12th-ranked South Carolina rallies past month to put pressure on SEC East leader Missouri

2d50e132-Florida South Carolina Football

South Carolina's Jadeveon Clowney (7) tangles with Florida's Max Garcia, right, and Ian Silberman during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2013, at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C. South Carolina won 19-14. (AP Photo/ Richard Shiro) (The Associated Press)

b50beecc-Florida South Carolina Football

South Carolina running back Mike Davis celebrates after an NCAA college football game against Florida on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2013, at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C. South Carolina won 19-14. (AP Photo/ Richard Shiro) (The Associated Press)

COLUMBIA, S.C. – No. 12 South Carolina is a Missouri loss away from the Southeastern Conference title game, something only the most hopeful, Gamecocks thought was possible a month ago.

South Carolina's chase for a league championship seemed finished when the Gamecocks were upset 23-21 at Tennessee and trailed undefeated Missouri 17-0 entering the fourth quarter on a cold, damp night in Columbia, Mo.

But play by play and break by break, the Gamecocks (8-2, 6-2 SEC) have climbed back into the SEC East race.

South Carolina got help Saturday with Auburn's improbable, tipped-ball touchdown for a 43-38 win over Georgia, which had beaten the Gamecocks to start SEC play and held the tiebreaker against them.

Now, South Carolina must wait as leader Missouri finishes league play the next two weeks.