COLUMBIA, S.C. — A 48-yard kick by Malik Orsan as time expired gave South Carolina a 27-24 win over No. 11 Tennessee on Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, where a sellout crowd of 79,193 then poured onto the field.
The Vols (6-2, 3-2 SEC) climbed out of an early 14-0 hole and went to the break up 21-17, scoring all three first-half touchdowns on the ground against a Gamecocks defense that had given up only four rushing scores in six games.
Tennessee held a 24-17 edge late, but quarterback George MacIntyre was stopped for a 1-yard loss on a fourth-and-1 try. LaNorris Sellers then ran in from 4 yards out to tie it with 1:17 left. On the next Tennessee series, Dylan Stewart sacked MacIntyre and forced a fumble that Tomiwa Durojaiye recovered at the Vols 34 with 33 seconds to go, setting up the winning kick.
Senior running back DeSean Bishop carried 32 times for 120 yards and a score. His touchdown capped an 18-play, 75-yard march that took 9:05 off the clock, the longest series by play count in the Josh Heupel era, and it gave him 30 career rushing touchdowns, a total only four other Vols had reached before him.
The Tennessee defense piled up five sacks, all after halftime, and now has 35 on the season. Penalties hurt the Vols all night: 12 flags for 90 yards and three touchdowns wiped off the board.
The loss ended a run of momentum built a week earlier, when Tennessee closed out a win over Alabama on Oct. 17 by grinding out 72 yards in 15 plays over 9:32. Captains for the trip were long snapper Bennett Brady, linebackers Arion Carter and Jeremiah Telander and receiver Braylon Staley. The two programs were meeting for the 43rd time and the first time since 2023.
Tennessee has an open week before hosting No. 12 Kentucky at Neyland Stadium on Nov. 7.
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