Kentucky’s Season Hinges on Pivotal Clash with South Carolina
When Kentucky returns from its bye week to face South Carolina on Sept. 27, the Wildcats will once again square off against what has arguably been the defining opponent of the Mark Stoops era.
Early in his tenure, victories over the Gamecocks signaled Kentucky’s rise. From 2000 to 2013, UK struggled badly in the matchup, going just 1-13. But in 2014 and 2015, Stoops’ squads shocked Steve Spurrier’s South Carolina teams in back-to-back years. After that second loss, Spurrier — the legendary “Head Ball Coach” — stepped down, resigning with six games still left in the season.
Those wins sparked a turnaround. Between 2014 and 2021, Kentucky went on to claim seven of eight meetings against South Carolina, fueling a program upswing that included two 10-win seasons (2018, 2021) and a streak of eight straight bowl trips.
But the tide has shifted. Losses to Shane Beamer’s Gamecocks in 2022 and 2023 flipped momentum back toward Columbia. For Kentucky, those defeats were more than setbacks — they hinted that the program’s steady rise under Stoops might be faltering.
Last season provided the harshest evidence. A sloppy 31-6 loss to South Carolina in Week 2 exposed Kentucky’s shaky pass protection and overall struggles. Those flaws became the blueprint for a 4-8 season in 2024.
This fall, the Wildcats’ trip to Columbia looms as a measuring stick for whether Stoops’ massive roster overhaul can pay dividends. Kentucky brought in at least 50 new scholarship players in hopes of sparking a turnaround. But the challenge is steep. October’s slate includes road trips to No. 5 Georgia and home games against No. 8 Texas and No. 15 Tennessee. To realistically reach the six-win mark needed for bowl eligibility, UK (2-1, 0-1 SEC) must leave September with three victories. That means beating South Carolina is a must after letting a winnable game against now-No. 13 Mississippi slip away in Week 2.
One of Beamer’s most pivotal moves has been hiring Clayton White from Western Kentucky to run the Gamecocks’ defense. Under White, Kentucky’s offense has consistently struggled. In four meetings, the Wildcats have never scored more than 16 points while committing 12 turnovers. Their yardage totals have dropped each year — from 332 yards in 2021 down to just 183 last season.
White’s 2023 defense completely dominated Kentucky, limiting them to 44 passing yards, forcing 11 tackles for loss, recording five sacks, and grabbing two interceptions, including a pick-six.
This year, the task could fall to redshirt freshman Cutter Boley, the former Lexington Christian Academy star. If he starts at quarterback, it would mark his first college road test — a daunting assignment against a defense that has given Kentucky nightmares.
The scheduling setup adds another wrinkle. Kentucky comes off a bye, while South Carolina will have just played a late road game at No. 23 Missouri. On paper, that benefits the Wildcats. But under Stoops, Kentucky has struggled out of bye weeks, going 6-10 in such games and dropping five of the last seven.
Stoops acknowledged the challenge when meeting with reporters Wednesday. Because the bye fell so early, he said he’s approached practices differently.
“I really want to push them this week. This week, we are working hard,” Stoops explained. He added that the Wildcats are “doing a little more good on good (scrimmaging) this week than we normally would.”
Whether that extra intensity translates into results remains to be seen. What history makes clear, however, is this: the way Kentucky performs against South Carolina has long been a barometer for the Wildcats’ season — and once again, it may reveal the true direction of the Stoops era.
Stoops vs. South Carolina: A Timeline of the Rivalry
- 2000–2013 (Pre-Stoops): Kentucky went 1-13 against South Carolina.
- 2014–2021 (Early Stoops Era): Kentucky flipped the script, winning 7 of 8 meetings. The turning point included back-to-back victories over Steve Spurrier (2014–2015), with the latter loss prompting Spurrier’s resignation.
- 2022–Present (Beamer Era): South Carolina has taken control again, with Stoops losing two straight matchups (2022, 2023). Both games highlighted Kentucky’s offensive struggles against Clayton White’s defense.
