In a gritty season opener, South Carolina turned Old Dominion's missteps into gold, using two crucial fumble recoveries inside the 10-yard line to edge out a 23-19 win on Saturday night. The Gamecocks, who struggled to find consistent rhythm, leaned on defensive plays to scrape past the Monarchs in a game full of missed opportunities.
South Carolina’s freshman quarterback, LaNorris Sellers, showcased both promise and inexperience. While his passing game was far from polished—completing only 10 of 23 attempts for 114 yards—Sellers used his legs to punch in a game-deciding 4-yard touchdown run with just over six minutes left, sealing the win for the Gamecocks. Sellers also scrambled 22 times, gaining 68 hard-earned yards, though the Gamecocks’ offense seemed hesitant to fully unleash him.
The Gamecocks’ offense showed flashes but struggled with consistency. Raheim Sanders, the much-anticipated transfer from Arkansas, had a solid debut, carrying the ball 24 times for 88 yards and finding the end zone once. But for Sellers, the learning curve of college football was evident. He overthrew open receivers, took four sacks, and looked more comfortable running than passing at times.
“It’s not as easy as you think,” Sellers admitted postgame. “I’ve got to improve, especially in staying patient and trusting myself more.”
South Carolina coach Shane Beamer wasn’t entirely pleased with the offensive execution, citing poor blocking and dropped passes as key issues. “We’ve got to be better around LaNorris,” Beamer said. “We can’t have him running 22 times a game—we need more help from our receivers and offensive line.”
Old Dominion (0-1), pegged to finish near the bottom of the Sun Belt East Division, gave South Carolina plenty of chances. Monarchs quarterback Grant Wilson had a night to forget, turning the ball over three times in crucial moments. His two fumbles deep in Old Dominion territory directly led to South Carolina’s only touchdowns, while his two interceptions, including a game-sealing pick late in the fourth quarter, stymied the Monarchs' offensive efforts.
"I didn’t secure the ball like I should have," Wilson admitted, referring to his costly fumble that led to Sellers' go-ahead touchdown. "I’ll work hard to make sure it doesn’t happen again."
Despite the loss, Old Dominion’s coach Ricky Rhane praised his quarterback’s toughness in the face of pressure. Wilson took some punishing hits but kept fighting, avoiding major mistakes aside from the turnovers. However, the Monarchs will likely rue this missed chance to grab their first-ever win against an SEC opponent.
For South Carolina, the victory masked some lingering concerns from last season. While they managed to rush for 193 yards, averaging a modest 3.6 yards per carry, the offensive line struggled against Old Dominion’s defense, raising questions about how they will fare in the SEC.
Key Takeaways:
Old Dominion: The Monarchs missed a prime opportunity to claim a major upset, undone by self-inflicted mistakes. While they have shown the ability to compete with Power Five teams—having beaten Virginia Tech twice—securing a win against the SEC remains elusive.
South Carolina: Issues from last season persist, especially on the offensive line. Although they avoided an embarrassing loss to another Sun Belt team like they did in 2019 to Appalachian State, the Gamecocks will need to make significant improvements before facing stiffer competition.
Looking Ahead: Old Dominion returns home to face East Carolina on Sept. 7, while South Carolina begins its SEC campaign the same day with a challenging road game against Kentucky. Both teams will be looking to build on their performances as they move deeper into the season.
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