LSU 36, South Carolina 33

TLDR: It was a nail-biter of a game down in Columbia, South Carolina, as LSU’s Tigers rallied back from a daunting 17-point hole to snatch a thrilling victory over the Gamecocks, 36-33. Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier redeemed himself after a costly interception as he masterminded a comeback drive capped by Josh Williams’ clutch 2-yard touchdown run with merely 72 seconds left on the clock. LSU’s versatility was on full display as Caden Durham added his own flair with 98 yards rushing and two touchdowns. South Carolina’s QB LaNorris Sellers set records with his feet, notching an impressive 75-yard touchdown, and Arkansas transfer Raheim Sanders contributed mightily with a long 66-yard rushing TD. Despite leading most of the game, the Gamecocks faltered in the final moments, even as Alex Herrera’s 49-yard field goal attempt came up short to tie. This victory was not only a testament to LSU’s resilience but also underscored the need for improvement after an earlier stumble against Southern Cal.

When that ol’ pigskin dropped in Columbia this past Saturday, us folks were in for a heart-racin’, hair-on-end showdown between No. 16 LSU and South Carolina. LSU, those Cajun Tigers, showed the grit and determination of a possum on a hot tin roof, crawlin’ back from a 17-nothing hole to seal a 36-33 victory. Garrett Nussmeier, the quarterback who was battlin’ his own demons, brushed off an end-zone interception with boundless resolve, leadin’ the Tigers on a last-minute drive that ended in Josh Williams dancing untouched into the end zone for the win.

The LSU team, bless their hearts, made more than their fair share of mistakes. Nussmeier’s technique of flushing out the bad breaks served him well as he slung 285 yards and two touchdowns. And hats off to Caden Durham, too, who zipped through the South Carolina defense like a hot knife through butter, gaining 98 yards on the ground and bagging two touchdowns.

South Carolina’s ball-slingin’ LaNorris Sellers had the home crowd a-roaring with his feet, etching his name into Gamecock history with a breathtaking 75-yard touchdown run, longest by a quarterback thereabouts. Combined with a transfer Raheim Sanders’ electrifying sprint, the Gamecocks seemed poised to upset, but alas, their stars didn’t align in the fourth.

In the waning moments, South Carolina poised for a Hail Mary of sorts, but kicker Alex Herrera’s 49-yard attempt shanked left, crushin’ their hopes as LSU celebrated their earned win. The Tigers’ coach, Brian Kelly, praised their determination—seems this LSU team ain’t ever heard of quit, and they’ll need it for the rough roads ahead.

Ah, but for South Carolina, that “what could have been” vibe is strong, reinforced by their coach Shane Beamer’s apology for those detrimental 13 penalties. The game show’d promise for the Gamecocks, but at the whistle, it was opportunity lost. Next up, LSU gets to cozy up with home turf against UCLA, while South Carolina aims to redeem themselves versus Akron. So, folks, strap in, the season’s just heatin’ up!