The last time Arkansas lined up against South Carolina, the Razorbacks turned it into a track meet and a power game at the same time.
Arkansas rolled to a 44-30 win in Fayetteville, piling up more than 800 total yards and leaning hard on the one-two punch of KJ Jefferson and Rocket Sanders. It was the kind of SEC opener that let Sam Pittman’s team settle in quickly, as Arkansas moved to 2-0 overall and left fans celebrating in Hog Heaven.
South Carolina had the first crack at the night, taking the opening kickoff and moving 36 yards to midfield before a personal foul helped stall the drive into an unsuccessful third-and-19. A short punt handed Arkansas the ball at its own 37, and the Razorbacks immediately started hammering away on the ground. Ten of their first 13 plays were runs, and Sanders finished off a 13-play opening march with a 1-yard touchdown to make it 7-0 after 5:38.
The Gamecocks answered with a 65-yard drive that ended in a field goal after Arkansas’ defense tightened up, even after a 43-yard catch by MarShawn Lloyd helped set up the chance. But Arkansas kept controlling the game. Briles’ offense put together a pair of 12-play scoring drives to build a 21-3 lead midway through the second quarter.
South Carolina found the end zone next, with Lloyd scoring on the ground, but a missed extra point left the Razorbacks ahead 21-9 at the break.
The third quarter opened with South Carolina forcing a three-and-out, and the Gamecocks cashed in fast. An eight-play, 88-yard drive took just 2:55, capped by a 62-yard touchdown pass from Rattler to Juice Wells, trimming the Arkansas lead to 21-16.
Arkansas answered with a burst of its own. On the first play of the next possession, Sanders ripped off 47 yards into Gamecock territory, though the drive eventually stalled when Jefferson was stopped for no gain on fourth down at the 19.
The Razorbacks didn’t stay quiet for long. After a scoreless third quarter, they put together a 14-play, 59-yard march that ate more than five minutes and ended with Jefferson’s 2-yard touchdown run.
The defense then created another swing. Latavious Brini forced a Lloyd fumble, Hudson Clark recovered it, and Jefferson quickly hit Warren Thompson for a 23-yard touchdown to push the lead to 35-16.
South Carolina cut it to 35-24, but Arkansas slammed the door with special teams help. Bumper Pool returned an onside kick to the South Carolina 9, and AJ Green scored two plays later to make it 42-24.
Sanders finished with 156 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries, while Jefferson added 67 yards and a score on the ground. Drew Sanders also delivered a huge defensive night, opening his All-American campaign with 11 tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks and two forced fumbles.
South Carolina kept forcing Arkansas to answer, but the Razorbacks did just that when it mattered and walked away with the 44-30 win inside Razorback Stadium.
In Other News...
South Carolina Faces A Game-Changing QB Decision At Arkansas
LaNorris Sellers has been working through a left ankle injury since last week, and South Carolina is heading into its trip to Arkansas with its quarterback situation still unsettled. The Gamecocks have been managing his workload in practice, but the decision on whether he can go is expected to come down right at game time.
If Sellers is unable to play, sophomore Cutter Woods is the likely next man up, which would put a lot on the shoulders of a young quarterback in a tough road setting. For South Carolina, the stakes are obvious: the offense looks very different depending on who takes the first snap, and the uncertainty alone adds another layer to an already important SEC week. [Read more 🡒]
South Carolina Could Be Missing A Key Game-Day Staple At Arkansas
A travel headache tied to the FAAs nationwide grounding of flights has put South Carolinas band in a difficult spot ahead of the Gamecocks trip to Arkansas. Some band members were stranded at the airport after flights were canceled, and officials have been working to rebook them on later flights or arrange hotel accommodations as they try to sort out the logistics.
For a program that leans on its band as part of the game-day atmosphere, the uncertainty is a notable wrinkle on the road. South Carolina officials are focused on making sure everyone gets back safely, but the band may not be in position to perform at the game, leaving one of the more familiar staples of the experience in doubt. [Read more 🡒]
Clemson Just Showed South Carolina A Rival Weakness Worth Watching
Clemsons early stumble against Georgetown offered a reminder that even a team with expectations can be pushed around when it gets behind quickly. Georgetown built a lead as large as 19 in the first half and held on through a late Clemson push, with Ace Buckner scoring 20 for the Tigers and Jaland Lowe leading the Hoyas with 21.
For South Carolina fans, the result is worth filing away because it exposed a vulnerability in a rival that will matter if Clemson has to chase games against better competition. The Tigers still have time to settle in during the 2026-2027 season, but the way Georgetown controlled the opening stretch is the kind of weakness opponents will keep trying to exploit. [Read more 🡒]