SUPERMAN SHOWED UP IN NORMAN!

I’ve been saying it all season. When South Carolina gets the Superman version of LaNorris Sellers, the Gamecocks can compete with just about anybody in college football.

Well, folks, Superman showed up in Norman, Oklahoma, and apparently Brent Venables forgot to bring the kryptonite.

South Carolina put together its most explosive offensive performance of the season, piling up 521 yards of total offense and scoring 42 points against the Sooners.

Sellers was spectacular, completing 19 of 24 passes for 301 yards and three touchdowns while adding 96 yards rushing and two more scores.

That’s 397 yards of offense and five touchdowns accounted for by one player.

I’ve been critical of Sellers’ development this season, particularly his accuracy and decision-making. But I’ve also maintained that his ceiling is extraordinarily high.

Today, we saw exactly why.

THE EXPLOSIVE PLAYS WERE BACK!

DJ Black’s 84-yard touchdown reception and Mazeo Bennett Jr.’s 79-yard scoring catch were the kinds of plays this offense has desperately needed.

Nyck Harbor also contributed a touchdown, and South Carolina’s receivers finally looked like legitimate weapons capable of stretching a defense.

The Gamecocks averaged 7.4 yards per play against an Oklahoma defense coached by one of the best defensive minds in college football.

That’s impressive.

And give the offensive line some credit. They helped establish a running game and provided Sellers opportunities to attack downfield.

THE DEFENSE HAD THE FIRST AND LAST WORD!

I thought Clayton White’s defense played an outstanding first three quarters, limiting Oklahoma to just 10 points.

The Sooners struggled to establish their running game, and quarterback John Mateer had difficulty finding any consistent offensive rhythm.

Oklahoma made things interesting with 15 fourth-quarter points, but I particularly liked the way South Carolina’s defense finished.

With Oklahoma threatening to score again in the closing seconds, the Gamecocks answered with one final goal-line stand.

That’s pride.

That’s determination.

And that’s the kind of defensive mentality you want to see regardless of what the scoreboard says.

The game was already decided, but those defensive players weren’t interested in surrendering another touchdown.

I love that attitude.

BUT WE STILL HAVE SOME CLEANING UP TO DO.

Three interceptions are three interceptions, regardless of the final score.

Sellers threw two, including one Oklahoma returned for a touchdown, and backup Cutter Woods added another.

South Carolina finished minus-three in turnover margin.

You cannot expect to consistently beat elite football teams while giving the football away that frequently.

The Gamecocks were explosive enough offensively to overcome those mistakes today, but against Georgia or another championship-caliber opponent, those turnovers could be devastating.

That’s something Shane Beamer and his staff need to address.

MY TAKE

What a difference three weeks can make.

Following the losses to Mississippi State and Kentucky, I questioned whether this South Carolina team could win more than four games.

The offense was inconsistent, the mistakes were maddening, and the Gamecocks looked like a team struggling to find its identity.

Now they’ve beaten Florida, Tennessee, and Oklahoma in consecutive SEC games.

And suddenly, this team looks dangerous.

I don’t believe South Carolina has magically solved every problem that plagued it earlier this season. There are still issues with execution, turnovers, and consistency.

But something has clearly changed.

The confidence is back.

The offense is making explosive plays.

The defense is competing.

And LaNorris Sellers is beginning to look like the quarterback we expected to see when the season started.

Perhaps the most encouraging thing about today’s performance is that South Carolina didn’t need to play a perfect football game to dominate Oklahoma.

The Gamecocks made mistakes, gave away possessions, and still won comfortably on the road.

That’s a pretty significant statement.

BOTTOM LINE

South Carolina went into Norman and imposed its will on Oklahoma.

The Gamecocks dominated offensively, controlled the game for three quarters, and finished with a defensive stand that demonstrated they weren’t interested in giving the Sooners anything.

Three consecutive SEC victories.

An offense that’s finally finding its identity.

A defense that refuses to quit.

And a quarterback who apparently found his Superman cape.

I’ve said all along that the best version of South Carolina could be a dangerous football team.

Today, we saw that version.

Now the challenge is simple.

Can they do it again next Saturday?

Because if this is the South Carolina team we’re going to see the rest of the season, things could get awfully interesting in Columbia.

JB TALKING SPORTZ
JBTalkinSportz.com