TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — On Saturday, Alabama managed to fend off South Carolina with a narrow 27-25 victory, marked by a critical interception after the Gamecocks had an opportunity to mount a comeback. South Carolina almost pulled off an upset, particularly after a mishap during an onside kick recovery that occurred just before their final drive of the game.

With only 43 seconds remaining in the game, LaNorris Sellers connected with Nyck Harbor for a 31-yard touchdown; however, the Gamecocks (3-2, 1-3) were unable to convert their two-point attempt. They did recover the following onside kick, yet Sellers’ last-ditch pass toward the end zone was intercepted at the goal line by Domani Jackson with 13 seconds left.

Jalen Milroe played a pivotal role for the No. 7 ranked Crimson Tide (5-1, 2-1), scoring on a 7-yard run in the fourth quarter and later assisting Germie Bernard in a crucial 34-yard touchdown. This performance helped the team avoid yet another upset following last week’s loss to Vanderbilt, which had ended their time as the top-ranked team in the nation.

Despite his struggles, Milroe came through when it mattered most. The quarterback faced two interceptions and received a penalty for intentional grounding, resulting in a safety. However, on a decisive third-and-10 situation, he found Bernard downfield with no defender in sight, concluding a 10-play drive with just under two minutes left in the game. Milroe finished with 16 completions on 23 attempts for 209 yards, along with a touchdown and two rushing scores. On the other hand, Sellers completed 23 of 31 passes for 238 yards, contributing two touchdowns and the final interception.

The Gamecocks had a lead as they entered the fourth quarter and were in a position to regain control of the game. However, Alex Herrera’s 51-yard field goal attempt fell short, which would have marked a personal best for him. Milroe took advantage of a critical fumble by Sellers to score a 7-yard run with just over 10 minutes left, yet a failed two-point conversion kept the score at 20-19.

Alabama initially held a significant 14-point lead, but South Carolina managed to close the gap to just two points within the final 1:37 of the first half due to a series of impactful plays and critical mistakes from the Tide, including the safety and turnovers from both teams. Sellers connected with Mazeo Bennett Jr. for a 36-yard touchdown on fourth-and-9, showcasing the Gamecocks’ resilience.

**Analysis:** South Carolina appears to have made considerable improvements following a rough home loss to No. 9 Mississippi, with Sellers performing strongly against Milroe in many moments of the game. As for Alabama, their impressive early season performance seems to be a distant memory, but they ultimately managed to secure the win.

**Poll Impacts:** Despite the victory, Alabama might see a drop in the rankings.

**Upcoming Matches:** Next, South Carolina will face No. 18 Oklahoma on October 19, while Alabama will travel to play No. 8 Tennessee on the same day.