Well, we called it.

This one was never going to be easy, and it wasn’t.

Alabama escaped with a 29–22 win over South Carolina on Saturday on the road. And while a win is a win, this one came with plenty of tense moments and hard lessons.

The Gamecocks showed up hungry, physical, and determined, just like we predicted. And they made Alabama fight for every inch, every down, and every score.

Offensively, the Tide looked out of rhythm for much of the night. Quarterback Ty Simpson went 24-of-43 for 253 yards and two touchdowns, showing flashes of composure but struggling at times to find consistency. Wide receiver Germie Bernard was the difference-maker for the Tide, scoring once through the air and again on the ground. His rushing touchdown with less than 40 seconds left sealed the win for Alabama, a much-needed score that capped off a gritty performance. Tight end Josh Cuevas added a touchdown of his own, providing another key spark in the game. 

Still, Alabama struggled to get the running game going, finishing with only 73 rushing yards on the night. Star running back Jam Miller was held up for much of the game, managing just 27 yards on 10 carries as the Tide offensive line had trouble opening lanes against a physical South Carolina front. Freshman Ryan Williams led the Tide in receptions with seven catches for 72 yards, though a few costly drops kept the offense from ever fully finding its rhythm.

Still, when it mattered most, Simpson and the offense found enough strength and passion to finish strong.

Defensively, Alabama had its hands full through three quarters. South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers and his playmakers like Nyck Harbor and Matt Fuller, tested the Tide defense early and often, keeping pressure on Alabama’s secondary and forcing the front seven to give it all they had each play.

Sellers himself had a game. Sure, he threw a costly pick-six in the beginning of the game, but he bounced back strong, finishing 17-of-31 for 213 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, while also adding 18 carries for 67 yards and a rushing touchdown. His dual-threat ability gave Alabama trouble all night before the Tide finally tightened things up in the fourth quarter and made the plays that mattered most.

Linebacker Deontae Lawson led the team with seven tackles and came up huge with a crucial fumble recovery that shifted momentum late in the game. Cornerback D’Shawn Jones provided one of the biggest highlights of the day with a pick-six that gave the Tide momentum early on in the game. Justin Jefferson and Keelon Keeley each added a sack, helping seal the win down the stretch.

It wasn’t pretty.

It wasn’t dominant.

It wasn't what we've seen from the Tide the past few weeks.

But it was gritty. And it was a win. And sometimes, that’s all that matters.

Alabama now gets a much-needed week of rest before returning to action on November 8th against LSU.

The Tide will take the win, regroup, and refocus.

Because if tonight showed anything, it’s that in the SEC, nothing comes easy.