It was a strange game between the South Carolina football team and LSU. 

The Gamecocks outgained the Tigers on the ground, won the turnover battle, converted more opportunities on third down and controlled the time of possession. That is usually a winning formula, but for the Gamecocks, it led to a 20-10 loss. 

“Sick to my stomach that we didn’t win that football game. We had plenty of opportunities,” head coach Shane Beamer said after the game. “When you win the turnover battle, which we did; when you, until that last sack, are over 200 yards rushing; when you run the ball; when you win time of possession; you do all of that, you should win the game.”

It was a crushing blow for the Gamecocks, who fell to (3-3) overall and (1-3) in conference play. The team still has four games left on its gauntlet of ranked opponents, including next week’s home game against No. 14 Oklahoma. 

While things are looking bleak, Beamer is confident his team can go on a similar run that they did to end the 2024 regular season 9-3.

“I know it’s not pretty right now, but I feel like we’re getting better in a lot of areas,” Beamer said. We were 3-3 and going to Oklahoma… Now, we’re 3-3 and got Oklahoma coming to town.”

Here are three takeaways from the Gamecocks' loss to No. 11 LSU. 

South Carolina’s offensive line is still a huge problem 

The Gamecocks’ offensive line continues to be an issue, and it is costing the team big. 

Quarterback LaNorris Sellers was sacked five times against LSU, costing the team 55 yards. So far this season, Sellers has been sacked 19 times, tied for seventh most in the country. 

Giving up sacks wasn't the only problem the line had, though. The unit was flagged for five presnap penalties that backed the team up. The execution was off on many plays, including the Gamecocks’ first offensive snap of the game, where center Rodney Newsom’s mistake led to a fumble recovered by LSU. 

“We had a fumble on the first play of the game, which is mind-boggling to me,” Beamer said. “Everybody heard the cadence but Rodney, apparently.” 

It doesn’t help that the group has also been banged up by injuries this season. The team came into the game missing Cason Henry and Nolan Hay, and then lost Shed Sarratt early against LSU.

While there is little anyone can do to fix the situation at this point in the season, Beamer has taken action. One day after the LSU game, South Carolina announced it was firing offensive line coach Lonnie Teasley.

Tight ends coach Shawn Elliot will take charge of the unit, per a team release. 

The Gamecocks failed to capitalize on LSU’s mistakes

South Carolina’s biggest mistake of the game was failing to take advantage of LSU’s many errors. 

The Tigers had just as many, if not more, problems than the Gamecocks. Both teams traded mistakes throughout the game, leaving points off the board and heads scratching. 

LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier threw two interceptions and the Tigers fumbled the ball right before crossing into the endzone. South Carolina only scored seven points off those blunders. 

The Tigers committed far fewer penalties but conceded almost as many yards as the Gamecocks, with five flags for 54 yards. 

Neither team looked good in this game, but the difference was the Tigers made something out of their chances. The Gamecocks did not. 

“That was the story tonight, just missed opportunities and not finishing drives,” Beamer said. “We had opportunities tonight… to take momentum and dominate the fourth quarter like we talked about. We didn’t get it done.”

The season’s ceiling is significantly lower than before

Six games into the season, the Gamecocks are (3-3) and (1-3) in the SEC. The team’s preseason hope of making the playoff is virtually gone, and South Carolina still has its toughest stretch ahead. 

The Gamecocks' next four games are against No. 14 Oklahoma, No. 6 Alabama, No. 5 Ole Miss and No. 4 Texas A&M. The team must win one of those to become bowl eligible. 

After that, South Carolina hosts Coastal Carolina and Clemson. 

Despite the most optimistic preseason predictions being out of reach, there is still plenty of football left for the team to salvage its season. It won’t be easy, and it will take some serious changes, but it is possible to go on a streak like last year. 

“You draw on last year. We were 3-3, and we rallied and continued to get better,” Beamer said. “We need to be able to, like I told our team in the locker room, quit kicking our own butts before we start kicking other teams’ butts.”