Brian Kelly entered the third game of his third season at LSU hoping to avoid the Tigers' second upset loss of the season.
LSU lost its season opener, 20-27, to the USC Trojans on Sept. 1 in Las Vegas.
LSU left Columbia, South Carolina, with a win, but the Tigers needed a second-half comeback and a right-wing kick as time expired to secure the victory over the Gamecocks.
South Carolina got off to a fast start thanks to first-time starters in quarterback Lanoris Sellers and edge rusher Dylan Stewart.
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Louisiana State University's Cayden Durham (29) runs the ball for a touchdown against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the second quarter at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina on September 14, 2024. (Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images)
Sellers, who scored two touchdowns, left the game just before halftime with an ankle injury after the quarterback was sacked by Bradyn Swinson on the penultimate play of the half and limped to the locker room.
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Backup and former Auburn Tigers starting quarterback Robbie Ashford took over on the final play.
LSU was never on a roll, and Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeyer threw a fourth-down interception at the goal line that appeared to end his team's chances.
LSU Tigers' Kylen Lacy (2) celebrates after a second quarter touchdown catch at Williams-Brice Stadium on Sept. 14, 2024 in Columbia, South Carolina. (LSU Athletics/University Images via Getty Images)
But LSU had one final chance with under four minutes left. Nussmeyer passed to Kylen Lacy for a 29-yard gain to put the Tigers at the South Carolina 4. Two plays later, Williams scored the touchdown.
For much of the game, it looked like South Carolina was going to pull off an unexpected victory.
South Carolina had one final chance to tie the score, driving down to the LSU 39-yard line with just five seconds left in the game, but South Carolina kicker Alex Herrera pushed a long-range field goal wide right and LSU players ran down the sideline to celebrate.
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LSU returns home to host the UCLA Bruins on Sept. 21. The Gamecocks remain in South Carolina before hosting Akron next Saturday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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