Kentucky is 7-3 in their last 10 meetings against South Carolina and 4-1 in their last 5 meetings with South Carolina. For whatever reason, many Carolina fans still believe South Carolina is the stronger program.
Well, it’s time to face the music… Kentucky is now a better program than South Carolina, and it really isn’t even close.
Over the last five seasons, Kentucky has managed a 40-23 record. The Wildcats played in a bowl each season, and went 4-1 over the five bowls.
South Carolina on the other hand holds a 29-32 record over the previous five seasons. The Gamecocks only played in three bowls and went 2-1 in them.
In the previous five seasons, Kentucky managed two 10-3 seasons, finishing nationally ranked twice. In 2018, the Wildcats found themselves a win against Georgia shy of clinching the SEC East division. Instead, they defeated #17 Penn State in the Citrus bowl, and finished the season with the #12 ranking.
Over the previous five seasons, South Carolina’s best season came in 2017 as they managed a 9-4 record. The Gamecocks finished the season unranked with a bowl win over Michigan. The Gamecocks were defeated by the Wildcats this season 23-13 in front of a sold crowd in Columbia
Two of South Carolina´s only wins in the past 10 years against Kentucky came in 2013 and 2012 under Steve Spurrier. Back when South Carolina was a force to be reckoned with in the SEC East. However, it’s safe to say that those times are pretty much behind us.
Since then, Carolina has managed only one win against the Wildcats. So, how again is South Carolina still a better program than Kentucky?
Kentucky has had South Carolina´s number virtually every season since 2013, and they have had far more success outside of the series than South Carolina has.
I too dislike the Kentucky Wildcats. I believe their fans are nothing but trailer trash and Kentucky is one of the last states in the Union I´d want to visit.
However, we have to give Bob Stoops and Kentucky football credit. They have really been on the up and up over the past few years, as South Carolina has been declining.
Luckily, Shane Beamer could very well be the answer for South Carolina and their task at turning the struggles against Kentucky around. Even after Kentucky´s success last season, the 7‐6 Gamecocks took them down to the wire, and had several chances to win.
Could this year be the year the Gamecocks snap their shortcomings against Kentucky? If Beamer continues to improve his team, I would say he certainly has a chance.
I hope Kentucky´s reign over South Carolina is as short lived as possible, however, it definitely exists. Kentucky did not accidentally beat South Carolina 5 years in a row. They´ve simply improved as a program, as South Carolina has declined.
Will South Carolina work their way up and past them? I certainly hope so, and the future looks bright. We will just have to wait and see though.