Alabama narrowly dodged an upset against South Carolina, concluding with a dramatic finish in the fourth quarter.
The No. 7 Crimson Tide (5-1, 2-1) faced a challenging game, ultimately overcoming South Carolina (3-2, 1-3) with a final score of 27-25. Alabama appeared to be in jeopardy of suffering a second consecutive upset in the Southeastern Conference, but thanks to Domani Jackson’s interception of LaNorris Sellers as time expired, they managed to secure the victory.
This marks Alabama’s third consecutive game decided in the closing moments, following a win against then-No. 2 Georgia and a loss to Vanderbilt. Tide coach Kalen DeBoer acknowledged the team’s recent trend of close games, emphasizing the need for improvements to avoid such tense finishes in the future.
In the game’s closing moments, Sellers threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to Nyck Harbor, bringing South Carolina within striking distance. However, a failed two-point conversion and a recovered onside kick led to a desperate final play that ended in Jackson’s interception.
South Carolina coach Shane Beamer expressed disappointment at not capitalizing, stating his team expected to win the contest and noting the competitive nature of the conference.
Alabama’s Jalen Milroe contributed significantly with a 7-yard rushing touchdown and a late 34-yard touchdown pass to Germie Bernard. Despite the win, defensive lineman Tim Smith remarked that their performance was not as dominant as desired, yet acknowledged that a win is still a win.
Milroe finished the game with 16 completions on 23 attempts for 209 yards, one touchdown through the air, and two rushing touchdowns. Sellers had a solid showing for South Carolina, completing 23 of 31 attempts for 238 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.
The Gamecocks managed to hold a lead entering the fourth quarter but failed to capitalize on crucial opportunities, including a missed 51-yard field goal.
In a tumultuous first half, Alabama initially jumped to a 14-0 lead but allowed South Carolina back into the game, leading to an exciting finish.
In terms of rankings, Alabama may face a drop despite the victory. Up next, South Carolina will head to No. 18 Oklahoma, while Alabama prepares to visit No. 8 Tennessee on October 19.