CCN Sports: Gamecocks Appeared Undisciplined in Loss to Ole Miss
South Carolina football’s already tough schedule just became more daunting, but the bigger challenge remains the Gamecocks’ inconsistent offense.
Now 3-2 overall and 1-2 in the SEC, the Gamecocks have faced some emotionally charged opponents. They played No. 17 LSU just after the Tigers suffered a heartbreaking loss to Southern Cal. This past weekend, they faced No. 11 Ole Miss, fresh off an upset loss to unranked Kentucky. Next up? Alabama, who is reeling from an unexpected loss to unranked Vanderbilt.
It’s an unusual pattern of facing teams right after emotional defeats, but if the Gamecocks want to compete in the cutthroat SEC, they’ll need to inject some of that emotion and fire into their own offensive game plan.
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ToggleLifeless Against Ole Miss
Following an open date, South Carolina’s offense came out flat against Ole Miss. The running game stalled, and the passing game rarely extended beyond 17 yards. In the first half, South Carolina attempted just six passes and struggled to convert on third downs, going 2-for-8. The Rebels’ defense swallowed the Gamecocks’ run game, leaving their offense without momentum.
Star running back Rocket Sanders returned from an ankle injury but either wasn’t fully healthy or wasn’t used effectively. He only had eight rushing attempts out of the team’s total of 43.
How Gamecock Fans Felt in Saturday’s game against Ole Miss Photo: CCN Sports
LaNorris Sellers Struggles to Find Rhythm
Quarterback LaNorris Sellers, playing for the first time since Week 3, looked hesitant and uncertain. He’s been sacked 16 times this season—six of those coming in the Ole Miss game—highlighting the struggles of South Carolina’s offensive line to protect him.
Despite showing flashes of brilliance earlier this season—like escaping pressure for a critical 32-yard pass against Kentucky or scoring on a 75-yard run against LSU—Sellers was exposed by Ole Miss. His rhythm with receivers like Mazeo Bennett, Gage Larvadain, and Jared Brown was off, and he seemed hesitant when looking for downfield options.
Offensive Plan Must Evolve
While Coach Shane Beamer acknowledged that the game plan included downfield passes, they were virtually absent during the Ole Miss matchup. Sellers needs to be more decisive and consistently find his dependable receivers, even if South Carolina’s run game continues to struggle.
With Alabama up next, followed by matchups against Oklahoma and Texas A&M, the Gamecocks can’t afford to be conservative on offense. If South Carolina hopes to finally upset a ranked opponent, they’ll need to play like they’re capable of scoring at any moment—and believe they can match the offensive energy of any team in the conference.
Game Management Concerns
Faked injury? Photo: CCN Sports
Adding to the frustration was the peculiar number of stoppages during the Ole Miss game due to defensive injuries. USC fans grew suspicious, booing each time a white jersey hit the ground, especially when the same players were involved in repeated stoppages. Head coach Shane Beamer, when asked about it, took the high road, saying, “First of all, I hope all those guys are OK. We had some guys that were banged up as well—Boogie (Huntley) and (DeAndre) Jules went down a couple times, and I hope they’re doing alright.”
As a fan at the game yesterday, I noted that it appeared that the only time Ole Miss had an “injury” was when USC got a big first down.
While Beamer prioritized player safety, the fans’ frustrations over what appeared to be strategic “injuries” compounded their concern over South Carolina’s inability to find offensive flow.
If the Gamecocks are to turn things around, they need to do more than just hope for healthier players—they need a strategy that breathes life back into their offense.
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