Alabama Triumphs Over South Carolina, Strengthens SEC and CFP Standings
In a wild finish, No. 4 Alabama pulled off a gutsy rally in the fourth quarter, sneaking past South Carolina 29-22. The Tide’s late-game surge—highlighted by a clutch fumble recovery and Germie Bernard’s last-minute touchdown—stretched their winning streak to seven. Feels like they’re not just contenders in the SEC, but real threats in the College Football Playoff chase, too.
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Alabama’s Fourth-Quarter Heroics
Honestly, Alabama’s night was rough at times. Early in the third, they faced a tense fourth-and-1. Ty Simpson, who’s been in the Heisman conversation, looked for Ryan Williams, but Williams let a sure conversion slip through his hands.
That miscue flipped the momentum. South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers wasted no time, finding Nyck Harbor deep for a 54-yard touchdown. Suddenly, Alabama’s lead was cut to 14-12.
South Carolina’s Temporary Control
South Carolina kept pressing and soon grabbed a 22-14 lead with just 10 minutes to play. Special teams got wild—a Gamecocks punt bounced off Alabama’s Keon Sabb, and Harbor scooped up the loose ball.
That blunder set up Sellers for a 10-yard touchdown run, and for a moment, it felt like South Carolina was about to pull off an upset.
Alabama’s Resilient Response
But Alabama didn’t flinch. They strung together a gritty 14-play, 79-yard drive. Simpson hit Bernard for a touchdown, then found Josh Cuevas for a two-point conversion to tie things up at 22.
Simpson’s numbers weren’t perfect—24-for-43 for 252 yards and two touchdowns—but he delivered when it mattered.
Defensive Stand and Game-Winning Drive
South Carolina still had a shot, but Deontae Lawson came up huge, forcing Sellers to fumble. Tim Keenan III pounced on it.
That turnover set up Bernard’s breakaway 25-yard touchdown run. With just 34 seconds left, Alabama had it in the bag. What a finish.
Implications for the SEC and CFP Race
Alabama’s win shakes things up in the SEC and College Football Playoff picture. They’re still unbeaten in conference play, right up there with Texas A&M.
Plus, those head-to-head wins over Georgia and Vanderbilt? Not too shabby for their championship hopes.
Upcoming Challenges
That said, Alabama’s road ahead is no cakewalk. After their bye week, they get LSU and Oklahoma back-to-back—both ranked, both dangerous.
And then there’s the always-tense matchup with Auburn. These next few weeks will tell us a lot about where this team is headed.
South Carolina’s Struggles
For South Carolina, it’s another tough pill to swallow. They came close, but couldn’t quite knock off a top-10 team under coach Shane Beamer.
The Gamecocks are 3-5 overall, 1-5 in the SEC, and now need three more wins to get bowl eligible. Next up? A brutal road test against No. 8 Ole Miss. Good luck with that one.
Key Takeaways
- Alabama’s resilience: Overcoming early mistakes and executing under pressure.
- Ty Simpson’s performance: 24-for-43 for 252 yards and two touchdowns.
- Germie Bernard’s heroics: Game-winning 25-yard touchdown run.
- Defensive plays: Key fumble recovery by Tim Keenan III.
For more detailed coverage of Alabama’s thrilling victory over South Carolina, check out the original article.
