Dandy Don Count Down-LSU’s Five Toughest Football Games of 2025

No. 5 Vs. South Carolina (Oct. 11)

If LaNorris Sellers doesn’t get hurt, does LSU beat South Carolina on the road last year? Like it or not — and I know that ticked off a lot of you immediately — it’s fair to ask the question. Before being sidelined in the second half, Sellers completed 9-of-16 passes for 113 yards and an interception while rushing for 88 yards and two scores on just 10 carries. He went on to lead the Gamecocks to a season-ending win over Clemson, breaking 18 tackles in that game alone. Performances like that generate Heisman hype — and that’s exactly what Sellers carries into this season. In fact, he edged out Garrett Nussmeier for First-Team All-SEC honors at SEC Media Days.

South Carolina also added Rashul Faison, an All-Mountain West selection from Utah State, and they’ll run behind a solid offensive line led by right guard Trovon Baugh. And need I remind you: this team just barely missed the playoff last season after closing the regular season with six straight wins. On defense, they’ll need to replace some key pieces on the line, but Dylan Stewart returns after posting 6.5 sacks and forcing three fumbles last fall. He’s a future star.

As if this game weren’t tough enough by itself, LSU will host South Carolina the week after traveling to face Ole Miss. Thankfully, the Tigers have a tune-up beforehand against Southeastern on Sept. 20, so it’s not like the Gamecocks are catching LSU in the middle of a gauntlet. Still, Vanderbilt the following week could be a sleeper-tough matchup, with legitimate NFL talent returning for the Commodores. And as Alabama found out last year, Vanderbilt’s home-field advantage isn’t a laughing matter anymore.

Admittedly, hype helped propel this game over others like Ole Miss and Texas A&M, but if Sellers and Stewart continue their rise, don’t be surprised to see South Carolina back in the playoff conversation come November.[/quote]