LaNorris Sellers’ late heroics pushed the Gamecock football team past their rival Clemson last Saturday and kept South Carolina’s College Football Playoff hopes alive. 

Sellers played an excellent game against the Tigers and put the Gamecocks ahead for the first time with just over a minute left in the fourth quarter. The Gamecock quarterback scored a 20-yard rushing touchdown on third and 16 to make the score 17-14, Carolina. 

“It was a pass play, but I saw colors flash. My first read was covered, and then I saw green grass,” Sellers said. “They touched me, I stepped up. I usually find a receiver, but I saw green grass, so I took it."

Clemson struggled to stop Sellers all game. He was constantly dodging would-be tacklers and ducking out of sacks before taking off for a big gain. 

Sellers finished with 166 yards rushing and two touchdowns. He also passed for 164 yards on 21 attempts. 

“LaNorris Sellers is the best player in the country. All you media people that vote on the Heisman, if you are not voting for that guy for in the mix for the Heisman Trophy, you are out of your minds,” Gamecock head coach Shane Beamer said. “Name a player in the country that has done more than that kid has this year, particularly today. In the environment that he has done it in, in the moments that he has done it in. He put our team on his back today.” 

South Carolina sealed the game on the following Clemson drive. The Tigers got good movement downfield and wound up in field goal range for a potential tying kick. 

However before any attempt could be made, Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik threw an interception to South Carolina’s Demetrius Knight. The Gamecocks offense took over and a quick kneeldown ended the contest. 

"I asked the Lord before the play, I said, 'I need you in this one. They're close. They're in range. They could easily take this game over.' As soon as the ball was snapped, he said, 'Follow the running back. It's going to tip behind him.’” Knight said after the game. "That's exactly what the ball did, caught it, game."

The win was the Gamecocks’ second over Clemson in the past three seasons. It was also the second straight win on the road for the team after winning another close contest 31-30 in 2022. 

It also kept the team’s College Football Playoff hopes alive. Though the odds are slim, the Gamecocks have won six straight games, including four against ranked teams, giving the selection committee a reason to consider them alongside teams like Alabama and Miami. 

"I do believe we deserve a spot in the 12-team playoff,” Beamer said. “They have to choose the 12 best teams. I get it, we have three losses. I understand that. It is hard for me to sit there and say that we are not one of the 12 best teams in the country. When you look at our strength of schedule, when you look at our wins on the road, I think we are now 4-1 on the road this year in tough environments. We are not going to play in front of 20,000 people on the road like some teams do in this country. We go into hostile environments every single week.” 

The Gamecocks were ranked No. 15 in the previous playoff rankings. South Carolina defeated the first team out last week in No. 12 Clemson but sat behind Alabama and Ole Miss, who both beat the Gamecocks earlier this season.

The new rankings are set to be announced Tuesday night. South Carolina would likely need to be ranked somewhere in the top 11 to be considered in. 

Even if the Gamecocks do not make the college football playoff, the team is still in a position to do something it has only done four times before in history. One more win and the program clinches its first 10-win season since Steve Spurrier was the coach in 2013. 

It has been a successful season for the Gamecocks who defied many preseason expectations. For Beamer, he earned his place in Gamecock history after winning more games in his first four seasons than any other coach. The win over Clemson was Beamer’s 29th victory, passing Spurrier who finished his fourth season with 28. 

This week the Gamecocks will be off as conference championship games are played around the country. The results of those games will be worth keeping an eye on as South Carolina floats in the playoff discussion. 

Beamer feels his team has a good case for the postseason tournament, but their true fate won’t be decided until after conference championship games wrap up and the selection committee meets on selection Sunday to set the field. 

No matter what happens, the Gamecocks have at least one game left this year. 

“I don't know if there is a hotter team in America than what we are,” Beamer said. “Our defense continues to get better. Our quarterback continues to get better. That is what I would say. You want to be the team that is playing their best football at the end of the season and we sure are."