LaNorris Sellers put on a full show in Norman, and South Carolina walked out with a statement win.
Sellers threw for 301 yards and three touchdowns and added 96 yards and two more scores on the ground as the Gamecocks beat Oklahoma 42-25 on Saturday. South Carolina’s defense did its part too, holding the Sooners to 118 yards and 10 points through three quarters while the Gamecocks built a 35-10 cushion.
The big plays came early and kept coming. Sellers connected with DJ Black on an 84-yard touchdown and later hit Mazeo Bennett Jr. for a 79-yard score. South Carolina (5-3, 3-3 Southeastern Conference) used those explosive strikes to keep control and stretch its winning streak to three.
“Really awesome night, proud of our football team,” South Carolina coach Shane Beamer said. “We challenged them all week. Nobody in the SEC has been able to do what we did tonight, and that's come off a big win and follow it up the very next week with another big win.”
The Gamecocks arrived in Norman after back-to-back wins over ranked Florida and Tennessee, and they carried that momentum right into another road job well done.
“This is a big win, to come on the road and play like we did tonight,” Beamer continued. “Our guys deserve it, though, they put a lot into this and I'm really proud of them.”
Oklahoma (4-4, 2-3) did have one burst of life early in the second quarter. Kip Lewis picked off Sellers and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown to tie the game at 7-7. It was the third pick-6 of Lewis’ career, matching a school record.
After that, though, South Carolina took over.
The Gamecocks answered Lewis’ return by stringing together three straight scoring drives, including two that went 75 yards, and the halftime score had ballooned to 28-10. By then, the Sooners were getting booed as they headed to the locker room.
South Carolina’s total offense finished at 521 yards, and Oklahoma’s highly rated defense never found a way to slow down Sellers or the Gamecocks. Coming into the game, the Sooners ranked first nationally in opponent first downs allowed and second in third-down defense, but South Carolina still racked up 22 first downs and converted 8 of 14 third downs.
Oklahoma did make things more interesting in the fourth quarter. John Mateer threw a pair of touchdown passes to Ivan Carreon as the Sooners tried to trim the margin, but the hole was too deep.
“We got our ass whooped tonight in every way,” Oklahoma coach Brent Venables said. “Really disappointed.
I watched the game, everybody else watched the game. They were a more physical team and created explosive plays.
We couldn't get any offensive rhythm in the first half. We're not built to overcome some of the ineptness as a football team that we displayed out there tonight.”
Mateer was just as blunt afterward.
“We're frustrated, too,” Mateer said. “I won't sleep peacefully tonight and I don't think anybody in this building will.
I wish it could have been better. We'll go back to work Monday ... and do everything we can to make it better.”
South Carolina also took a hit of its own when running back Matt Fuller left in the first quarter and did not return after four carries for 17 yards. Beamer said the outlook was grim.
“It doesn't look good on Matt,” Beamer said. “Unless we get some better news overnight, probably season-ending.
He's scheduled to have surgery tomorrow morning. It looks like a broke bone in his foot, lower leg area."
The result also continued South Carolina’s success in Norman. The Gamecocks have now outscored Oklahoma 77-34 in two games at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
South Carolina hosts Texas A&M on Saturday. Oklahoma plays at No. 17 Florida on Saturday.
In Other News...
South Carolina Suddenly Has A Huge Backfield Problem After Oklahoma
Matt Fullers breakout season took a hard turn in the first quarter against Oklahoma, when the South Carolina running back left with an ankle injury and later was found to have a broken bone in his foot. He is expected to have surgery, which likely ends his season and leaves the Gamecocks without one of their most productive backs at a time when the offense had been leaning on him heavily.
Fuller had already piled up 513 rushing yards and five touchdowns before the injury, giving South Carolina a reliable presence in the backfield and a steady option in the run game. In his absence against Oklahoma, Jabree Coleman, Christian Clark and Isaiah Augustave all got work, and the Gamecocks now have to sort out how they replace Fullers production moving forward. [Read more 🡒]
Dabo Swinney Blasts Fan Stunt He Says Crossed The Line
Clemsons win over Florida State was supposed to be the headline, but Dabo Swinney spent part of his postgame attention on something floating above the stadium instead. A banner calling for the firing of coach Mike Norvell and trustee Peter Collins drew Swinneys criticism, with the Clemson coach pointing out the misspelling of Norvells name and saying he was disappointed by the stunt. The message was reportedly crowdfunded by a fan and cost $3,550.
Swinneys reaction fit a broader point he has made before about what should and should not happen when a team is struggling. He stressed that the focus ought to stay on supporting the players, not turning losses into public campaigns aimed at getting people fired. In a rivalry-driven sport where emotion runs high, the banner became a reminder that the line between venting frustration and crossing into something uglier can be a thin one. [Read more 🡒]
LaNorris Sellers Has South Carolina Back In A Bigger Conversation
South Carolinas latest win did more than keep a streak alive. By beating Oklahoma 42-25 for a third straight victory, the Gamecocks pushed themselves back into a more meaningful conversation, and LaNorris Sellers was at the center of it. The quarterback delivered a dynamic performance with 301 passing yards, three touchdown throws, 96 rushing yards and two more scores on the ground, giving South Carolina the kind of offensive spark that can change the tone around a season.
At 5-3, the Gamecocks have created some breathing room, but the next stretch will say plenty about how far this run can go. The schedule ahead brings tougher tests that will shape their postseason chances, and the question now is whether Sellers and South Carolina can carry this momentum into games that carry far more weight than a November win in October. [Read more 🡒]