No. 21 South Carolina beat Texas A and M 17-9 at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina, on Saturday, November 7, 2026. Quarterback LaNorris Sellers hurt his ankle in the second quarter, left the game for checks, and came back for the second half with limited movement. With 1 minute 27 seconds left, Sellers broke free for a 41-yard touchdown run that put South Carolina ahead for good, and the defense held on the final play. The result moved South Carolina to 6-3 and gave the Gamecocks their fourth win in a row, while Texas A and M fell to 4-5.
Quick Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Final score | No. 21 South Carolina 17, Texas A and M 9 |
| Date | Saturday, November 7, 2026 |
| Venue | Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, South Carolina |
| Television | ESPN |
| South Carolina record after the game | 6-3 overall, fourth win in a row |
| Texas A and M record after the game | 4-5 overall, 1-5 in SEC play |
| LaNorris Sellers passing | 20 of 31 for 251 yards and one touchdown pass |
| LaNorris Sellers rushing | 34 yards and one rushing touchdown |
| Decisive play | Sellers 41-yard touchdown run with 1 minute 27 seconds left |
| Texas A and M scoring | Three field goals by D. Olano from 40, 46 and 44 yards |
| Final play | Marcel Reed pass incomplete on 4th and goal from the 9-yard line |
How Sellers Hurt His Ankle and Came Back
The story of this game starts with a hit in the second quarter. Sellers was sacked by Texas A and M defender Bryce Perry-Wright, and the hit jarred the ball free. Texas A and M recovered the fumble. It left South Carolina without its starting quarterback, and it raised a real question about whether Sellers would be able to return at all.
Coach Shane Beamer said he was worried about Sellers at halftime. A quarterback with an ankle problem can lose the ability to plant, step into throws, and move away from pressure. Sellers had X-rays, and the news was good enough for him to come back. He returned for the second half with limited mobility, and he stayed in the game for the rest of the way.
South Carolina trailed Texas A and M 9-7 when Sellers came back into the game in the second half. He was not returning to protect a lead. He was returning to chase one, with an ankle that would not let him move the way he normally does. Sellers got the ball out on time and kept South Carolina close until the late touchdown run changed the scoreboard for good.
The 41-Yard Run That Sealed It
With 1 minute 27 seconds left, Sellers sealed the win with a 41-yard touchdown run. A quarterback with a sore ankle does not often break a run of that length late in a game. Sellers found space, trusted his legs, and kept going when the defense closed in. The run gave South Carolina a 17-9 lead that Texas A and M could not answer in the time that remained.
The run also closed the story that had started in the second quarter. Sellers had been hurt, checked, and brought back with limited movement. Then, in the final minutes, he produced the longest and most important run of the day. After the touchdown, he limped off the field again.
For South Carolina, the touchdown turned a tight game into a two-score lead in the final minutes, and it forced Texas A and M to chase a touchdown in very little time. A two-score lead changes the math completely. The play also showed why Sellers is so hard to stop even when he is not at full strength. He finished 20 of 31 passing for 251 yards and one touchdown pass, plus 34 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown.
Olano Kept Texas A and M in Front Early
Texas A and M did not lose this game for lack of chances to score. Kicker D. Olano made field goals of 40, 46 and 44 yards, and those three kicks gave the Aggies all nine of their points. The problem was that none of those drives ended in the end zone. Field goals keep a team in a game, but they do not build a lead that can survive a late touchdown.
The 9-7 lead that Texas A and M held when Sellers returned in the second half showed both sides of that story. The Aggies had done enough to stay ahead, but a two-point lead built on field goals is fragile. One touchdown can flip it, and that is exactly what happened late in the game. Olano did his job well, but the rest of the offense could not turn those drives into touchdowns.
For South Carolina, the fact that Texas A and M scored only through field goals was a credit to the defense. The Gamecocks gave up yardage and let the Aggies reach range, but they held firm when it mattered. South Carolina found the end zone twice, once through the air and once on the ground, both times with Sellers involved. Texas A and M found it never. In a game decided by eight points, that difference is the whole game.
The Final Drive That Fell Short
Texas A and M had one last chance after the Sellers touchdown. On the final play of the game, the Aggies drove the full length of the field in a shortened two-minute drill and faced 4th and goal from the 9-yard line. Marcel Reed led that drive well enough to give his team a real chance to score at the end.
The final play, though, did not go the way Texas A and M needed. Reed’s final pass attempt sailed incomplete, and that sealed South Carolina’s win. There was no more time to try again. The game ended with South Carolina ahead 17-9. One play, one throw, one stop, and the result was settled.
For Texas A and M, the final drive will be a source of regret. The Aggies reached the 9-yard line with a chance to score, but the drive ended with an incomplete pass. For South Carolina, the final stop was the last piece of a hard win. The defense had already held Texas A and M to field goals for most of the game, and now it held once more with the game on the line.
What the Win Means for Both Teams
South Carolina entered the game 5-3 overall and 3-3 in the SEC. After the win, the Gamecocks are 6-3, and they have won four games in a row. A four-game winning run in the SEC is a real achievement, because the league does not give any team an easy week. South Carolina won this one without its quarterback at full strength, and it won it late, in front of its own fans.
The win also fits the form Sellers has shown this season. Entering the game, he had completed 62.6 percent of his passes for 1,849 yards and 16 touchdowns with seven interceptions, and he had run for 603 yards and six touchdowns on 98 carries. He was coming off a five-touchdown performance in a 42-25 rout of Oklahoma in Week 9. Even with a sore ankle, he threw for 251 yards and a touchdown in this game, and he ran for a touchdown that won it.
Texas A and M entered the game 4-4 overall and 1-4 in the SEC. After the loss, the Aggies are 4-5 and 1-5 in SEC play. That record puts the season in a hard place. A team that sits below .500 in November has to win its remaining games to finish with a winning record. The Aggies reached field goal range three times, but they could not score a touchdown. That is the problem they must solve first.
The loss also shows how fine the margins are in college football. Texas A and M led 9-7 when Sellers came back in the second half, and the Aggies had a chance to score on the final play. Instead, South Carolina made the big play late, and Texas A and M did not. That is often how close games are decided.
Elsewhere on the same day, other teams also found ways to win close games. You can read about the Texas win in our report on Texas beats Missouri 34-20, the Florida State win in our report on Florida State beats Boston College 31-24, and the Utah win in our report on Utah beats BYU 28-20.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the South Carolina and Texas A and M game?
No. 21 South Carolina won 17-9 at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina, on Saturday, November 7, 2026. The Gamecocks trailed 9-7 when Sellers returned in the second half, and they won on his 41-yard touchdown run with 1 minute 27 seconds left.
What happened to LaNorris Sellers in the game?
Sellers hurt his ankle in the second quarter when he was sacked by Texas A and M defender Bryce Perry-Wright. The hit jarred the ball free, and Texas A and M recovered the fumble. Coach Shane Beamer said he was worried about Sellers at halftime. Sellers had X-rays, returned for the second half with limited mobility, and stayed in the game. He sealed the win with a 41-yard touchdown run, then limped off the field again.
What were LaNorris Sellers stats in the game?
Sellers finished 20 of 31 passing for 251 yards and one touchdown pass. He also ran for 34 yards and one rushing touchdown. His touchdown pass was a 1-yard throw to M. Bennett in the second quarter, and his rushing touchdown was the 41-yard run with 1 minute 27 seconds left.
How did Texas A and M score its nine points?
All nine Texas A and M points came from kicker D. Olano, who made field goals of 40, 46 and 44 yards. The Aggies reached the end zone never, and their final drive ended on 4th and goal from the 9-yard line when Marcel Reed’s pass sailed incomplete.
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Final Thoughts
South Carolina beat Texas A and M 17-9 in a game that will be remembered for one player and one run. LaNorris Sellers hurt his ankle, lost a fumble on the same play, went for X-rays, and still came back to finish the game. He threw for 251 yards and a touchdown, and then he ran 41 yards for the touchdown that sealed the win with 1 minute 27 seconds left.
The win moved South Carolina to 6-3 and gave the Gamecocks their fourth win in a row. It also showed the value of a defense that held Texas A and M to three field goals and stopped the final drive on 4th and goal from the 9-yard line. For Texas A and M, the loss dropped the Aggies to 4-5 and 1-5 in SEC play. South Carolina found the end zone when it mattered.
Featured image: AI-generated editorial illustration for this story.
