UK football fans share their hopes and fears for the Cats at South Carolina
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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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On my social media accounts, I asked Kentucky football fans to share their hopes and fears about the Wildcats’ SEC road opener at South Carolina.
The game between the Cats (2-1, 0-1 SEC) and the Gamecocks (2-2, 0-2 SEC) will kick off Saturday at 7:45 p.m. (EDT) at Williams-Brice Stadium (seating capacity of 77,559).
Among UK backers who replied to my prompt, there was a lot of concern about the impact South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers could make on the game’s outcome.
A 6-foot-3, 240-pound redshirt sophomore from Florence, South Carolina, Sellers was recently chosen in an ESPN.com poll of NFL executives and scouts as the quarterback most likely to be taken first in the 2026 NFL draft.
This is what UK backers are thinking about the contest vs. Shane Beamer and the Gamecocks.
Hopes for Kentucky football success at South Carolina
• From @mattmoore449 on “X:” “Hoping to see 180 plus rushing yards.”
Mark’s comment: If UK is going to win, you will likely need to see more rushing yards for the Wildcats than 180.
Kentucky will enter the game 28th in the FBS in rushing, averaging 214.7 yards a game. South Carolina’s run defense is 80th in the FBS, giving up 152 yards a game.
• From @clarkbrooks_On3 on “X:” “I hope SC moves backwards a lot (they’ve been the SEC’s best at that for a half-decade). SC at a 12.2% negative play rate ahead of WK5 — Florida the only other SEC offense in double digits (UK at 6.1%).”
Mark’s comment: Interesting. In last season’s game, a 31-6 South Carolina win at Kroger Field, the Gamecocks actually had more negative plays from scrimmage (13) than did the Wildcats (11).
• From @DwightCameron9 on “X:” “Win the turnovers and no stupid penalties. ... Since Mark Stoops has been coach, there (has) been at least one game a year they lose because of the above.”
Mark’s comment: Since the start of the 2022 season, UK has definitely paid a big price for not consistently playing clean football.
• From Mike Thornton on “Facebook:” “Fire Stoops.”
Mark’s comment: There are 37 million reasons, give or take, why that isn’t apt to happen this year.
• From @bigblueview56 on “X:” “My hope is that Cutter Boley will be the “Jojo Kemp” catalyst that will through sheer determination drag the Cats across the finish line with a victory. Boley could go down in UK history as a legend if he can do his best JoJo impression in 2025.”·
Mark’s comment: JoJo Kemp ran for 131 yards and three touchdowns in UK’s 45-38 upset of Steve Spurrier and South Carolina in 2014.
In his postgame interview, he then famously asked “Why not Kentucky? Why not us?”
Fear of UK football failure vs. South Carolina
• From @michael_laferty on “X:” “My fear is that once again coming out of a bye week that we will lay another egg in a critical game. They will look like they hadn’t strapped on the pads since Eastern Michigan.”
Mark’s comment: UK has lost five of its past seven games that immediately follow an open date.
• From @clarkbrooks_On3 on “X:” “I fear (LaNorris) Sellers with time and in the open field.”
• From @tclaymason on “X:” “Fear is Sellers plays like the first QB pick he’s rumored to be.”
Mark’s comment: With Kentucky off last week, I watched the entire game of South Carolina losing 29-20 at Missouri. LaNorris Sellers threw some absolute dimes when given time to throw. He completed four passes for more than 30 yards.
He’s good.
• From @mattmoore449 on “X:” “ I do fear the big pass play and LaNorris Sellers’ legs on 3rd down. My other fear is how loud it’s gonna be.”
Mark’s comment: South Carolina has a great home field environment at Williams-Brice Stadium. But Kentucky did win there under Mark Stoops in 2015, 2017 and 2021. It is possible to handle the noise.
Both a hope and a fear about UK football at South Carolina
• From @brow_down on “X:” “Mark Stoops getting it together for both (hope and fear).”
Mark’s comment: Had to think about this one, but I get it.
This story was originally published September 26, 2025 at 6:45 AM.
