COLUMBIA, S.C. — No. 4 Alabama escaped Williams-Brice Stadium with a stunning 29-22 comeback win over South Carolina on Saturday, fueled by two late touchdowns from Germie Bernard in the final two and a half minutes.
Quarterback Ty Simpson led the Crimson Tide (7-1, 5-0 SEC) with 253 passing yards and two touchdowns, while DeShawn Jones added a key defensive score with an 18-yard interception return. The victory extended Alabama’s winning streak to seven straight games.
For South Carolina (3-5, 1-5 SEC), LaNorris Sellers had a strong outing with 222 passing yards, one touchdown, and 67 rushing yards with another score, but a late fumble proved costly as it set up Alabama’s game-winning drive.
The Gamecocks seemed poised for an upset when they led 22-14 late in the fourth quarter. However, Simpson engineered a 14-play, 79-yard drive, capping it with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Bernard in the left corner of the end zone with just 2:16 remaining. Simpson then connected with Josh Cuevas for a successful 2-point conversion to tie the game at 22-all.
Moments later, Alabama’s Deontae Lawson stripped Sellers, setting the Tide up at the South Carolina 38-yard line. On third-and-10, Bernard took a direct snap, sprinted around the right edge, and stayed inbounds for a 25-yard touchdown run with 34 seconds left, sealing the comeback victory.
Alabama first grabbed the lead in the second quarter when Jones intercepted a deflected pass from Sellers and returned it 18 yards for a touchdown, putting the Tide up 7-3.
Despite several first-half mistakes—including a missed field goal and two costly holding penalties that erased scoring chances—South Carolina trailed just 14-6 at halftime.
The Gamecocks then rallied in the third quarter as Nyck Harbor broke loose for a 54-yard touchdown, and kicker William Joyce added a 47-yard field goal to give USC its first lead, 15-14. When South Carolina recovered a muffed Alabama punt, Sellers capitalized with a 10-yard touchdown run, extending the lead to 22-14 early in the fourth quarter.
But Alabama refused to fold, showcasing its championship resilience down the stretch.
Takeaways
- Alabama: The Crimson Tide struggled unusually in the run game, managing only 72 rushing yards on 23 carries, but Simpson’s poise and Bernard’s late heroics made the difference.
- South Carolina: The Gamecocks’ offensive line showed improvement after weeks of struggles, though penalties and turnovers once again proved decisive.
Up Next
- Alabama: Returns home to face No. 20 LSU on Nov. 8.
- South Carolina: Travels to No. 8 Ole Miss next Saturday, still seeking bowl eligibility.
