LaNorris Sellers hype train rolling down the tracks following South Carolina week one win

South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers helped guide his Gamecock squad to a win this weekend over the Virginia Tech Hokies. He had a pair of touchdowns and played turnover-free football in a low-scoring affair.

With the win, Sellers was one of just a few of the preseason Heisman favorites who had a solid performance in a victory. Arch Manning’s Texas team lost to Ohio State, and the first-year starter struggled. Then, Clemson’s Cade Klubnik lost to LSU and didn’t have a great showing.

BetMGM has bumped Sellers up to the No. 2 overall candidate for college football’s biggest award this season. Trailing no one other than LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, he now has +700 odds to win the Heisman Trophy. Sellers opened the season at +1800 and the sixth-best odds.

Plenty of well-known names around college football are buying stock in the USC signal-caller.

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ESPN’s Pat McAfee had national analyst Josh Pate on the Monday edition of his show. During their conversation, Pate claimed that Sellers can be “the best player in college football.” Pate also argued that if the Gamecocks’ supporting cast can play up to its capability, Sellers could lead his team to College Football Playoff National Championship contention.

Joining Pate’s assertion that No. 16 could win the second Heisman Trophy in South Carolina football history, former NFL quarterback Luke McCown predicted that Sellers would win the 2025 Heisman Trophy.

ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky argued, “If I had to pick 1 QB in CFB right now for the future…[it] would be Sellers.” That take was one shared by his ESPN colleague, Booger McFarland. McFarland, during an appearance on Barstool’s Pardon My Take, said Sellers “might be the No. 1 pick in the draft.” NFL Insider Jordan Schultz agreed and posted on social media that an NFL executive called Sellers “a cheat code.”

Former College GameDay personality David Pollock talked a lot about Sellers on his show, See Ball Get Ball. “LaNorris Sellers: man, is he fun to watch,” the former Georgia All-American said. He also likened the South Carolina quarterback to an SUV, a Mack Truck, and a tank in the run game.

Plenty of other opinions–whether from analysts or fans–echoed the same sentiment.

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If Sellers can live up to the hype being placed on him by national pundits, it will mean good things for the Gamecocks. Now ranked No. 10 in the AP poll, USC has College Football Playoff hopes this season.

The road to the CFP continues this weekend, and the LaNorris Sellers hype train will continue rolling down the tracks.

Sellers and South Carolina will play the first home game of their 2025 season on Saturday. The Gamecocks will host the in-state South Carolina State Bulldogs on Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium. The 7:00 matchup will not be on national television, but it will stream on ESPN+.

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