The college football analyst tweeted, “South Carolina coach Shane Beamer and Illinois AD Josh Whitman heading to DC next week as witnesses to a House NIL hearing.” He had, re-shared Steve Berkowitz’s tweet that exposed more details about the hearing. It read, “The Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade has scheduled a hearing on Tuesday, March 4, at 10:1 am (ET) in 2123 Rayburn House Office Building. The title of the hearing is ‘Moving the Goalposts: How NIL is Reshaping College Athletes.’” Other than Beamer and Whitman, there will be Duke University’s track athlete Emily Cole, and Abilene Christian University’s football athlete Anthony Egbo Jr. The former Clemson offensive lineman and vice president of the College Football Players Association Justin Falcinelli will also be there for the hearing. After all, Tuesday marks a crucial day. 

Going by the reports, Sen. Ted Cruz is on his way to hammer out a new NIL legislation. He has already had a meeting with Power Four schools. This hearing was scheduled by Rep. Gus Bilirakis, the chairman of the subcommittee who is likely to gather opinions. While Beamer will be a part of the witnesses, he is up for something himself. 

Shane Beamer’s call for playoff justice

Looks like the Gamecocks HC is not okay with how the SEC works. And now has a bold aspiration for change. The 2024 season did gift them with some moments to boost their confidence. For instance, they had a big 14-17 win over Clemson Tigers who eventually grabbed the ACC championship. But even then, their playoff ride has been cut short. But SEC got their lesson for snubbing Beamer’s boys. The SEC trio- Georgia, Texas, and Tennessee could not bag the national championship title, even after making it to the playoffs.

On that note, the HC broke his silence. Beamer said, “The fact of the matter is, we beat the ACC champion on their field this year and didn’t get in… I do believe this league is just different than others, and there has to be some consideration.” Now what is Beamer’s demand? He believes that the conference deserves automatic bids into the College Football Playoff. Analyst Josh Pate had something to say about it.

Will they make it to the playoffs and make a run at a National Championship? The analyst confidently stated, “Surely they can.” After all, they have made it past year. But he is still unsure about seeing Shane Beamer’s boys holding the championship trophy. In case, they want to, their QB LaNorris Sellers will have to bring back the heat to the field. As Pate pinpointed one big loophole in Beamer’s gameplay. “There was a lot of randomness in the caliber of quarterback play.” But for now, the HC will have to give his attendance in Rayburn House.