If you were in Baton Rouge this past October, you felt it. That specific, heavy humidity that usually spells trouble for visitors in Death Valley. The most recent chapter of LSU vs South Carolina wasn't the offensive firework show some expected, but it told us a lot about where these two programs are actually headed.
Honestly, it's getting a bit ridiculous. South Carolina hasn't beaten LSU since 1994. Think about that. Bill Clinton was in his first term. "Forrest Gump" was the biggest movie in theaters. If you’re a Gamecocks fan, this series is basically a recurring nightmare where you play well enough to stay close, then find a spectacular way to let it slip.
The 2025 Defensive Slugfest: What Really Happened
The October 11, 2025, matchup in Tiger Stadium was a weird one. LSU walked away with a 20-10 win, but the box score is a bit of a liar. If you just looked at the final score, you’d think the Tigers cruised. They didn’t.
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LSU turned the ball over three times—twice inside the South Carolina 10-yard line. You don’t usually win SEC games when you fumble the ball away at the goal line. But Garrett Nussmeier, who’s been the steady hand for Brian Kelly, found just enough rhythm to connect with his "mismatch nightmare," Trey’Dez Green.
Green is basically a cheat code. He’s a 6-foot-7 former basketball player who treats SEC safeties like middle schoolers. He put up 119 yards on eight catches. When LSU needed a play, Nussmeier just threw it high, and Green went and got it. That 6-yard fade for a touchdown in the second quarter? That’s stuff you can’t coach.
South Carolina's Missed Opportunities
Shane Beamer looked like he wanted to jump into the Mississippi River after the game. His team actually outplayed LSU in some categories. They won the turnover battle. They had more rushing yards for a good chunk of the night. Matt Fuller, a redshirt freshman who most people hadn't heard of before kickoff, ripped off a 72-yard touchdown run that briefly silenced the 101,000 people in the stands.
But then, the penalties started. 13 of them.
You can't commit 13 penalties in Death Valley and expect to survive. LaNorris Sellers, the Gamecocks' dual-threat QB, was under constant fire. He took five sacks. Two of those were intentional grounding calls on third down. That's a backbreaker. It’s the kind of "self-inflicted wound" that Beamer keeps talking about, and it's why they can't seem to get over the hump against the blue bloods of the conference.
A History of "Almost"
The LSU vs South Carolina series is one of the most lopsided in the SEC, which is weird because the games are often close. The all-time record now sits at 21-2-1 in favor of the Tigers.
Let’s look at the 2024 game in Columbia. That was probably the most heartbreaking one for the Gamecocks. They had a 17-0 lead. Seventeen to nothing. College GameDay was there, Williams-Brice was shaking, and it felt like the streak was finally over. Then Caden Durham happened. The LSU freshman back started hitting gaps, the Tigers' defense started getting stops, and South Carolina watched a 36-33 lead evaporate in the final minutes.
It’s a pattern.
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- 2015: The "Flood Game." Moved from Columbia to Baton Rouge because of historic flooding. LSU wins 45-24.
- 2020: TJ Finley, a freshman, lights up the Gamecocks for 52 points.
- 2025: A defensive struggle where South Carolina wastes four trips into LSU territory.
The Tactical Shift in Baton Rouge
What most people get wrong about the current LSU team is the defense. Under Brian Kelly, they’ve moved away from just trying to outscore people. The 2025 defense is grittier. Holding an SEC opponent to 10 points—even a struggling one—is a statement.
Safety Tamarcus Cooley and corner Mansoor Delane have turned the secondary into a no-fly zone. Sellers only managed 124 yards through the air in their last meeting. If LSU can keep this defensive identity while Nussmeier finds his targets, they’re a playoff lock.
What’s Next for Both Teams?
If you're looking at the betting lines or future matchups, keep an eye on the health of the offensive lines. South Carolina's biggest hurdle isn't talent; it's protection. Sellers is a beast, but he’s running for his life out there.
For LSU, the goal is consistency. They play "down" to their competition sometimes. They let South Carolina stay in games because of sloppiness—those red-zone fumbles will get you killed against a team like Georgia or Texas.
Your Game Day Strategy
If you're planning on catching the next installment of this rivalry, here’s what you should actually watch for:
- The "Basketball" Mismatch: Watch where Trey’Dez Green lines up. If he's one-on-one with a linebacker, it’s an automatic completion for LSU.
- The Third Down Sack Count: If South Carolina can't keep Sellers clean on third-and-long, they won't score more than 14 points.
- The Death Valley Factor: LSU’s home-field advantage is worth about 7 to 10 points in a tight game. The noise genuinely affects the Gamecocks' snap count.
Basically, the LSU vs South Carolina rivalry is a story of a giant and a giant-killer who keeps forgetting his sword. South Carolina has the pieces, but LSU has the history and the "big play" DNA that keeps the streak alive.
Next time these two meet, don't just look at the spread. Look at the penalty yardage. That’s where the game is won or lost.
Your Next Step: Check the current SEC standings to see how the 2025 win impacted LSU's path to the SEC Championship game in Atlanta. It’s a tight race this year.