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South Carolina’s season hangs by a thread after Vanderbilt disaster. The Gamecocks, once considered serious playoff contenders, now face a must-win situation at Missouri following their shocking 24-point loss to Vanderbilt – a defeat made worse by quarterback LaNorris Sellers’ injury.
Sellers, who was named first-team All-SEC in preseason voting, left Saturday’s game late in the second quarter with a head injury. The offense completely fell apart without him on the field.
The Gamecocks have plummeted from their No. 11 ranking completely out of the AP poll. They’re now 12.5-point underdogs at Missouri, according to FanDuel Sportsbook, with Sellers’ status still up in the air.
Head coach Shane Beamer sounded optimistic about Sellers playing this weekend during Sunday’s teleconference but wouldn’t confirm if his star quarterback was dealing with a concussion.
“Confident that we’ll continue to improve offensively when he gets back healthy,” Beamer said, trying to find positives after the ugly performance. “But this is a heck of a team we’re getting ready to play out in Missouri… We’ve got to get a whole lot better.”
We’ll learn more Wednesday when the SEC’s initial student-athlete availability report comes out. These reports – which list players as available, probable, doubtful or out – were made mandatory last season.
The last time Sellers missed significant playing time was after suffering an ankle sprain against LSU in Week 3 last season. He sat out the following game against Akron before returning to face Ole Miss after a bye week.
Offense Completely Collapsed Without Sellers
The numbers tell a brutal story. Without Sellers, South Carolina ran 41 plays against Vanderbilt and didn’t score a single point. They managed just 184 total yards and committed three turnovers.
Sixth-year senior Luke Doty took over at quarterback but couldn’t generate any explosive plays. The Gamecocks’ final three possessions all ended with giveaways.
Even with Sellers, this offense has serious problems.
New Coordinator, Same Struggles
The Gamecocks brought in Mike Shula as offensive coordinator after Dowell Loggains left to become Appalachian State’s head coach. With Sellers (who was generating first-round 2026 NFL Draft buzz) returning and Utah State transfer running back Rahsul Faison getting an eligibility waiver in August, expectations were high.
Three games into Shula’s tenure, the results are disastrous.
South Carolina ranks 15th or worse in the SEC in nearly every offensive category – total offense, scoring, rushing, third down conversions, red zone rate, and sacks allowed. Their offensive line has underperformed despite featuring several elite recruits.
The warning signs were there even during their 38-10 win over FCS opponent South Carolina State. The Gamecocks started that game with three straight three-and-outs and finished with just 253 yards of total offense.
Nearly half their touchdowns this season haven’t even come from the offense – four of South Carolina’s nine total touchdowns have been scored by special teams or defense.
Playoff Dreams Fading Fast
If the Gamecocks lose at Missouri, their playoff hopes are essentially finished. Starting 0-2 in SEC play would be devastating, especially considering what’s still ahead on their schedule.
Missouri is just the beginning of a brutal stretch. South Carolina still faces six ranked opponents, including road games at LSU, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M, plus home matchups with Alabama and Oklahoma.
Beamer’s teams typically improve as the season progresses – last year’s squad won six straight games to nearly reach the playoff for the first time in program history. But this schedule offers no breathing room.
Saturday’s game in Columbia isn’t just important – it’s absolutely essential if South Carolina wants any chance of salvaging its season and returning to the rankings before heading to Baton Rouge in two weeks.
