COLUMBIA, S.C. – No. 11/11 Tennessee dropped a heartbreaker against South Carolina, 27-24, on Saturday afternoon at Williams-Brice Stadium.
The Gamecocks (4-3, 2-3 SEC) were able to take advantage of some late offensive miscues from the Volunteers (6-2, 3-2 SEC), scoring 10 points over the final four minutes of the game to erase a seven-point deficit, securing the victory with a 48-yard game-winning field goal from Malik Orsan as time expired.
After allowing just one first-quarter offensive touchdown over their first seven games, the Vols found themselves in an early 14-point hole after the Gamecocks found the end zone on each of their first two possessions to open the game.
UT’s defense responded after that, holding USC to just three points on their next seven possessions en route to building a 21-17 lead.
Senior running back DeSean Bishop was a workhorse once again for the Vols, posting his fourth straight and ninth career 100-yard rushing game, finishing with 32 carries for 120 yards and a touchdown. With his 120 yards, Bishop passed Montario Hardesty to move into 10th on Tennessee’s all-time rushing list with 2,488 career yards.
UT responded after falling down 14-0 with back-to-back scoring drives of their own, starting with a methodical 18-play, 75-yard drive that ate up 9:05 of clock and cut the deficit to seven early in the second quarter. The 18 plays were the most in an offensive drive during the Josh Heupel era (2021-present).
Bishop highlighted the scoring drive, carrying the ball 11 times for 51 yards while capping the drive with a 1-yard scoring plunge on third-and-goal.
Following a TJ Metcalf interception on USC’s next possession, DaSaahn Brame capped a 10-play drive with a 1-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-goal to tie the game at 14 following Cooper Ranvier’s extra point.
After holding strong in the red zone, Tennessee forced the Gamecocks to settle for a 22-yard field goal with 1:44 remaining in the half before putting together an efficient, seven-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that was punctuated by wide receiver Mike Matthews’ first career rushing touchdown with 24 seconds remaining. The 8-yard scamper out of the wildcat formation gave the Big Orange a 21-17 lead at the break.
Neither team was able to put points on the board in the third quarter as both defenses found their footing after a back-and-forth opening half.
UT increased its lead to seven with a 37-yard field goal from Ranvier early in the fourth quarter. The Vols looked to have scored a touchdown two plays prior on an 18-yard strike from George MacIntyre to Braylon Staley, but it was called back on a holding penalty.
South Carolina’s defense came up with a big stop on fourth-and -1 in their own territory and preceded to march down the field for a game-tying touchdown drive that was capped by a 4-yard rushing score by quarterback LaNorris Sellers with 1:17 remaining.
On the ensuring UT drive, Gamecocks’ star edge rusher Dylan Stewart forced a fumble that was recovered by the defense at the Vols’ 34-yard line, setting up Orsan’s walk-off field goal.
Sellers finished the game with 306 total yards (206 passing, 96 rushing) and three total touchdowns (one passing, two rushing) to lead USC to its second straight SEC victory.
The Volunteers’ defense added to its FBS leading sack total with five on the day, all of which came in the second half. Junior safety Dejuan Lane led the team with eight tackles while sophomore cornerback Ty Redmond had a career-high three pass breakups.
Tennessee heads into its open week and will be back in action on Saturday, Nov. 7 when its hosts No. 12/12 Kentucky for a night game at Neyland Stadium. Game time will be announced next week.
