South Carolina’s loss to Alabama felt like the LaNorris Sellers show. But sometimes ‘trying to do it all’ means pushing a little too far. Sellers made a few mistakes on overthrown balls and had one costly interception. But the real heartbreak was his late fourth-quarter fumble, as you could tell Sellers was desperate to carry the team. But a one-man show isn’t really enough to beat a top-5 powerhouse like Alabama. That game was almost a microcosm of where both programs stood last year. Both Alabama and South Carolina missed the College Football Playoff last year.

On the contrary, Alabama is looking like a very different beast this season. The Crimson Tide is back to being that unbreakable force, with a strong 7-1 record. South Carolina, on the other hand, is sitting at 3-5 with just one conference win. The Gamecocks won’t be able to demand a playoff run because they have lost a lot of talent coming into this season. And these are not just words; national analyst Josh Pate actually pointed out this mistake with a sheer warning to Shane Beamer. “South Carolina fans don’t get to say that nearly as confidently because now they’re down several guys from that group last year,” Pate said on his show.

“They’re nowhere close to being a playoff-caliber team. They are three and five, and you’ve got LaNorris Sellers essentially having to try and do it all.” Pate further points out how the Gamecocks’ hype during the offseason is so much in contrast. “A lot of the reports we heard from fall camp have not panned out,” Pate added. “That wide receiver room behind Nyck Harbor has not surprised anyone. They couldn’t run the ball yesterday either. They’ve averaged about three yards per carry outside of LaNorris Sellers this year.” The Gamecocks lost a total of 22 players to the transfer portal since last season. On top of that, players like Juice Wells, an All-SEC receiver, Stone Blanton, and top rusher Mario Anderson have all joined pro-football leagues.

Meanwhile, lineman Jakai Moore heads to UNC after missing 2024. On defense, Mohamed Kaba dealt with injuries, and Grayson Howard returned to Florida. The roster took a significant hit because of these losses. The current offensive line is sincerely struggling. The biggest gripe? Poor execution is killing any momentum.

The running game had 36 carries for 125 yards in one game; that’s only 3.5 yards per carry. Let’s take the Alabama game as a more recent example. Sellers threw for 222 yards and a touchdown, plus 67 rushing yards and a score. He basically gave the Gamecocks every spark of life they had on offense. One of his best plays was a beautiful 54-yard bomb to Nyck Harbor in stride for a second-half touchdown.

Plus, he wasn’t shy about putting his body on the line with tough runs, even converting a fourth-and-12 with a gutsy throw to Jay Sellers. Alabama rushed for 72 yards on 23 attempts, averaging 3.1 yards per carry.  On the other hand, South Carolina ran for 111 yards on 37 attempts, averaging 3.0 yards per carry. This proves that Alabama was slightly more efficient per carry. And guess what?

Sellers was the leading rusher in the Gamecocks’ running back room. This one’s a bit of pressure for the QB. Sure, he is a dual-threat athlete, but even he needs the proper support of his weapons. On South Carolina’s third drive, running back Rahsul Faison fumbled after a check-down from LaNorris Sellers.

Alabama got a hold of it and scored six points. The Gamecocks had to settle for field goals four different times, and while kicker William Joyce made three of those. The crushing blow came in the final minute. Tied at 22, Sellers fumbled on a QB draw, thinking the play might be whistled dead. Alabama recovered at South Carolina’s 38 and quickly cashed in with Germie Bernard’s 25-yard game-winning touchdown run.

LaNorris Sellers and his call for help

South Carolina’s recent grind against Alabama had an extra layer of drama postgame. Sellers isn’t one to shy away from owning up to his mistakes on the field. It’s because he was visibly frustrated after a costly fumble that sealed their fate. But he also expects his guys to step up, and he made sure Nyck Harbor knew that. In the postgame interviews, Sellers talked openly about the mistakes he made.

“I mean, just trying to think of next time,” Sellers said. “Like what I would have done differently in that situation. Just seeing the replay on the iPad and stuff, just think about what I would have, should have done differently.”  Sellers made it clear he needed Harbor to be even more involved in the offense, especially since opposing defenses treated Harbor as a serious threat because of his size.

Still, Alabama’s defense managed to keep him contained for much of the game. And Harbor’s 54-yard reception was one of the few highlight plays that lit up the stadium. The back-and-forth between Sellers and Harbor reveals a team trying to find its rhythm and chemistry at the highest level. But relying so heavily on one star makes it tough when defenses zero in hard on your top targets.