South Carolina Still Haunted by Controversial LSU Loss That May Have Cost Them a CFP Spot
There are always moments in a football season that could swing in either direction — a lucky break here, a key turnover there. South Carolina had their fair share of close calls last year: a crucial touchdown by Rocket Sanders against Missouri, a game-saving interception by Demetrius Knight against Clemson, and a come-from-behind win against Old Dominion thanks to a strip-sack and a late pick.
But as fans know too well, it’s not the narrow wins that stick in your mind — it’s the losses you feel you should have won. And for Gamecock Nation, no loss burns more than last season’s 36–33 heartbreaker to LSU.
That game, ten months ago, remains a sore spot for fans who believe — with good reason — that poor officiating cost South Carolina a legitimate shot at the College Football Playoff.
What made it worse? Two defensive touchdowns were taken off the board due to penalties. In total, South Carolina was flagged 13 times for 123 yards. Head coach Shane Beamer summed it up bluntly:
“Thirteen penalties. You’re not going to win football games in the SEC with 13 penalties.”
Then he added, “Having said that? When you watch the tape with the players today, they’re not blind.”
The most controversial play came in the fourth quarter when LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier threw an interception to Nick Emmanwori, who returned it 100 yards for what appeared to be a game-clinching touchdown. The crowd erupted — until a yellow flag brought it all back. Kyle Kennard was flagged for a personal foul after delivering a hit on Nussmeier.
The call drew widespread outrage. It wasn’t from the blind side, and Kennard appeared to be making a legal block on the quarterback, who could’ve tried to chase down the play. Yet the penalty erased the return and changed the course of the game.
Reflecting on the play at SEC Media Days, Nussmeier didn’t offer much sympathy.
“That happened, for sure,” he said. “But I also remember getting the ball back on the 50 and taking it down and scoring to win the football game… it is what it is.”
LSU linebacker Whit Weeks, when shown the hit on a phone, dodged controversy too:
“Luckily, I’m not the guy that has to make that decision,” he said. “There’s people that the SEC has hired who are football experts, so they know.”
And the Emmanwori return wasn’t even the only one called back. Earlier, another pick-six — this one by O’Donnell Fortune — was wiped out when Kennard was penalized for a horse-collar tackle, despite it happening inside the tackle box. Under a new rule added last season, that now draws a 15-yard penalty.
Add to that a phantom offensive pass interference on Mazeo Bennett that nullified a long gain, and two questionable ineligible man downfield calls. South Carolina even had to watch as LSU players allegedly taunted them after a missed game-tying field goal — without a single flag thrown.
Beamer said the staff sent the game tape to the SEC for review. While the league did respond, Beamer kept the details vague.
“I understood some of the explanations,” he said. “Others, we agreed to disagree.”
But even if the SEC had outright admitted fault and apologized, it wouldn’t have changed the result. USC still has to live with it — and with their own mistakes, like only running six plays in the third quarter, or Kennard jumping offside on LSU’s critical fourth-and-3 late in the game. That penalty helped extend the drive that led to the winning touchdown.
Kennard, for all the grief, still had one of the best individual seasons in program history. But against LSU? It was his worst day.
And the ripple effect of that loss may have reshaped the season. If USC had won, they would’ve been 4–2 instead of 3–3 at the midpoint. That momentum shift might have meant fewer emotional player meetings, fewer desperate speeches — maybe even a spot in the CFP.
Or maybe not.
“Look. It’s over,” the article concludes.
But the rematch looms. South Carolina travels to Baton Rouge to face LSU again on October 11. And you can be sure the Gamecocks haven’t forgotten.
