CLEMSON, S.C. — LaNorris Sellers’ impressive 20-yard touchdown sprint with just over a minute remaining secured the No. 16 South Carolina Gamecocks a gripping 17-14 victory against the 12th-ranked Clemson Tigers on Saturday afternoon.
Sellers, a freshman quarterback starting his initial season, tallied an impressive 166 rushing yards along with two touchdowns, aiding the Gamecocks (9-3, 4-1 SEC, No. 15 CFP) in achieving their sixth consecutive win. This remarkable run has included victories over four ranked opponents throughout the month of November.
Clemson (9-3, 5-2 ACC, No. 12) managed to advance to South Carolina’s 18-yard line with only 16 seconds left on the clock—positioning themselves well for a potential game-tying field goal. However, Cade Klubnik’s pass was intercepted by Demetrius Knight Jr., sealing the Gamecocks’ triumph.
After starting the season with a 3-3 record, including a loss to Alabama in mid-October, South Carolina has piqued the interest of the College Football Playoff selection committee with their strong performance in the second half of the season. Much of the credit for this resurgence goes to the composure shown by Sellers, who bounced back from an early fumble and a late interception during this crucial matchup, ensuring South Carolina’s consecutive win over their rivals.
On his decisive touchdown run, Sellers showcased his impressive agility by spinning away from a defender and expertly navigating through traffic to reach the end zone.
In his latest standout performance, Sellers managed to rally the Gamecocks in the fourth quarter two weeks before against Missouri in a tight 34-30 contest, where he achieved career-best stats of 353 yards and five touchdown passes.
Clemson had their eyes set on qualifying for the College Football Playoff’s 12-team bracket but struggled to convert on offensive opportunities and could not contain Sellers. He finished the game with 164 passing yards, completing 13 of 21 attempts.
Despite the loss, the Tigers still harbor hopes for postseason play. They are now hoping for an upset by Syracuse over No. 8 Miami later that day, which could allow Clemson to enter the Atlantic Coast Conference title game against SMU next week.
Both teams entered the matchup with momentum; the Tigers on a three-game winning streak, while the Gamecocks had achieved five straight victories, including three consecutive wins against ranked teams like Texas A&M, Vanderbilt, and Missouri.
The first half proved uneventful offensively for both squads. Sellers experienced a setback when he was sacked by T.J. Parker, who subsequently recovered the ball with South Carolina poised inside the Clemson 20-yard line. The Tigers, after driving to the South Carolina 11-yard line, opted to go for it on fourth-and-1 instead of taking the easy field goal, only to be halted by defenders Jalon Kilgore and Knight.
Klubnik, for the Tigers, recorded touchdown runs of 13 and 18 yards during the game.
As for takeaway points: South Carolina has shown tremendous growth, outperforming expectations after being predicted to finish 13th in the SEC, while Clemson has fallen short against both ranked SEC teams it faced this season, including their opener against No. 1 Georgia and this latest rival defeat.
Looking ahead, both South Carolina and Clemson are preparing for the postseason.
