COLUMBIA, S.C. — No. 4 Alabama escaped Columbia with a dramatic 29-22 comeback win over South Carolina, denying the Gamecocks a signature upset that was just within their grasp.
South Carolina held a surprising 22-14 lead with 10 minutes left, but Alabama surged back with 15 unanswered points to claim its seventh straight victory. The decisive moment came when Germie Bernard broke loose for a 25-yard touchdown run with only 34 seconds remaining, sealing the Crimson Tide’s comeback.
However, the final play sparked controversy. As Bernard sprinted toward the end zone, it appeared Gamecocks defensive back DQ Smith intentionally let him score to give South Carolina a final possession. ESPN analyst Booger McFarland criticized the decision immediately after the game, posting on X (formerly Twitter):
“What the hell just happened in South Carolina? Better chance of a kicker missing a FG than Gamecocks scoring with 34 seconds left. Wow.”
Had Smith tackled Bernard, Alabama likely would have settled for a short field goal, leaving South Carolina with more time and better field position. Instead, the Gamecocks got the ball back with just 16 seconds left at their own nine-yard line and couldn’t cross midfield before time expired.
The matchup reflected the teams’ diverging trajectories. South Carolina entered the night having lost four of its last five games after a 2-0 start, while Alabama extended its winning streak to seven, including four against ranked opponents since dropping its season opener to Florida State. For a moment, it looked like the Gamecocks might flip the script—but Alabama’s late surge proved too much.
A promising start turns into heartbreak
The Gamecocks opened with a 24-yard field goal and forced a quick Alabama punt, setting up a chance to extend their lead. But disaster struck when LaNorris Sellers’ pass deflected off Rahsul Faison’s hands and into the arms of Crimson Tide defender Dashawn Jones, who returned it 18 yards for a touchdown to give Alabama a 7-3 edge.
Kicker William Joyce trimmed the deficit to 7-6 with another field goal, but Ty Simpson found Josh Cuevas for a short touchdown pass just before halftime, sending Alabama into the locker room up 14-6.
South Carolina stormed out in the second half with renewed energy. Sellers connected with Nyck Harbor on a 54-yard bomb to tie things up before Joyce’s third field goal gave USC a 15-14 lead entering the fourth. The sophomore quarterback then kept the ball on a designed run, scoring from 10 yards out to push the Gamecocks ahead 22-14 with 10 minutes remaining.
That’s when Alabama took over. Simpson engineered a 14-play, 79-yard drive, capping it with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Bernard, then converted the two-point attempt to even the score at 22-22. On the next drive, Sellers fumbled, setting up Alabama’s game-winning sequence capped by Bernard’s 25-yard score.
The takeaway
For South Carolina, it was a painful lesson in closing out elite opponents. Despite improved offensive line play and flashes of brilliance from Sellers, the late-game turnover and defensive miscue cost them dearly.
Meanwhile, Alabama showed its championship resilience once again. The Crimson Tide clinched their third straight win over South Carolina and remain unbeaten in SEC play, even on a night when their ground game struggled to find rhythm.
What’s next
Alabama: Hosts No. 20 LSU on Nov. 8 in a high-stakes SEC showdown.
South Carolina: Travels to face No. 8 Ole Miss next Saturday, looking to rebound from another gut-wrenching loss.
