No. 11 Tennessee fell 27-24 to unranked South Carolina on October 24, 2026, at Williams-Brice Stadium, surrendering a late lead when quarterback George MacIntyre fumbled inside his own territory with 33 seconds remaining, allowing Malik Orsan to kick a walk-off 48-yard field goal.
How South Carolina Staged the Late-Game Upset
The Gamecocks engineered their winning drive after a desperate fourth-down gamble by the Volunteers misfired with roughly three and a half minutes left on the clock. Trailing by seven points late in the fourth quarter, South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers kept a drive alive by scrambling and stretching across the goal line on a third-and-goal play from the 4-yard line. The subsequent point-after kick tied the game at 24-24 with 1:17 remaining, according to reporting from Fox News.
Malik Orsan wins it with a field goal South Carolina beats No. 11 Tennessee 27-24 More to come from a crazy night in Columbia but for now: https://t.co/Slax7zdSKE pic.twitter.com/AeTDEwZCeT
Tennessee tried to manufacture a winning response on its ensuing possession, but disaster struck on just the third play. Edge rusher Dylan Stewart stripped the ball from MacIntyre, and defensive tackle Tomiwa Durojaiye recovered the fumble at the Tennessee 34-yard line with 33 seconds left on the clock. Four snaps later, Orsan buried the 48-yard field goal as time expired, sending ecstatic fans storming onto the field.
Why Penalties and Slow Starts Crippled Tennessee
The Volunteers dug an early hole by allowing South Carolina to race out to a 14-0 lead in the opening quarter. Although Tennessee answered to claim a lead in the fourth quarter, self-inflicted mistakes repeatedly stalled their offense. Head coach Josh Heupel’s squad was flagged 12 times for 90 yards, wiping out potential touchdowns and halting critical drives.
South Carolina beats No. 11 Tennessee, 27-24, on a last-second field goal. Another big win for Shane Beamer. Vols fall after upsetting Alabama last week.Cocktober!
An illegal man downfield penalty erased a long scoring strike to Mike Matthews, while a holding infraction robbed Braylon Staley of an 18-yard touchdown catch. Another offensive holding penalty in the fourth quarter negated a 17-yard run by Javin Gordon that would have moved the visitors near midfield, directly setting up the fateful sack and fumble.
We didn’t play smart enough. Offensively, penalties just crushed us. You let a good football team hang around on the road, it’s got a chance to bite you.
Josh Heupel, Tennessee head coach
What DeSean Bishop and LaNorris Sellers Contributed on the Ground
Running back DeSean Bishop provided the backbone for Tennessee’s offensive resurgence, grinding out 120 yards and a touchdown on 32 carries. His performance marked his fifth game of the season eclipsing the 120-yard rushing mark, though he sustained an injury near the end of the contest and missed the final fourth-down attempt.
On the opposing sideline, Sellers paced the Gamecocks with 96 yards on rushing attempts alongside two touchdowns on the ground, while completing 18 of 32 passes for 210 yards and one touchdown. The victory secured back-to-back wins against ranked opponents for South Carolina following an upset over Florida, leaving the Gamecocks at 4-3 overall and 2-3 in Southeastern Conference play.
| Team | Record | SEC Record | Passing Leader | Rushing Leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | 4-3 | 2-3 | LaNorris Sellers (210 Yds) | LaNorris Sellers (96 Yds) |
| Tennessee | 6-2 | George MacIntyre (136 Yds) | DeSean Bishop (120 Yds) |
Where Tennessee Stands Heading Into the Bye Week
The defeat drops Tennessee to 6-2 overall, severely damaging their trajectory toward the 12-team College Football Playoff. Speaking after the game, MacIntyre emphasized that the team’s postseason ambitions now rest on running the table through the remainder of the regular schedule.
The Volunteers will get healthy before hosting No. 12 Kentucky in Knoxville. Meanwhile, South Carolina returns home to host Oklahoma.
4 years ago LaNorris Sellers was in Willy-B as a HS prospect and saw South Carolina beat Tennessee That win made him really consider playing for the Gamecocks Flashforward to tonight, he was the hero that beat the No. 11 Vols https://t.co/lgBzKPFnfh
More on South Carolina
The crowd after South Carolina's GW kick to beat No. 11 Tennessee 🤯@Taylor_McGregor tried to interview QB LaNorris Sellers in a field storm 😂 pic.twitter.com/KqyycJoHBk