South Carolina football had Alabama staring down the biggest upset of the Saturday SEC showdown. Fans, however, were left frustrated after watching the final touchdown unfold in dramatic fashion.
Crimson Tide wide receiver Germie Bernard faked a reverse and turned it into a 25-yard touchdown that gave Alabama the go-ahead score. The touchdown helped Alabama escape with a 29-22 victory, sending Crimson Tide fans into a frenzy. Yet, some South Carolina supporters questioned the effort of the Gamecocks defenders on that decisive play.
One fan posted on X, formerly Twitter, “I’m glad Bama won, but it’s almost like he let him walk in.” Another asked, “Did that SC defender pull off Bernard AND signal the TD?” Observers also pointed out how South Carolina defensive back DQ Smith raised his arms as Bernard crossed into the end zone.
### What Happened on the Final Alabama Touchdown?
A possible explanation behind the final Alabama touchdown is that Shane Beamer or the South Carolina coaching staff may have instructed DQ Smith to allow the touchdown intentionally. The strategy could have been to preserve clock time, giving the Gamecocks a chance to mount a final scoring drive.
However, after Bernard’s score, South Carolina only had 34 seconds remaining and no timeouts left. When the Gamecocks got the ball back, their offense failed to make a significant impact. Quarterback LaNorris Sellers managed a seven-yard pass to Brady Hunt, but an incomplete pass on the next play and a sack on Sellers ended the game.
With just 11 seconds remaining, Beamer expressed his frustration. Even with Smith’s apparent concession of the touchdown, South Carolina could have potentially forced Alabama into a field goal attempt or even pushed the game into overtime if Alabama missed.
### Looking Ahead
The Gamecocks fell to 3-5 overall and now sit two losses away from being eliminated from bowl contention. Despite the heartbreaking loss, South Carolina will need to regroup quickly to keep their postseason hopes alive.
https://clutchpoints.com/ncaa-football/south-carolina-football-news-fans-up-in-arms-after-seeing-players-effort-in-game-winning-alabama-td