South Carolina football has made great strides since the arrival of head coach Will Muschamp, finishing the 2017 season with a 9-4 record, but one team has been somewhat of an Achilles’ heel for the Gamecocks — the Kentucky Wildcats.
The Wildcats have won four consecutive games in the series, a series record for Kentucky. Most fourth-year students at South Carolina were juniors in high school the last time the Gamecocks (2-1, 1-1 SEC) beat the Wildcats (4-0, 2-0 SEC). Some underclassmen were still in middle school.
But even though the losing streak against Kentucky is historic, Muschamp does not consider that to be a factor come Saturday night.
“We haven’t talked about [the losing streak],” Muschamp said at his weekly press conference at Williams-Brice Stadium on Tuesday. “It’s a 2018 South Carolina football team versus a 2018 Kentucky team.”
Junior quarterback Jake Bentley echoed the same message when speaking to media Tuesday.
“The important thing is just focus on us,” Bentley said. “Try not to look at anything outside of ... our team. We know that in house, that’s not being talked about.”
The Gamecocks will look to beat one of the best Kentucky squads in recent memory, ranked for the first time in years.
Benny Snell Jr., a junior running back for the Wildcats, has been one of the most explosive backs in the SEC so far this season.
"They lead our league with 270 yards rushing,” Muschamp said. “Obviously, Benny Snell is an outstanding back. Runs violent, runs tough, competitive. Runs the way you’re supposed to run.”
Through four games, Snell has rushed for 540 yards and seven touchdowns, while averaging 6.2 yards per play. In a victory over Mississippi State, Snell rushed for 165 yards, four touchdowns and 6.6 yards per play.
Stopping Snell will be key for the first South Carolina victory over Kentucky since 2013.
Muschamp believes that this Gamecock team has all the pieces in place to do so, and that starts with right preparation and the right mindset.
“Every week is a season and we’re gonna put everything into this week,” Muschamp said. “We’re gonna worry about the things that really matter and affect us in a ball game, and that’s our preparation ... your edge ought to be your preparation.”
The Wildcats have one of the top defenses in the SEC, only giving up seven points to a high-powered Mississippi State offense, but it is the preparation and practice for Benny Snell Jr. and the Wildcat offense that will be the key to a Gamecock victory in Lexington.
Kickoff for South Carolina vs. Kentucky is set for 7:30 p.m. and can be seen on the SEC Network.