South Carolina 17-14 Clemson (November 30, 2024) Game Recap

CLEMSON, S.C. – LaNorris Sellers’ 20-yard touchdown run with 1:08 to play gave No. 16 South Carolina its sixth straight victory, a 17-14 victory over 12th-ranked Clemson on Saturday.

Sellers, a freshman in his first season as a starter, finished with 166 yards rushing and two scores as the Gamecocks (9-3, 4-1 SEC, No. 15 CFP) continued a run that included four this month Defeated ranked opponents.

Clemson (9-3, 5-2 ACC, No. 12) was driving to the South Carolina 18 – well within reach of a tying field goal – with 16 seconds left when Cade Klubnik was intercepted by Demetrius Knight Jr.

The Gamecocks, who were 3-3 after their loss at Alabama in mid-October, gave the College Football Playoff selection committee something to worry about with their second-half attack. A lot of the credit goes to the mature Sellers, who played confidently in most situations. He shook off an early fumble and a late interception as South Carolina won its second straight against rival Clemson.

On his game-winning run, Sellers spun away from defender Peter Woods, moved right and punched left to reach the end zone.

It was the latest great performance from Sellers, who gave South Carolina the lead twice in the fourth quarter of a 34-30 win over Missouri two weeks ago when he threw for career-highs of 353 yards and five touchdown passes.

The Tigers also hoped to advance into the CFP’s 12-team field. But their offense had too many costly mistakes and their defense couldn’t contain Sellers, who completed 13 of 21 passes for 164 yards.

Still, there could be postseason hope for Clemson, which is crossing its fingers and hoping that Syracuse can pull off an upset against No. 8 Miami later Saturday that would put the Tigers in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game against SMU next week.

Both teams posted top marks: the Tigers won three straight and the Gamecocks won five straight, including three consecutive major league opponents like Texas A&M, Vanderbilt and Missouri.

But neither team found their offensive rhythm in the first half.

Sellers was sacked by TJ Parker and turned the ball over as Parker recovered with South Carolina inside the Clemson 20.

The Tigers drove to the South Carolina 11 and knocked down a chip-shot field goal to tie it on 4th-and-1. But Mafah was clearly stopped by Jalon Kilgore and Knight.

Klubnik had scoring runs of 13 and 18 yards for the Tigers.

Takeaways

South Carolina: What a success for the Gamecocks, who were picked 13th in the SEC before the season and now potentially find themselves in the national championship playoff field.

Clemson: The Tigers lost to both SEC opponents they faced this season, first to No. 1 Georgia earlier in the year and then to rival South Carolina.

Next

South Carolina and Clemson both await postseason games.

——

Get AP Top 25 poll alerts and updates throughout the season. Sign up here. AP College Football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football