The Kentucky Wildcats will look for their second 4-0 start of the Mark Stoops era Saturday when they travel to Columbia to take on an improved South Carolina Gamecocks team.
Led by new head coach Shane Beamer, the Gamecocks enter play 2-1, with their lone loss coming at the hands of the No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs in Athens.
Under Stoop’s watch, Kentucky has had the upper hand in the SEC East rivalry of late, as they’ve won six of their last seven over the Gamecocks. However, on their last trip to Williams-Brice Stadium in 2019, the Cats were manhandled in a 24-7 loss that ended a five-game winning streak over the ‘Cocks.
Kentucky enters Saturday’s game a rare road favorite, as they’re favored to defeat the Gamecocks by five points.
For the first time this season, South Carolina will start Luke Doty at quarterback. Zeb Noland, who left his graduate assistant role to quarterback the Gamecocks the first three weeks of the season, suffered a hand injury against Georgia last weekend that will allow Doty, who was the Gamecocks’ planned starter, to regain his starting job.
Last season, Doty started against the Wildcats at Kroger Field the final week of the regular season and completed 11/25 passes for a touchdown and interception. Don’t put too much stock into that performance, as Doty was a true freshman starting for a team wiped out by injuries and COVID-19 opt-outs.
Can the Cats improve to 4-0 overall and 2-0 in league play? Keep locked in to this stream for all your Kentucky vs. South Carolina coverage.