Josh Pate Discusses LaNorris Sellers & South Carolina’s CFP Future Following Shane Beamer’s Statement on QB

LaNorris Sellers made a huge splash last season, quickly establishing himself as a rising star. After a rocky start, he led the Gamecocks on an impressive six-game stretch, piling up highlight-worthy moments. Now, he’s the talk of the town, appearing on virtually every preseason list with 2025 expectations sky-high. With all the hype surrounding him, it might seem like a foregone conclusion that Sellers is poised to be one of the top quarterbacks in the country. He even secured the seventh spot on CBS Sports’ ranking of the nation’s best signal-callers, an impressive feat that only adds to the excitement. Many would assume that with Sellers leading the way, South Carolina is on the verge of playoff contention. But as Josh Pate reminds us, things aren’t always so simple, and success in college football is never guaranteed.

In the March 9th episode of his College Football Show, Josh Pate made his position clear. He didn’t buy into the easy narrative surrounding LaNorris Sellers and South Carolina. “You know, LaNorris Sellers popped on the scene last year. South Carolina, right on the border of being a playoff team. So, I think the preview magazine culture would lead you to believe that LaNorris Sellers became a household name last year. South Carolina almost made the playoff. Now he’s back, they’ll take the next step—just kind of that the tumblers all fall into place. That’s not how sports work. It’s not how college football works. Not how life works,” Pate said bluntly.

Josh Pate’s message is straightforward: the talent is undeniable, but nothing is a given. The hype around LaNorris Sellers is very real, and the national media is starting to echo Shane Beamer’s long-held belief that Sellers has elite potential. In 2024, he threw for 2,534 yards, 18 touchdowns, and added seven more on the ground. His performance earned him FWAA Freshman of the Year honors, a significant achievement. But the big question is, what can he do in 2025? If he can replicate or even improve on those numbers, Sellers could find himself in the thick of the Heisman race.

As Pate put it, “So, I’ll grant you, Sellers is a special player, and I’ve got no problem believing in the energy and the buy-in and all that from South Carolina’s program.” But when it comes to South Carolina’s College Football Playoff hopes, the real question is whether the program can take that next step.