Florida
South Carolina
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (10/08/2026) — LaNorris Sellers accounted for four touchdowns and 279 yards, and the South Carolina Gamecocks beat the Florida Gators 38-19 on Thursday night at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. A crowd of 90,311 watched South Carolina take a conference road win in one of the SEC's toughest venues.
The yardage totals were nearly even. South Carolina outgained Florida by only six yards, 393 to 387. The Gamecocks won the game on efficiency: they converted third downs, protected the football and cashed in when drives reached scoring range.
How It Happened
On paper, the two offenses looked similar. South Carolina threw for 279 yards and ran for 114. Florida threw for 267 and ran for 120, actually outrushing the Gamecocks. The Gators also had the sharper completion rate, going 27 of 36 through the air, while South Carolina went 23 of 35.
The scoreboard showed what the box score totals hid. South Carolina kept drives alive and turned them into touchdowns. Florida moved the ball between the 20s but too often came away with nothing.
The Gamecocks earned 22 first downs to Florida's 20 and held a small edge in time of possession, 30:37 to 29:23. Neither team controlled the clock. South Carolina simply did more with its possessions.
Malik Orsan added 8 points to the Gamecocks' total. Sellers carried the bulk of the scoring load with his four touchdowns.
Florida's offense put up points through Patrick Durkin, who scored 7, and Bailey Stockton, who found the end zone once. Aaron Philo led the Gators with 227 yards. Florida stayed within reach for stretches, but it never generated enough scoring to match South Carolina.
Turning Point
Two numbers decided this game: third downs and turnovers.
South Carolina converted 10 third downs, and every conversion kept Sellers and the offense on the field. Florida managed six. Over a full game, those four extra conversions meant extra possessions, extra snaps and extra chances to score for the Gamecocks.
The Gators also gave the ball away three times. Florida had matched South Carolina nearly yard for yard, so it couldn't afford those empty possessions. Each turnover ended a drive that could have narrowed the gap and gave the Gamecocks another chance to extend the lead. Total yardage was close, but the final margin of 19 points was not, and the turnovers account for much of that difference.
Star of the Game
LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina
Sellers drove the Gamecocks' offense from start to finish. His four touchdowns made up most of South Carolina's 38 points, and his 279 yards matched the team's entire passing output for the night. When South Carolina needed points, Sellers produced them.
The defense helped him. Dylan Stewart recorded a sack for the Gamecocks, adding pressure to a unit that forced three turnovers.
For Florida, Myles Graham was the standout defender. He sacked Sellers twice and was the most disruptive player on the Gators' defense.
What It Means
For South Carolina: Winning by 19 at Florida is a significant result in conference play. The Gamecocks showed they can win a close statistical game on execution. They didn't need to dominate the yardage totals. They converted on third down, avoided giving Florida extra possessions and leaned on their quarterback in the scoring area. If Sellers keeps producing at this level, South Carolina has an offense that can travel anywhere in the league.
For Florida: This is a tough loss for the Gators, and it comes at home. The positives are real: 387 total yards, 120 rushing yards, a 75 percent completion rate and two sacks from Graham. Florida's offense can move the ball against an SEC defense.
The gap between moving the ball and finishing drives is what Florida has to close. Three turnovers and a 10-to-6 deficit in third-down conversions turned a game that was even in yardage into a two-score defeat. Cleaning up ball security and staying on schedule on early downs are the clearest fixes as the Gators turn to the rest of their conference schedule.
South Carolina leaves Gainesville with a quality road win. Florida leaves knowing it was closer than the final score suggests, but it didn't capitalize on its chances.
