South Carolina’s SEC losing streak has been snapped. 

The Gamecocks ended the eight-game skid by going on the road and dominating a ranked Florida team en route to a 38-19 win. South Carolina outscored Florida 21-9 in the second half to cruise to the end. 

“For all the negativity out there this week, that is a program win,” Beamer said. “To come down here and win on the road, this is a hard place to play.”

South Carolina improved to 3-3 this season and 1-3 in SEC play. The Gamecocks will be on a bye this week. The team’s next game is Oct. 24 at home against Tennessee. 

Here are three takeaways from the win over Florida. 

Everything finally comes together

For the first time since the season-opening victory against Kent State, the Gamecocks were firing on all cylinders.   

The offense moved the ball well on the ground and through the air, and the defense wasn't just getting stops. It was also generating takeaways. 

“We never took our foot off the gas pedal,” Beamer said. “I thought our whole staff was awesome because the last three weeks haven’t been easy on them, but they deserve this today.” 

South Carolina finished the game with 279 passing yards and 114 rushing yards. The defense held Florida to 19 points, with Florida’s touchdowns coming in the first minute and final minute of the game. For the other 48 minutes, the Gators were held to six points. 

Quarterback LaNorris Sellers was excellent, showing flashes of the player his biggest supporters believed he could be. He completed 23-of-35 passes and threw four touchdowns. He used his legs, taking a team-high 14 carries and scoring a rushing touchdown as well. 

Sellers' top targets in the game were Mazeo Bennett, Nyck Harbor and DJ Black. Everybody got to eat though, as seven players had multiple catches. 

“Some of the individual efforts that they had today … they were awesome,” Beamer said. “We played a lot of receivers today, and they did a good job."

The Gamecocks also won the turnover battle this game, forcing three turnovers against Florida’s zero forced turnovers. This is an area the Gamecocks have struggled with this season, but it has led to success in years past. 

Getting that figured out could be a turning point for this team.

South Carolina avoids the third-quarter bug

The Gamecocks went into the locker room against the Gators holding a slim lead.   

While fans of most teams usually feel good about that, for South Carolina supporters, it’s difficult not to still feel a bit of nerves. Twice this season, the Gamecocks led going into the break and blew the game by the end. 

Both of those games were at home, also against SEC teams. This time the team was in hostile territory playing an opponent ranked inside the top-20.   

Entering the matchup, South Carolina had been outscored 31-0 in the third quarter of SEC games. To hold on against the Gators, the Gamecocks would need to avoid that same problem.   

“I know you guys were probably writing your articles, like, ‘Here they go again. Third quarter. What are they going to do?’ The whole country was watching, and we own it,” Beamer said. “We’re the ones that have played that way in the third quarter. But if you had seen our locker room at halftime, you would have known we’re getting ready to play well in the third.” 

Florida kicked a field goal on its first drive, cutting South Carolina’s lead to four. But after that, the Gators got nothing. 

South Carolina, meanwhile, marched downfield and put another touchdown on the board as former Irmo standout Donovan Murph caught a pass from Sellers. 

The Gamecocks extended their lead at the end of the quarter, going on a 10-play, 59-yard drive, capped by a Sellers keeper.   

When it was all said and done, South Carolina outscored Florida 14-3 in the third and went into the final period up 18. 

I told them that in the locker room, ‘We have not played great in the third quarter in SEC games this year, but we have the opportunity to put that stuff to bed immediately with the way that we play. And we don’t have to do anything differently,” Beamer said. 

What could’ve been

While it was a good sign to see the team have so much success on the road, watching the Gamecocks walk all over Florida raised questions of what could’ve been.   

What could’ve been if the Gamecocks had held on and not blown their lead against Mississippi? What could’ve been if South Carolina just got a stop in overtime against Kentucky?  Two painful losses so early in the season can derail teams, but it can also bring them closer. 

Whichever way the Gamecocks go, it’s up to them. The highest of expectations seem out of reach now, but if all the cards fall its way, the team could still be in contention. But it’s a major uphill battle. 

Even if those highs are out of reach, the team can still put together a good season. South Carolina is 3-3, and three wins away from bowl eligibility. The Gamecocks will have six shots to get there.

South Carolina ends the year with home games against Tennessee, Texas A&M and Georgia. The Gamecocks will hit the road to play Oklahoma, Arkansas and Clemson.