Fairey Chevrolet Drive to Week Five: Everything you need to know ahead of South Carolina's game against Kentucky

Last weekend, South Carolina lost to Missouri by a score of 29-20. The Gamecocks had to give the Tigers back the Mayor’s Cup trophy they had won in 2024. The defeat pushed Shane Beamer’s team to a 2-2 overall record and an SEC mark of 0-2.

In week five, South Carolina will return home to Williams-Brice Stadium after spending last week in the “other Columbia.” Fans of the garnet and black will make the short drive to George Rogers Boulevard for a 7:45 p.m. kick against the Kentucky Wildcats.

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Here’s what you need to know heading into week five. (GamecockCentral will release a Kentucky preview later in the week.)

The resumes

Following a top 10 ranking just a few weeks ago, South Carolina didn’t earn a single vote for the AP top 25 on Sunday. The same was true with the voting for the coaches poll. Kentucky hasn’t been ranked at any point in 2025.
The ESPN FPI considers the Gamecocks the No. 33 team in America. According to the analytics model, South Carolina’s offense is the No. 98 national group. USC’s defense ranks No. 37 in the country, and the combined special teams ranking is third overall.
Last season, South Carolina went 9-4 and 5-3 in the SEC. Kentucky went 4-8 and 1-7 in conference play. So far this year, the Gamecocks are 2-2 (0-2), while the Wildcats are 2-1 (0-1).
The Gamecocks put quarterback LaNorris Sellers, EDGE Dylan Stewart, and DB Jalon Kilgore on the preseason All-SEC squad. Kentucky only put punter Aiden Laros on the preseason All-SEC third team.

Updates from the coaches

South Carolina football coach Shane Beamer spoke to the media this week.
- During Beamer’s press conference, he shared a few things:
  - Beamer again acknowledged that the USC offense hasn’t been good enough so far this season. However, for the second week in a row, he also expressed that he was unhappy with his defense, specifically with the team’s tackling effort.
  - Beamer quoted John 16:33–”There are going to be trials and tribulations: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” He said that there are bigger trials and tribulations around the world but that his team is going through some right now. He shared that the group remains in good cheer moving forward.
  - He also said that he had some “hard and uncomfortable conversations” with players and coaches since Saturday’s game.
  - Beamer re-emphasized how unacceptable it was that his team had 14 penalties against Missouri.
  - You can see everything Beamer said here
The Gamecock coordinators spoke to the media on Wednesday.
Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops also spoke to the media this week. You can see everything he said here.
Over a month ago, South Carolina defensive line coach Travian Robertson was involved in a car accident. He has (for the most part) been away from the team since. Head coach Shane Beamer said last week that Robertson is getting closer to a return. He also was around the team some last week in a limited capacity.
- Jordan Dove has stepped into Robertson’s place in the interim. The Gamecocks also have Kevin Hubbard listed as a defensive line assistant, and former Georgia Tech head coach and long-time defensive coordinator Geoff Collins is on staff, too. Assistant strength coach Jamil Walker has also helped out with the position group on game day.
South Carolina has a new offensive coordinator this season. Mike Shula, who was an analyst and assistant quarterbacks coach in 2024, has taken over for Dowell Loggains, who is now the head coach at Appalachian State. Contrastingly, Kentucky returns all of its coordinators from the 2024 season.

Notes on week five

The SEC announced this week that South Carolina and Kentucky will be annual opponents, at least through the next four seasons. That means the the Wildcats will be the only team the Gamecocks will have played every year from 1992 through 2029.
This game will be the Wildcats’ first true road contest of the year. Kentucky has taken on Toledo, Ole Miss, and Eastern Michigan so far this year.
The University of South Carolina has sold out its entire allotment of season tickets, including the ones for the UK matchup. On Tuesday, the school announced that all additional tickets for the game have sold out.
The Gamecocks defeated the Wildcats last year in a blowout, 31-6.

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History

South Carolina owns a 21-14-1 overall historical record against Kentucky.
South Carolina won the 2024 matchup, 31-6. It was the Gamecocks’ third win in a row in the series.
Kentucky has not scored more than 16 points against USC since Shane Beamer became the head coach. Defensive coordinator Clayton White has led the defense in each of those seasons.
Carolina has only had three losses to Kentucky in Columbia since 2000.

Injuries

Once again, right tackle Cason Henry left last week’s game early. During Shane Beamer’s Sunday teleconference, he said Henry was one of two injured players the staff was “concerned” about moving forward.
Defensive tackle Gabe Brownlow-Dindy joined Henry as the other player given a “concerned” label on Sunday.
Offensive lineman Nolan Hay exited the Missouri game, as well.
On Tuesday, Beamer said that he wouldn’t label anyone (including Henry, Brownlow-Dindy, and Hay) as “out” for Saturday.
Heading into the Kentucky game, cornerback Judge Collier returned to practice. The Gamecocks haven’t had him since early in the season opener. His status has not been decided for this weekend.
Safety DQ Smith and offensive lineman Tro Baugh surprisingly missed the Missouri game with injuries. Tight end Michael Smith missed the game, too. Mazeo Bennett was “questionable” early last week but played.
EDGE players George Wilson, Kobby Sakyi-Prah, and Jaylen Brown have long-term injuries. So do defensive back Zahbari Sandy, offensive lineman Ryan Brubaker, and defensive lineman Caleb Williams.
The Gamecocks will release an SEC-mandated “availability report” on Wednesday.

Depth chart movement for the Gamecocks

South Carolina posted another depth chart this week. It did not change from the Missouri depth chart a week ago.
- There were multiple changes to the starting lineup and positional rotations last week.
  - Nolan Hay started at center, shifting Boaz Stanley to right guard; a banged-up Trovon Baugh did not play. Hay left the game with an injury, giving way to Rodney Newsom. Cason Henry left the game early, too, and Tree Babalade took over at right tackle.
  - Vandrevius Jacobs, Nyck Harbor, and Brian Rowe got the majority of the snaps at wide receiver. Mazeo Bennett and Donovan Murph were the only other receivers to get at least five snaps. Jared Brown played one snap, lining up in the backfield before catching a 32-yard wheel route.
  - At running back, Rahsul Faison started, and Oscar Adaway and Matt Fuller were the other backs who got into the action. It was Fuller’s first non-garbage time action.
  - Linebacker Justin Okoronkwo started alongside Fred “JayR” Johnson against Missouri. Shawn Murphy, still listed as a co-starter, got the third-most snaps at the position.
  - With DQ Smith out, David Bucey started at safety next to Peyton Williams. Gerald Kilgore and Bucey split snaps at the position and both performed well.
  - Cornerback Vicari Swain took over for Myles Norwood in the starting lineup opposite Brandon Cisse. Norwood still played nearly 30 snaps. If Judge Collier returns this weekend, he likely will slide into the starting lineup again.

How to watch/listen

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Television/Streaming

The Gamecocks and Wildcats will play on SEC Network this weekend. The ESPN app will make the contest available via streaming, as well. Kickoff is set for 7:45 p.m.

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The ESPN crew will include Tom Hart (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (analyst), and Cole Cubelic (sideline reporter).

Radio

Nationally, Sirius XM will also have the game available on channel 106 or 190.

Locally, Todd Ellis (play-by-play), Tommy Suggs (analyst), and Chet Tucker (sideline reporter) will be on the call on 107.5 The Game.

Fans can also stream the radio broadcast on the 107.5 The Game app.

Local radio affiliates include:

Aiken/Augusta, GA WYBO-FM 92.9
Allendale WDOG-FM 93.5
Asheville, N.C. WZGM-AM 1350
Asheville, N.C. WZGM-FM 96.1
Camden WCAM-AM 1590
Charleston WTMZ-FM 98.9
Chesterfield WVSZ-FM 107.3
Columbia WNKT-FM 107.5
Florence WFRK-FM 95.3
Gaffney WZZQ-AM 1500
Gaffney WZZQ-FM 104.3
Greenville WROO-FM 104.9
Greenwood WCZZ-AM 1090
Marion, N.C. WBRM-AM 1250
Marion, N.C. WBRM-FM 103.9
Myrtle Beach WSEA-FM 100.3
Newberry WKDK-AM 1240
Rock Hill/Lancaster WRHM-FM 107.1
Spartanburg WSPG-AM 1400
Spartanburg WSPG-FM 98.3
Sumter WIBZ-FM 95.5
Union WBCU-AM 1460
Union WBCU-FM 103.5

Fairey Chevrolet Drive to Week Five: Everything you need to know ahead of South Carolina's game against Kentucky

The resumes

Recent news

Updates from the coaches

Notes on week five

History

Injuries

Depth chart movement for the Gamecocks

How to watch/listen

Top 10

What now?

Monday Intel

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