South Carolina can't overcome LaNorris Sellers' absence in blowout loss to Arkansas

What slim College Football Playoff hopes South Carolina may have had going into Saturday's game against Arkansas are almost certainly over. 

The Gamecocks were crushed, 34-6, by a previously three-win Arkansas team as they could not overcome the absence of starting quarterback LaNorris Sellers. 

LaNorris Sellers misses South Carolina game

After being listed as probable for Saturday's game most of the week, South Carolina did not start Sellers on Saturday, instead opting to go with backup Cutter Woods. 

It did not go well.

Woods complete 24-of-43 passes for 271 yards, but threw three interceptions and generated just one scoring drive all night.

The most damaging of those interceptions just so happened to be his first interception, and it came late in the third quarter. With South Carolina trailing 17-6, Woods was intercepted by Joker Johnson, who took it 63 yards for a touchdown.

Woods ended up throwing two more interceptions after that, including another to Johnson.

It is tough to overcome that. 

Sellers was injured in the Gamecocks' 17-9 win against Texas A&M a week ago, but was able to finish the game. Head coach Shane Beamer said all X-rays on Sellers were negative, and there seemed to be a good chance he would be available. He made the trip to Arkansas and was said to be a game-time decision, but the coaching staff obviously did not feel confident enough in his health to put him out there.

It was a game-changing, and potentially season-changing, situation. 

Sellers has been one of the best quarterbacks in the country this season. Along with throwing for 2,100 yards and 17 touchdowns this season, he is also South Carolina's leading rusher with 637 yards and seven more touchdowns. 

With Saturday's loss, South Carolina now has four losses and is pretty much eliminated from playoff contention for all intents and purposes. It already had no margin for error (and the need for a lot of help as the No. 17 team) going into Saturday's game.