LOOK: Auburn-South Carolina game ends on controversial fumble call
There was plenty of controversy in Columbia on Saturday night, as the Gamecocks sealed the victory over Auburn as a result of a questionable punt return call.
With just 2:11 remaining in the game, South Carolina’s Kai Kroeger punted a 36-yard kick in the direction of Auburn’s Jaylin Simpson. Originally, officials ruled the ball came close to the cornerback’s thigh, but it did not hit him. After reviewing the play, they overturned the call, effectively ending the game.
South Carolina ran out the clock, held on to win 21-17, and notched their third conference win of the season. In total, it was South Carolina’s sixth win of the year under first-year head coach Shane Beamer, meaning they are eligible for the postseason for the first time since 2018.
All three of South Carolina’s touchdowns were caught by different players: running back ZaQuandre White, fullback Trai Jones and wide receiver Josh Vann.
On the Auburn side, things started out well when the Tigers took a 14-0 lead. South Carolina stormed back, scoring 14 unanswered points to tie the game at halftime. Obviously, they outscored the Tigers 7-3 in the second half. Auburn’s late-game tribulations continue.
Quarterback TJ Finley, who was filling in for the injured Bo Nix, was 17-for-32 with 188 yards and one touchdown. South Carolina has the second-best pass defense in the SEC behind Georgia, allowing just 185.8 passing yards per contest. They held Finley around that mark on Saturday.
Running back Tank Bigsby had his best game of the year, posting 164 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries. He averaged 7.5 yards per carry, his highest average against a Power Five school. Bigsby has five games with 100+ rushing yards this year, and tonight’s performance was the first since Oct. 30.
Auburn fell to 6-5, and they end their season at Jordan-Hare Stadium against Alabama. The Crimson Tide got a very close 42-35 win at home again Arkansas today.