South Carolina started fast and finished strong. And Tennessee football made enough mistakes in between as the Gamecocks claimed a 27-24 victory at Williams-Brice Stadium on Oct. 24.
The 11th-ranked Vols (6-2, 3-2 SEC) had enough trouble trying to contain South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers. But they compounded their defensive deficiencies by sabotaging themselves with penalties.
Two George MacIntyre touchdown passes were nullified by penalties in the second half. Tennessee might have overcome those mistakes if not for Sellers.
He fought through two UT defenders at the goal line and lunged backward into the end zone as the Gamecocks managed a tying score with 1:17 to play.
Sellers wasn’t done, though. After South Carolina pounced on a MacIntyre fumble, Sellers scrambled for nine yards to pull the Gamecocks within field-goal range.
Malik Orsan then kicked a last-second, 48-yard field goal to hand the Vols their second loss in eight games.
The game seemed destined for overtime after Sellers battled his way into the end zone. But UT coach Josh Heupel decided to try and win the game in regulation.
It was a curious decision given how conservative Heupel has been for much of this season, relying on the running of DeSean Bishop and a staunch defense while breaking in two new quarterbacks.
Perhaps, his decision wouldn’t have mattered the way Sellers was running through UT’s defense in clutch situations. How could it have stopped him in overtime?
That question was rendered irrelevant by South Carolina’s defense. Dylan Stewart, the Gamecocks' deluxe pass rusher, reached MacIntyre before he could throw from the pocket and forced a game-deciding fumble when he jarred the ball lose.
So, a week after Tennessee dominated archrival Alabama in a 26-10 victory at Neyland Stadium, it touched off a South Carolina celebration. The Gamecocks improved to 4-3 two weeks after they throttled Florida in The Swamp.
Coach Shane Beamer, who began the season on the hot seat, obviously made the most of an open week between the two victories. And Tennessee continued an SEC trend of following a huge win with a defeat.
Ole Miss, Missouri, Florida and Georgia all have failed to handle success.
Tennessee was in trouble from the outset.
Coordinator Jim Knowles’ stout defense, which was drawing raves as one of the nation’s best, gave up touchdowns on South Carolina’s first two possessions.
Give offensive coordinator Kendal Briles credit for how he attacked the Vols’ aggressive defense, which entered the game leading the country with 30 sacks. He spread the field horizontally with receiver screens and quick throws to neutralize UT’s fierce pass rush.
And give Sellers credit for executing Briles’ plan to perfection in leading two quick touchdown drives, the second of which ended with Sellers’ 31-yard touchdown run.
Sellers damaged Tennessee’s defense as much with his running as his passing. He repeatedly scrambled away from defenders while passing for 132 yards and rushing for 61 more yards in the first half.
He finished with 18 carries for 96 yards and a touchdown. He also completed 18 of 32 passes for 210 yards.
Sellers also revived memories of another South Carolina quarterback.
The Vols were in the running for a four-team College Football Playoff in 2022 when South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler threw six touchdown passes in a stunning 63-38 upset win in Columbia.
South Carolina’s latest victory in the series wasn’t an upset. It entered the game as a 2.5-point favorite. And unlike the 2022 loss, the Vols will still be a playoff contender when they return to action against Kentucky on Nov. 7 after an open week.
But with four games remaining, UT’s margin for error will be ever so slight.
Defense and the running of Bishop, who rushed for 120 yards against the Gamecocks, was sufficient to win three of the Vols’ first four SEC games.
Heupel decided they needed something extra against South Carolina. But when MacIntyre was separated from the football on an ill-fated passing attempt, there was nothing extra left.
John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Too many Tennessee football mistakes, did Josh Heupel make right decision? l Adams