5 Takeaways from South Carolina’s Stunning 31-7 Loss to Vanderbilt
The gut punch for South Carolina football came earlier than expected in 2025. On the second Saturday of September, the No. 11 Gamecocks were humbled at Williams-Brice Stadium, falling 31-7 to Vanderbilt (3-0, 1-0 SEC).
Losses to Vanderbilt have historically signaled disaster for USC seasons, though they’re few and far between. Before Saturday, the Gamecocks had beaten the Commodores 16 straight times. The last Vandy win came back when George W. Bush was in office. That streak is now history — and the looming question is whether South Carolina’s season will collapse with it.
Here are five things we learned from the Gamecocks’ defeat.
1. The offense without LaNorris Sellers is a disaster
The health of quarterback LaNorris Sellers could define the Gamecocks’ season.
Just before halftime, Vandy linebacker Langston Patterson came free on a blitz and hammered Sellers. Officials flagged him for targeting, leading to an automatic ejection. Sellers, however, stayed down for over a minute before trainers helped him to the sideline. He went into the locker room and never returned.
The extent of Sellers’ injury and his recovery timeline remain unclear.
Luke Doty took over, but the offense sputtered. His stat line (18-for-27, 148 yards) looked serviceable, but the results were not. USC failed to score in the second half, coughed up two fumbles, threw an interception, and faltered on two key fourth downs. What was once a close game snowballed into a blowout.
2. Even with Sellers, the offense is shaky
Let’s say Sellers never left. Would USC have pulled this one out?
Maybe. His ability to run and extend plays could’ve kept drives alive. But the broader issues remain: turnovers, missed assignments, and inconsistency.
The Gamecocks finished with just 86 rushing yards and converted only 3 of 12 third downs. Both Sellers and Doty threw picks. The team fumbled twice, missed a field goal, and piled up pre-snap penalties.
Even with their star quarterback, South Carolina’s offense looked fractured at best.
3. Nyck Harbor stands alone at WR
When USC needed a spark, Nyck Harbor was the only receiver to truly deliver. He finished with 4 catches for 66 yards, far ahead of his teammates.
Elsewhere, the production was scarce. Mazeo Bennett has just four catches in three games. Freshmen Donovan Murph and Brian Rowe Jr. showed flashes, but nothing game-changing.
There’s talent in the room, but outside Harbor, it hasn’t shown consistently.
4. Dylan Stewart must mature
Another setback came in the fourth quarter when edge rusher Dylan Stewart lost his composure. After some jawing and shoving with Vanderbilt tackle Bryce Henderson, Stewart escalated the situation by throwing a forceful shove in front of an official.
He was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct and ejected. Now, his availability for the first half against Missouri is in question.
This wasn’t the first time Stewart’s emotions have boiled over. Whether provoked or not, his inability to stay composed continues to hurt the team.
5. How will USC respond?
Before the season, many believed USC needed to start 5-0 to have any realistic shot at the College Football Playoff. That dream is already gone.
The focus now shifts to how USC responds, beginning with next week’s road test against Missouri (3-0). The Tigers are rolling, outscoring opponents by 108 points through three games. Quarterback Beau Pribula is emerging as one of the SEC’s best, and South Carolina hasn’t won in Columbia, Missouri since 2017.
If Sellers can’t go, the task becomes even taller. But a win at Missouri could help salvage the season before a home date with Kentucky and a much-needed bye week.
👉 Bottom line: The Gamecocks’ loss to Vanderbilt exposed deep cracks in their offense, discipline, and maturity. The health of Sellers looms large, but even with him, Shane Beamer’s team has major questions to answer.
