Slow start dooms Texas A&M in loss to South Carolina

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina opened robust with 17 factors in the primary six minutes after which held on to defeat Texas A&M 30-24 on Saturday night time.

The Gamecocks (5-2, 2-2 SEC) returned the opening kickoff for a landing and turned a fumble and interception deep in Aggies territory into 10 extra factors and a 17-0 gap for Texas A&M (3-4, 1-3) simply over 5 minutes in.

It’s the primary time the Gamecocks have crushed the Aggies for the reason that SEC made them their Western Division rival in 2014.

“We can’t start off on the road like that, like we did,” Aggies coach Jimbo Fisher stated.

MarShawn Lloyd ran 18 occasions for 92 yards and had each of South Carolina’s touchdowns in the second half to hold Texas A&M from climbing again into it.

Spencer Rattler was 12-of-25 passing for 168 yards for South Carolina, which has received 4 video games in a row for the primary time since profitable six straight to end the 2013 season.

“A month ago, I was asked if this team quit,” Gamecocks coach Shane Beamer stated. “That look like this team’s quit? We’ve won four straight.”

Devon Achane ran 20 occasions for 99 yards for the Aggies. Haynes King was 17-of-32 passing for 178 yards, with a landing and an interception earlier than leaving with an damage in the fourth quarter.

Freshman Conner Weigman stuffed in and went 8-of-15 by the air for 91 yards however neither of his two last Hail Mary tries made it to the top zone after Texas A&M recovered an onside kick at midfield with 9 seconds left.

The loss places much more strain on Fisher, whose workforce began the season ranked No. 6. With a contract by 2031 paying him $9 million a yr, his job seemingly is not in jeopardy.

However, shedding to South Carolina has been unhealthy for a number of SEC coaches. Phillip Fulmer of Tennessee in 2008, Will Muschamp in 2014 and Dan Mullen in 2021 all misplaced their jobs shortly after shedding to the Gamecocks.

“We battled back, we played really good, we had some consistency,” Fisher stated. “We had some good drives, we moved the football well. … But we just couldn’t make that one more play, that one more drive to get us there.”

More and extra, it is wanting just like the Aggies are in for a wrestle simply to get to six wins and bowl eligibility. A win over UMass is possible. After that, the Aggies want two victories out of 4 video games — Ole Miss, Florida, at Auburn and at LSU.

“We just have to keep our poise and go play,” Fisher stated. “Get your confidence back. … We just have to be more consistent with what we’re trying to do.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.