South Carolina would again see another drive end to start the second quarter, as they would go from 2nd and two to punting on fourth down thanks to an incomplete pass and a rush for no gain.

A very ill-timed blitz on second down would see a screen pass from Ohio State go for a big 27 yard gain to get to the South Carolina 43 yard line. Another pass for a gain of 11 yards would nearly end in disaster as the wide receiver fumbled the ball while being tackled, but the Buckeyes would just manage to recover it at the 32 yard line. Unbelievably, despite Ohio State's quarterback scrambling for a first down plus about an extra 10 yards, he would end up getting stripped and fumble the ball, South Carolina recovering to take over at their 17 yard line.

However, South Carolina would again fail to take advantage of the situation as a sack on third down would leave them punting on fourth and 19. Unfortunately for South Carolina, Ohio State would start their next drive form the Gamecocks 36 yard line following the punt return. Despite starting strong with a 12 yard pass, Ohio State would go backwards with a rush for a loss, a sack and a false start penalty, snapping the ball on third and 23, only to have the pass into the end zone be nearly intercepted to force another punt.

The Gamecocks would find life on first down to start their next drive thanks to a 10 yard rush to leave second and inches, but a carry for a three yard loss and a screen pass that would see another loss for four yards, would kill another drive and continue the exchange of punts. Ohio State would take over at their 47 yard line after the punt, but a couple of rushes for little to no gain and yet another incomplete pass would continue the punt war midway through the fourth quarter.

While it was looking very bad for South Carolina as an 8 yard sack left them with third and 15, the Ohio State secondary would end up making a nearly fatal error, allowing a South Carolina receiver to get behind the coverage and up the left sideline for a 56 yard completion to get South Carolina to the Buckeyes 29 yard line. They would then naturally fall apart again, as a failed option play resulted in a loss of four yards and an incomplete pass on third and 6 forced the Gamecocks to kick a 41 yard field goal, giving South Carolina a 10-0 lead with 2:48 left in the second quarter.