South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers didn’t hide his frustration following the Gamecocks’ 26-7 loss to No. 14 Oklahoma, a game that once again exposed the team’s offensive struggles. Despite throwing for 124 yards and South Carolina’s only touchdown, Sellers admitted that the offensive woes run much deeper than just protection breakdowns.
“Yeah, I mean that’s frustrating,” Sellers said when asked about the relentless pressure he faced from Oklahoma’s defense. “We’ve all got stuff to work on, not just them, but receivers, quarterbacks, running backs — it’s all of us. We’ve got to get better.”
To minimize the damage from Oklahoma’s aggressive pass rush, the Gamecocks made several tactical changes heading into the matchup. According to Sellers, they incorporated more quick routes and screen passes in hopes of getting the ball out faster. “We opened it up a little bit more with quick routes, a couple screen passes,” he explained. “We knew they would be aggressive rushing, so we tried to implement some quick choice routes and slants.”
However, even with those adjustments, the offense once again failed to sustain momentum. Sellers said the team’s biggest issue remains its inability to finish drives and maintain consistency. “We just haven’t been consistent,” he said. “We get stuff going, but we’ve got to finish. We drove down the field that first drive and stalled — we can’t let that happen.”
Despite the continued setbacks, Sellers maintained optimism that South Carolina could still turn the tide. “All it takes is one,” he said. “Last year, the Oklahoma game was the one that sprung us on that run. All it takes is one.”
Sellers also praised Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables and his defensive unit for keeping the Gamecocks off balance all afternoon. “Brent does a good job with his scheme,” Sellers said. “They’re first in everything. We had to stay on the field, make good plays, make good decisions, spit the ball out when it’s there, and when they get soft, run the ball.”
With five games remaining in the regular season, South Carolina’s offense remains a work in progress. Sellers and the Gamecocks will need to find that elusive “one game” that can reignite their season — before time runs out.
