The 2-1 South Carolina Gamecocks are going on the road to take on the No. 8 Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday. The Gamecocks are two-score underdogs, coming off of a disappointing home loss to Mississippi State.
One big key for South Carolina getting an upset victory over the Tide is Gamecock quarterback LaNorris Sellers having a big game. He has faced Alabama's defense twice before, in 2024 and 2025. Let's take a look at how he has done in the last two meetings, and see what he can do to get a first-ever victory over the Tide.
2024: Alabama 27, South Carolina 25
As you'll notice, Sellers has not had the best performances in both games against the Tide. The last time the Gamecocks played in Tuscaloosa, Alabama took a 14-0 lead late in the second quarter.
While Sellers and the Gamecock offense did respond with two scoring drives to make it 14-12 at halftime, Sellers had a fumble late in the quarter before halftime.
South Carolina opened the third quarter with a 16-play, 85-yard touchdown drive to take a 19-14 lead. Early in the fourth, Sellers fumbled again, which set up the Tide's touchdown to give Alabama the lead back.
The Gamecocks missed a field goal after Sellers and the offense only got down to Alabama's 33-yardline, and the Tide scored a touchdown on the next drive to take a 27-19 lead.
But trailing within eight points, the game was still in reach. Sellers led a brilliant six-play, 75-yard touchdown drive, but his two-point conversion attempt failed. South Carolina miraculously recovered an onside kick with 43 seconds left, but a Sellers interception sealed a Tide victory.
Sellers finished the game with three turnovers.
2025: Alabama 29, South Carolina 22
As you can see, Sellers' turnover struggles continued in last year's matchup against the Tide. He threw an interception in the first quarter, and the Gamecocks managed just two field goals in the first half. Alabama led 14-6 at halftime after a Tide scoring drive in each of the first two quarters.
On South Carolina's very first possession of the first half, Sellers found Nyck Harbor for a 54-yard touchdown strike to make it a one-score game at 14-12. But the two-point failed, allowing Alabama to hold on to the lead. The Gamecocks made a 47-yard field goal to take the lead with 1:38 left in the third. Sellers added onto that lead, with a 10-yard touchdown run to make it 22-14 with 10 minutes left in the game.
But after Alabama scored a touchdown midway through the quarter to tie the game at 22, Sellers fumbled, and gave the ball back to Alabama on South Carolina's 38-yardline. The fumble set up the Tide's game-winning touchdown.
In all, Sellers has produced five turnovers combined in each of his last two games against Alabama.
Shane Beamer knows Saturday's game will come to winning the turnover battle.
South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer was asked about what it will take for Sellers to get a win over Alabama in this third try. He emphasized that it will likely come down to producing less turnovers.
“The last two years, the game has come down to the last possession," Beamer said via Gamecock Central. "In 2024 and 2025, we had the ball with a chance to win or tie and didn’t get it done. I think you look at, before that, all the things leading up to [those moments] — plays we didn’t make, give them credit for, and missed opportunities, and we got to protect the ball better. It’s been two years in a row that this game’s come down to the last possession, but it’s two years in a row that we haven’t won the turnover battle.
The expectations surrounding the signal-caller were huge entering this year, as he was expected to have a big season under new offensive coordinator Kendal Briles. But through three games, he has thrown three interceptions, including two last week against Mississippi State.
Sellers will need to fix those mistakes in a hurry, as the Tide's defense produced seven turnovers this season, including five interceptions.
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