Ranked and Undefeated, Wildcats Host South Carolina
Nationally ranked for the first time in 11 years and riding a 2-0 start to Southeastern Conference play for the first time since 1977, No. 17 Kentucky looks to remain unbeaten when South Carolina arrives in Lexington on Saturday. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. ET and the game will air on the SEC Network.
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| Kentucky vs. South Carolina | ||
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| Sat., Sept. 29 – 7:30 p.m. ET Kroger Field Lexington, Ky. Game Notes: UK  | SC Digital Gameday Program Gameday App |
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| Coverage | ||
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TV: SEC Network |
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| UK | Team Stats | SC |
| 4-0 | Record | 2-1 |
| 2-0 | Conference Record | 1-1 |
| 34.5 | Scoring/game | 34.3 |
| 427.2 | Total offense/game | 475.7 |
| 269.0 | Rushing yards/game | 196.7 |
| 158.2 | Passing yards/game | 279.0 |
| 16.4 | Kickoff returns (avg) | 23.5 |
| 8.6 | Punt returns (avg) | 4.0 |
| 45.1 | Punting (avg) | 41.7 |
| 31:32 | Time of possession/game | 28:01 |
| 52.1% | Third down conversion | 45.7% |
| 80.0% | Fourth down conversion | 50.0% |
| 13.3 | Points allowed/game | 23.3 |
| 277.0 | Total yards allowed/game | 331.7 |
| 103.5 | Rush yards allowed/game | 163.0 |
| 173.5 | Pass yards allowed/game | 168.7 |
Junior running back Benny Snell, Jr. has continued his assault on the record books this season, piling up 540 yards on 88 carries with seven scores. With four scores last week he became the program’s all-time leader with 39 career TDs and has moved into fourth place on the school’s career rushing list while ranking second with 15 career 100-yard games. Snell has reached 100 yards in three of the Cats’ four games this season.
The Wildcats have won four in a row in the series, including a come-from-behind win last season in Columbia after falling behind on the first play of the game.
Cat Scratches: Though Destination Lies Ahead, Cats Enjoying the Ride
Benny Snell Jr. has been a star in Kentucky for two solid years now. The last week, he’s gone national.
One of the standouts of the first four weeks of this college football season, Snell has even been mentioned as an early contender for the Heisman Trophy. His team, meanwhile, has vaulted into the top-20 of both major polls after an impressive 28-7 win over then-No. 14 Mississippi State.
This week, Snell was asked what he thinks about all the attention. A wry smile crept across his face.
“I can say it’s fun to a certain extent,” Snell said. “For me, I don’t try to pay attention to it, but I have fun with it.”
Snell’s enjoyment of the moment is tempered by the same focus that has brought him to this point.
“You can never be OK with where we’re at,” Snell said. “You always gotta be uncomfortable, especially in this league of play. You always gotta stay on your toes.”
That’s especially true this week, as No. 17 UK will be facing a motivated South Carolina team on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Kroger Field. The Wildcats are riding a four-game winning streak vs. the Gamecocks to match their four-game winning streak to start the 2018 season…Read More
Scouting South Carolina
• South Carolina is 2-1 on the season and 1-1 in league play.
• The Gamecocks are coming off an impressive road win at Vanderbilt in less-than-ideal weather conditions. They outscored Vandy 17-0 in the second half to take control and score their first SEC win of the season.
• The Gamecocks ran up 534 yards of total offense and were extremely balanced (273 rush, 261 pass) in the win. The defense held the Commodores to under 100 yards rushing and 300 total yards.
• South Carolina quarterback Jake Bentley has thrown for 780 yards and six touchdowns in three games. Receivers Deebo Samuel (20 catches) and Shi Smith (17.4 yards per catch) have given the Gamecocks big play threats
• The Carolina defense has 21 tackles for loss in just three games and has forced four turnovers.
• Due to Hurricane Florence, the Gamecocks’ game on Sept. 15 was cancelled.
Series vs. South Carolina
• South Carolina leads the all-time series 17-11-1, including a 9-6 mark in games played in Lexington.
• UK has won the past four meetings beginning with a 45-38 win in Lexington in 2014.
• Four of the past five meetings have been decided by a touchdown or less with the other being last year’s 10-point UK win.
• It has been a series defined by streaks: The Wildcats won five of the first eight when South Carolina joined the SEC, the Gamecocks won 10 straight and 13 of 14 from 2000-13, UK now has four straight wins.
• The Cats erased an early deficit last season in a game that could not have started any worse for them. South Carolina scored a touchdown on the first offensive play of the game and intercepted a pass on the ensuing UK possession before fans had completely settled into their seats.
Kentucky-South Carolina Connections
• UK has two players from the state of South Carolina: Junior WR Tavin Richardson (Greer) and freshman kicker Chance Poore (Anderson).
• Carolina tight ends coach Pat Washington spent the 2012 season at UK as the wide receivers and passing game coordinator.
Cats Ranked in National Polls; First Time Since 2007
• Kentucky entered the national polls for the first time since the 2007 season.
• The Wildcats are No. 17 in both the AP and the coaches poll.
• It’s the highest the Wildcats have been ranked since No. 14 on Oct. 21, 2007.
A UK Win Would…
• Move UK to 5-0 for the first time since 2007.
• Give the Cats their first 3-0 start in SEC play since the 1977 team went undefeated in league play.
• Give UK its fifth straight win over South Carolina.
• Make UK 14-5 over the last 19 regular-season games, the best 19-game regular-season stretch since Nov. 13, 1976 to Oct. 21, 1978 (14-4-1).
• Make UK 10-6 in their last 16 SEC games, the best 16-game SEC stretch since going 10-6 from Oct. 15, 1977 to Nov. 17, 1979.
• Improve UK to 12-4 in its past 16 games at Kroger Field, the best stretch since 2006-08.
• Move the Cats within one victory of bowl eligibility by the end of September.
• Push UK’s record to 17-5 in games in August/September over the past five seasons.
Don Franklin Auto Countdown to Kickoff Show
All-Southeastern Conference defensive end Jeremy Jarmon and former quarterback Dusty Bonner will be alongside host Christi Thomas for the Don Franklin Auto Countdown To Kickoff, the two-hour pregame show that airs prior to each UK football game in 2018.
A live video broadcast of Countdown to Kickoff will air on UKAthletics.com, the UK Athletics mobile app and the Kentucky Football Facebook page.
For home games, Countdown to Kickoff will broadcast live in front of Nutter Field House outside Gate 1 of Kroger Field with special guests and giveaways. The set of the show is conveniently located near the Coke Fan Zone in Nutter Field House and the Cat Walk presented by Chevy.
When the Wildcats are on the road, the show will broadcast from Kroger at the Tates Creek Centre in Lexington.
