South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers likely dashes Clemson’s CFP hopes with 17-14 win in Death Valley

No. 12 Clemson’s hopes of getting into the College Football Playoff are all but shot after a 17-14 home loss to No. 15 South Carolina. The Gamecocks got the win off two huge touchdown runs from South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers.

South Carolina took the three-point lead with a little over a minute left after Sellers scrambled for a 20-yard touchdown run on third-and-16.

With one final drive, Clemson moved the ball down the field with a chance to score, but quarterback Cade Klubnik threw an interception that sealed the win for the Gamecocks.

After a tough first quarter featuring a South Carolina fumble on the first drive and Clemson turning it over on downs, the Tigers struck first with a touchdown in the second quarter. But the Gamecocks followed it up with a touchdown of their own. Sellers kept the ball and ran 25 yards into the end zone to tie things at 7-7.

Clemson then opened the second half with another touchdown, taking a 14-7 lead. Klubnik ran for both of Clemson’s touchdowns as well, picking up 62 total rushing yards.

A messy third quarter for both teams saw back-to-back turnovers, with the Gamecocks fumbling the ball first and the Tigers going right afterward. At the start of the fourth quarter, Clemson safety Khalil Barnes picked off Sellers to give the Tigers back the ball, but the team was forced to punt after going three-and-out.

South Carolina then cut through the seven-point deficit with a field goal, and then Sellers played hero for the game-winning touchdown, finding the hole in the defense and shaking off two tackles to get into the end zone. Sellers ended the game with 16 carries, picking up more rushing yards (166) than passing yards (164).

Clemson falls to 9-3 with the loss and can only make the CFP if it wins the ACC title. Clemson’s only path to the ACC championship game is a Syracuse upset of Miami.