Nebraska Vs. South Carolina, Capital One Bowl: USC Wins 30-13, Alshon Jeffery Ejected

10: Unexpected points that swung toward South Carolina.

Then, to end the first half, Alshon Jeffery made magnificent work of a pretty poor Hail Mary pass.

With the win, South Carolina improved to 11-2, the best record in school history. Head coach Steve Spurrier is looking for more.

Cornhuskers head coach Bo Pelini felt his team was the better one on Monday, but just couldn’t get out of its own way.

But then!

A 9-6 score may not seem so crazy, but the way South Carolina and Nebraska got there in Monday’s Capital One Bowl is hardly normal. The two teams have traded touchdowns, but the difference is the Gamecocks’ blocking of a PAT and returning it for a safety.

NOTE: Confused? See the quick glossary at the bottom.

Today’s Capital One Bowl participants each had “Yeah, But...” seasons. Nebraska won nine games, overcame quite a few defensive injuries, and took out three Big Ten heavyweights (or light heavyweights) -- Ohio State, Penn State, Iowa -- in their first season in the Big Ten. Meanwhile, South Carolina fielded an explosive defense and overcame quarterback drama and an injury to Marcus Lattimore to win 10 games for just the second time in school history and the first time in Steve Spurriers seven years in Columbia.

The tenth-ranked Gamecocks are 10-2 entering Monday’s game; the 10 wins are the most since 1984 and the 6-2 SEC record was a school-best. South Carolina, however, will have to overcome a three-game bowl losing streak.

Time: January 2, 2011, 1 p.m. ET

For all the latest updates on the Capital One Bowl, be sure to follow this StoryStream. For more insight and analysis of the individual teams, check out Nebraska blog Corn Nation and South Carolina blog Garnet and Black Attack.

Pelini didn’t exactly say he’s a Nebraska lifer, but he did refute reports that he’s looking around:

For all the latest updates on the Capital One Bowl, be sure to follow this StoryStream. For more insight and analysis of the individual teams, check out Nebraska blog Corn Nation and South Carolina blog Garnet and Black Attack.

We go through this every year, college athletes. Don’t show up on party promo fliers. So very little good can come from such a thing.

The school is investigating the matter, which hails from this Facebook page. Once they’re done with that, you’d prefer if they’d look into the “Doo Doo” issue.

For all the latest updates on the Capital One Bowl, be sure to follow this StoryStream. For more insight and analysis of the individual teams, check out Nebraska blog Corn Nation and South Carolina blog Garnet and Black Attack.

He also has head coaching experience at Gardner-Webb and alma mater The Citadel.

The Gamecocks defense ranked No. 4 in the country in 2011, with top-15 finishes in both 2008 and 2009. His last MSU defense ranked No. 22.

Two of Cassidy’s teammates may have legal matters on their minds when they head to Orlando later this month.

For all the latest updates on the Capital One Bowl, be sure to follow this StoryStream. For more insight and analysis of the individual teams, check out Nebraska blog Corn Nation and South Carolina blog Garnet and Black Attack.

Back when Steve Spurrier was hired by South Carolina, it was largely believed that he would turn the Gamecocks into a national power relatively quickly. It hasn’t really turned out that way, as South Carolina lost at least five games during each of Spurrier’s first six seasons and only finished the season ranked in the Top 25 once. But as the Gamecocks head into the Capital One Bowl against No. 20 Nebraska, they are 10-2 and ranked No. 9 in the BCS.

Spurrier has already led the Gamecocks to their best season since 1983 when they went 10-2 and finished the year as the No. 11 team in the AP poll. He’s also done it in a way that is quite a bit different than what he’s been known for in the past.