It wasn’t just a win. It was a statement — loud, brutal, and unmistakable. On November 22, 2025, at 4:15 p.m. EST, the South Carolina Gamecocks dismantled the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers 51-7 at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina, in a performance that felt more like a reckoning than a season finale. The game’s opening snap wasn’t just a play — it was a declaration. LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina’s quarterback, launched a 75-yard bomb to his younger brother, Jayden Sellers, who caught it in stride and sprinted into the end zone before the Chanticleers could even blink. That was it. The game’s tone was set. And from there, it only got worse for Coastal Carolina.
First Half Domination: A Perfect Storm
South Carolina didn’t just score — they scored with surgical precision. Twenty points in the first quarter. Seventeen more in the second. The Gamecocks’ offense looked like a well-oiled machine, something no one thought they had in them after a 4-7 season marred by close losses and offensive stagnation. Sellers accounted for four total touchdowns — two through the air, two on the ground — and finished with 298 passing yards and 67 rushing. His chemistry with Jayden, a sophomore wideout who had been overshadowed by bigger names, was electric. They weren’t just brothers on the field; they were a mismatch no defense could solve. Donovan Murf, the Gamecocks’ slot receiver, added another touchdown with a spectacular toe-tap catch in the back of the end zone, a highlight that replayed on loop on ESPN’s College GameDay highlights. The defense? Even more impressive. Coastal Carolina, who had just secured bowl eligibility with a 44-27 win over Marshall on November 8, was held scoreless for the first 45 minutes. Their offense, which had averaged 32 points per game in November, looked lost — sacked three times, intercepted twice, and forced into three three-and-outs in the first half.Coastal Carolina’s Quiet Collapse
The Chanticleers entered the game with a 6-5 record and a 5-2 mark in the Sun Belt Conference, sitting third in the East Division behind James Madison and Old Dominion. They had momentum. They had bowl hopes locked in. But they didn’t have answers for South Carolina’s intensity. Their lone touchdown came with 8:12 left in the fourth quarter — a 12-yard scramble by backup QB Trey Johnson, a moment that felt more like a formality than a comeback. The crowd at Williams-Brice, thin for much of the season, rose to its feet as the clock ticked down, chanting “Let’s go, Gamecocks!” — a sound that hadn’t echoed through the stadium with this much conviction since 2022. Coastal Carolina’s head coach, Jamey Chadwell, offered a terse postgame comment: “We got outcoached and outplayed. No excuses.” The loss dropped their season finale record to 6-6, and while they remained bowl-eligible, the blowout cast a shadow over what had been a promising campaign. Their scheduled final game against James Madison on November 29 was now less about postseason positioning and more about pride.South Carolina’s Season: A Glimmer of Hope
For South Carolina, this win meant little in the standings. They finished 4-7 overall, 1-7 in the SEC East — dead last among the division’s seven teams, ahead of only Arkansas. But this wasn’t about rankings. It was about identity. Under head coach Shane Beamer, the Gamecocks had been labeled as a team stuck in transition. Critics questioned his play-calling. Fans wondered if the program was regressing. But on this day, in front of 72,300 fans — the largest crowd of the season — Beamer’s team looked like something else entirely. “Tonight wasn’t about the record,” Beamer told reporters after the game. “It was about who we are. And tonight, we remembered.” He praised Sellers’ leadership and the offensive line’s ability to hold the edge against Coastal Carolina’s aggressive front seven. For the first time in months, the locker room felt like a place of unity, not division.
What This Means for Both Programs
For Coastal Carolina, the loss exposed a troubling gap between their Sun Belt competitors and Power Five opponents. Their win over Marshall had felt like a statement. This loss felt like a mirror. They’ll enter bowl season as a 6-6 team, likely headed to the Cure Bowl or the New Orleans Bowl — but with a nagging question: Can they compete outside their conference? For South Carolina, this performance might be the foundation of something bigger. Sellers, a junior, is now the most efficient passer in program history over a single season. His brother Jayden finished the year with 68 receptions and 11 touchdowns. The offensive line, which had allowed 31 sacks in the first 10 games, gave up just one against Coastal Carolina. And Beamer? He’s under pressure. But this win — ugly, dominant, emotional — might buy him another year.What’s Next?
Coastal Carolina will face James Madison on November 29 at Brooks Stadium in Conway, South Carolina — a game that now serves as a farewell, not a showdown. South Carolina’s season is over, but the offseason looms large. Recruiting will be critical. The staff will need to retain key assistants. And Sellers? He’s considering declaring for the NFL Draft — but not before deciding whether to return for a fifth year under a new offensive coordinator.
Final Numbers That Tell the Story
- 51-7: Final score — South Carolina’s largest margin of victory since 2019
- 75 yards: Longest pass play of the season for LaNorris Sellers
- 0: Points scored by Coastal Carolina in the first half
- 38: Total first downs for South Carolina — a season high
- 22: Consecutive points scored by South Carolina between the 11:42 mark of the first quarter and the 5:17 mark of the third
Frequently Asked Questions
How did LaNorris Sellers’ performance impact his NFL draft stock?
Sellers’ four-touchdown, 365-yard performance against Coastal Carolina significantly boosted his draft profile. Scouts noted his poise under pressure, improved decision-making, and elite arm talent — especially on deep throws. Analysts from NFL Network now list him as a potential late-round pick or priority free agent, with some projecting him as a starter in the right system if he declares.
Why was this game so lopsided despite Coastal Carolina’s bowl eligibility?
Coastal Carolina’s success came against Sun Belt opponents, many of whom lack the athleticism and depth of SEC defenses. South Carolina’s defense, though struggling all season, played with desperation and discipline. Meanwhile, Coastal’s offense, reliant on tempo and misdirection, couldn’t adjust to the Gamecocks’ physicality. The talent gap on the line and in the secondary was too wide to overcome.
What does this win mean for Shane Beamer’s future at South Carolina?
While the 4-7 record still puts Beamer under fire, this dominant win against a bowl-eligible team showed tangible progress. Athletic director Ray Tanner reportedly told staff the program needs “one more year to build,” and this performance gave him leverage. If the Gamecocks can retain Sellers and land a top-30 recruiting class, Beamer’s job may be safe — but the pressure remains intense.
Did Jayden Sellers’ touchdown on the first play break any records?
It was the fastest touchdown in Williams-Brice Stadium history, clocking in at 6.3 seconds. It was also the first time a brother-to-brother touchdown pass opened a game in NCAA history since 2005. ESPN’s Stats & Info noted it as the longest opening-play TD by a QB to his sibling since 2017 — and the first involving two players with the same last name since the NFL’s Manning family.
How did the crowd react after the final whistle?
For the first time in over three years, fans didn’t leave early. They stayed, cheering, singing the fight song, and even chanting “Shane! Shane!” as the team took the field for the postgame handshake. The scoreboard read 51-7, but the real score was morale — and for a program that’s been through so much, that mattered more than any win-loss record.
Was this game part of any special event or tradition?
Coastal Carolina listed it as part of their ‘Teal Nation Memories’ series, a promotional campaign highlighting home games with alumni and community events. South Carolina, however, did not officially recognize any special theme. Still, it was the final game for six senior Gamecocks, including starting safety Jalen Smith, who received a standing ovation as he left the field for the last time.