Kentucky vs. South Carolina prediction: Can Wildcats secure key win?
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Beating South Carolina could be key for Kentucky’s bowl hopes.
- Freshman quarterback Cutter Boley makes first road start amid high crowd noise.
- South Carolina's run defense could offer Kentucky a strategic opportunity Saturday.
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Preview: Kentucky football at South Carolina
Click below to read more of the Herald-Leader and Kentucky.com’s preview coverage ahead of Saturday’s Kentucky-South Carolina game in Columbia, S.C.
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Kentucky football travels on the road for the first time this season Saturday with a game at South Carolina. Here are some final thoughts and predictions about how the game will play out in Columbia.
South Carolina could be must-win for Kentucky’s bowl hopes
As soon as the 2025 schedule was released, it felt like Kentucky needed at least one win in its first two SEC games against Ole Miss and South Carolina if it was to reach six wins and bowl eligibility. The way the four weeks of the season have played out have only added to that perception.
South Carolina has failed to live up to its preseason ranking with a 2-2 start, making Saturday look like one of the more winnable SEC games on UK’s schedule. Kentucky still has five more games against teams currently ranked in the top 25. The next four games (at No. 5 Georgia, home against No. 8 Texas and No. 15 Tennessee and at No. 22 Auburn) look particularly difficult.
A loss in Columbia means Kentucky could very well be looking at a 2-6 start to the season. The Wildcats would have to win out against Florida, Tennessee Tech, Vanderbilt and Louisville to reach a bowl game in that scenario.
Winning on the road in the SEC is never easy, especially at night, but Kentucky matches up well against a South Carolina team that has yet to score more than 24 points against power conference competition this season. Winning in Columbia won’t guarantee a trip to postseason play, but it at least makes the likelihood increase.
The Cutter Boley show goes on the road
Anyone walking by the UK football practice field in the afternoons this week has likely heard “Sandstorm,” the anthem of Williams-Brice Stadium, blaring from the speakers as Kentucky players practiced. Simulating crowd noise is nothing new – Kentucky does it before every road game – but it could be particularly important this week with redshirt freshman Cutter Boley making the first road start of his career.
“We’re just focused on one play at a time, trying to make him as prepared as can be,” offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan said. “Certainly, the bye week has helped from a knowing-the-plan standpoint, but he’s gonna have to go in there and just play like he plays. He’s played a lot of football. Go in there confidently.”
The good news for Kentucky is Boley has played in a hostile SEC road environment before.
He made a cameo late in last season’s blowout loss at Florida, but he played the entire second half at Texas while the outcome of that game was still in doubt. Boley held his own in Austin, completing 10 of 18 passes for 160 yards and one interception.
“He’s embracing it,” senior tight end Josh Kattus said. “...it’s gonna be a lot of fun. I’ve talked to him a lot, obviously, since he’s my roommate. I know he’s ready enough for the challenge.”
Kentucky football injury report
Quarterback Zach Calzada was listed as questionable on Thursday’s SEC-mandated availability report as he works his way back from a shoulder injury suffered in Week 2 versus Ole Miss. If Calzada cannot play, senior Beau Allen will serve as Boley’s backup.
The biggest news from the availability report was starting cornerback DJ Waller, who has missed the past two games, was downgraded from doubtful to out on Thursday. Mark Stoops had previously expressed optimism that Waller would be back in time for the South Carolina game. With Waller unavailable, sophomore Terhyon Nichols is in line for another start. Depth is a concern at cornerback after several miscues from the backups against Eastern Michigan.
Reserve offensive guard Aba Selm was also listed as questionable. Wide receivers David Washington and Preston Bowman, defensive lineman Nic Smith and tight end Elijah Brown were listed as out. None of those players were expected to fill large roles this season.
Running back Jamarion Wilcox was listed as out again. He has been suspended since an August sexual assault allegation against him resulted in a protective order being issued. Wilcox was arrested Friday and charged with first-degree sexual abuse in relation to that incident.
Kentucky vs. South Carolina prediction
In a 29-20 loss to Missouri last week, South Carolina rushed for just minus-9 yards and surrendered 285 rushing yards to the Tigers. That’s a blueprint that Kentucky wants to follow every week, making this an appealing matchup for the Wildcats. But South Carolina is desperate ahead of the most difficult stretch of its schedule. I won’t be shocked if Kentucky wins, but I can’t predict the victory with a redshirt freshman quarterback making his first road start. South Carolina 24, Kentucky 21.
The last word
“It’s already like, ingrained into my brain. It’s not a bad song, so I was kind of like enjoying it a little bit on the field, just kind of jumping around. .. We play it actually at our house all the time, just to get used to it, just prepare ourselves.” – Kattus on UK playing “Sandstorm” in practice
This story was originally published September 26, 2025 at 6:00 AM.
