South Carolina football coach Shane Beamer entered the locker room at Gaylord Memorial Stadium with a commanding 32-3 halftime lead, setting the stage for a decisive message to his team. Beamer informed SEC Network sideline reporter Alyssa Lang that he would not frame the game as “0-0” since the Gamecocks (4-3, 2-3 SEC) were clearly in control. His aim was for that dominance to resonate.
In the first-ever SEC clash between the schools, South Carolina thoroughly outplayed the Oklahoma Sooners (4-3, 1-3), finishing with a 35-9 victory. The Gamecocks showcased an impressive defensive performance, racking up nine sacks, 13 tackles for loss, two interceptions, and forcing five fumbles. By the fourth quarter’s 10-minute mark, eight different defenders had recorded a sack against the Oklahoma quarterback.
Quarterback LaNorris Sellers completed 16 of 24 passes for 175 yards and one touchdown while adding 13 rushing yards on 28 carries. Rocket Sanders propelled South Carolina’s ground game with one touchdown and 33 rushing yards. Tight end Josh Simon contributed a 33-yard touchdown reception, catching four of five passes for a total of 43 yards.
Game highlights included:
FINAL: South Carolina 35, Oklahoma 9
– In the fourth quarter, South Carolina briefly stalled after a fumble recovery, followed by Herrera’s successful field goal attempt.
– With just over nine minutes left, Bam Martin-Scott recovered a fumble forced by Ronnie Porter as Oklahoma tried to extend their drive.
– At the end of the third quarter, South Carolina led 32-9 after the Sooners scored a touchdown.
– LaNorris Sellers connected with Josh Simon for a 33-yard touchdown just before halftime.
– A strong defensive effort had South Carolina leading 21-0 after the first quarter, thanks to key plays including two interceptions returned for touchdowns by Nick Emmanwori.
The matchup saw South Carolina dominate throughout, both offensively and defensively, making a decisive statement in their inaugural SEC encounter against Oklahoma.