South Carolina football coach Shane Beamer entered the locker room at Gaylord Memorial Stadium with a commanding 32-3 lead at halftime, choosing to deliver a message of dominance to his team. Beamer stated he wouldn’t go with a “0-0” mindset, as the Gamecocks (4-3, 2-3 SEC) were on fire, ultimately securing a 35-9 victory over Oklahoma (4-3, 1-3) in their first-ever SEC matchup.
The Gamecocks’ defense was relentless, tallying an impressive nine sacks, 13 tackles for loss, two interceptions, and five forced fumbles. By the final quarter, eight different players had recorded sacks against Oklahoma’s quarterback.
Quarterback LaNorris Sellers completed 16 of 24 passes for 175 yards, throwing one touchdown while rushing for 13 yards on 28 carries. Rocket Sanders was a standout on the ground, contributing one touchdown alongside 33 rushing yards. Tight end Josh Simon made a significant impact with a 33-yard touchdown reception and compiled four catches for a total of 43 yards.
The game updates included:
FINAL: South Carolina 35, Oklahoma 9
With eight minutes left in the fourth quarter, South Carolina struggled to advance after a fumble recovery, though Herrera successfully kicked a field goal. Earlier, Bam Martin-Scott recovered a fumble forced by Ronnie Porter on a crucial play by Oklahoma.
At the end of the third quarter, South Carolina led 32-9 after Jackson Arnold connected with Brenen Thompson for a 54-yard touchdown. However, Oklahoma’s two-point attempt failed.
During the first half, South Carolina’s offense shone bright, completing 11 of 17 passes for 185 yards, along with 59 rushing yards on 18 attempts and four touchdowns. Conversely, Oklahoma struggled on offense, finishing with 9 of 19 passing for just 69 yards, and only managing 40 rushing yards.
The scoring summary indicated a strong start for South Carolina, with Rocket Sanders scoring first, followed by touchdowns from Tonka Hemingway and a second interception touchdown by Nick Emmanwori, which extended the lead significantly.
In terms of forecasts, the weather for the kickoff was expected to be a pleasant 71 degrees, providing a conducive environment for football.
The two teams have not previously met before this historic matchup, with South Carolina’s remaining schedule including games against noted opponents like Texas A&M and Clemson, while Oklahoma is set to face teams like Ole Miss and Alabama in upcoming weeks.