Toronto Star
· collected 2026-10-10 · by Mark Long The Associated Press
In a surprising upset, LaNorris Sellers led South Carolina to a 38-19 victory over No. 16 Florida on Saturday in Gainesville, ending the Gamecocks' eight-game SEC losing streak. Sellers accounted for five touchdowns, including four passing, completing 23 of 35 passes for 279 yards and effectively sealing the win with a third-quarter rushing touchdown. South Carolina’s strong performance was bolstered by Florida's defensive struggles and critical turnovers, leading to the Gators' second consecutive loss and likely dropping them out of the AP Top 25 rankings.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-10,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — LaNorris Sellers accounted for five touchdowns, including four passing in his best performance in nearly two years, and South Carolina stunned No. 16 Florida 38-19 on Saturday to end an eight-game skid in Southeastern Conference play.
asserted
Carolina → account → play
Sellers completed 23 of 35 passes for 279 yards, finding Nyck Harbor, Mazeo Bennett Jr., Donovan Murph and Lex Cyrus for scores against the league’s worst passing defense.
asserted
Sellers → complete → defense
Sellers’ most impressive play was a 3-yard run in the third quarter in which he tossed aside a defender and nearly scored.
asserted
he → toss → defender
He plunged in on the next play, essentially sealing a long-awaited victory for the Gamecocks (3-3, 1-3 SEC).
asserted
He → plunge → Gamecocks
South Carolina’s last win in league play came against Kentucky in September 2025.
asserted
win → come → September
Coach Shane Beamer’s team blew four significant leads in its last five SEC games, but the Gamecocks closed this one out without any issues and won in Gainesville for the first time since 2014.
asserted
Gamecocks → blow → 2014
It was Sellers’ best outing since throwing five TDs against Missouri in November 2024.
asserted
It → throw → November
The Gators (4-2, 2-2), who were double-digit favorites at home, lost a second consecutive game in lopsided fashion and surely will fall out of the AP Top 25.
asserted
who → lose → Top
They were looking to rebound from a 45-17 shocker at then-No. 25 Missouri.
asserted
They → look → Missouri
Instead, they got humiliated in the Swamp.
asserted
they → humiliate → Swamp
South Carolina took control with two TD drives in the third quarter, clearly picking on Florida’s beleaguered secondary following a 45-minute lightning delay that extended halftime.
asserted
that → take → halftime
The Gamecocks could have pulled away earlier, but Sellers overthrew a wide-opener receiver on a flea flicker, his receivers dropped three passes and Malik Orsan missed a field goal.
uncertain
Orsan → pull → goal
The Gators had way more problems.
asserted
Gators → have → problems
Florida struggled to run the ball again — Jadan Baugh ran 15 times for 59 yards and a garbage-time touchdown — quarterback Aaron Philo turned the ball over twice and the Gators were gouged on defense while failing to generate enough pressure on Sellers.
asserted
Gators → struggle → Sellers
More noticeable: Coach Jon Sumrall got booed for the first time since taking over in Gainesville.
asserted
Sumrall → boo → Gainesville
Fans showed their displeasure with Sumrall’s clock management at the end of the first half.
asserted
Fans → show → half
The Gators ran out of time and then missed a long field goal.
asserted
Gators → run → goal
Stewart returns after a one-game suspension
Highly touted South Carolina defensive end Dylan Stewart returned from a one-game suspension and forced two fumbles.
asserted
Stewart → return → fumbles
Stewart was suspended for throwing a punch at an Alabama player two weeks ago and missed last week’s overtime loss to Kentucky.
asserted
Stewart → suspend → Kentucky
Stewart rejoined teammates this week and was in the starting lineup Saturday.
asserted
Stewart → rejoin → lineup
He beat Florida right tackle Emeka Ugorji in the first quarter, sacking Philo and causing a fumble that the Gators recovered.
asserted
Gators → beat → that
He forced Philo to fumble again early in the fourth quarter.
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He → force → quarter
Starting cornerback Judge Collier left in the first half with an apparent concussion.
asserted
Collier → leave → concussion
Teammate David Bucey hammered Collier while trying to make a tackle near South Carolina’s sideline.
asserted
Bucey → hammer → sideline
Collier stumbled getting off the ground, got checked out and eventually was escorted to the locker room after trainers took his helmet.
asserted
trainers → stumble → helmet
Backup running back Duke Clark hobbled to the locker room just before halftime.
asserted
Clark → hobble → halftime
The Gators also played their second consecutive game without leading receiver Vernell Brown III, who is recovering from a sprained right knee.
asserted
who → play → knee
The takeaway
South Carolina: This is the kind of performance the Gamecocks have been waiting for.
asserted
Gamecocks → wait → performance
Talent was never an issue, which explains why Beamer was under so much heat amid a three-game skid this season.
asserted
Beamer → explain → skid
Florida: The Gators are unlikely to fix their issues anytime soon.
asserted
Gators → fix → issues
Both lines of scrimmage need overhauled, and they probably need to sign four new cornerbacks before next season.
asserted
they → overhaul → season
Up next
South Carolina gets a week off before hosting No. 15 Tennessee on Oct. 24.
asserted
Carolina → get → Oct.
Florida will try to avoid a three-game skid next Saturday at top-ranked Texas.
asserted
Florida → try → Texas
The Aporia
