COLUMBIA — South Carolina football took down its first ranked opponent this season and defeated No. 11 Texas A&M 44-20 in front of a sold crowd in Williams-Brice Stadium on Saturday night.
The Gamecocks (5-3, 3-3 SEC) picked up their first home conference win of the season and at the same snapped a seven-game winning streak by the Aggies (7-2, 5-1).
Gamecocks fans stormed the field, violating the SEC’s “access to competition area” policy. Because of that, the SEC will levy a hefty fine against South Carolina, which per SEC policy must be paid out to the Aggies. Texas A&M is owed $250,000 from South Carolina due to the Gamecocks’ status as a repeat violator. They were fined $100,000 on Jan. 24, 2024 after storming the court after an upset victory by the men’s basketball team over Kentucky.
“Kudos to our players,” South Carolina coach Shane Beamer said. “We told our players at halftime what more could you want, you’re in an SEC war, it’s 20-20 at half, we’re at home and we’ll find out about where we are at as a program … to go out in the second half and outscore that team 24-0, I hope you give us the kudos that group deserves … it’s a huge statement about our team.”
Texas A&M hadn’t given up 24 points to an opponent all season before Saturday.
“If you’re going to win against Texas A&M you have to beat them, they don’t beat themselves,” Beamer said. “We had to go take it from them … there needs to be some freakin talk about our guys up front and how we played tonight as well … we told our team all week this a team we match up with.”
South Carolina rushed for over 250 yards for the first time in the Beamer era, finishing with 288 on 44 carries and 530 total yards. It was the first time this season quarterback LaNorris Sellers wasn’t sacked, and for the second game in a row, he didn’t turn the ball over.
“It was a team effort, offense, defense, special teams, a lot of really good tonight … we are going to celebrate this one then another big challenge on the road,” Beamer said.
Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at lkesin@gannett.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @Lulukesin
Michigan has received commitments -- and signatures -- from seven players in the transfer portal. The latest being former Fresno State quarterback Mikey Keene w
Commanders stun Eagles, Bengals keep playoff hopes aliveMackenzie Salmon reacts to the biggest storylines from Week 16 in the NFL.Sports SeriouslyIt's a bitters
Notre Dame to face Georgia in the Sugar Bowl after beating IndianaThe Sugar Bowl matchup is set as Notre Dame will face off against Georgia after breezing past
Commanders stun Eagles, Bengals keep playoff hopes aliveMackenzie Salmon reacts to the biggest storylines from Week 16 in the NFL.Sports SeriouslyChristmas week