Kentucky Wildcats’ Season Hopes Fade After Loss to South Carolina

Columbia, S.C., September 29, 2025

News Summary

The Kentucky Wildcats faced a tough defeat against the South Carolina Gamecocks, losing 35-13, which leaves their overall record at 2-2 and raises concerns over their performance in the SEC. Quarterback Cutter Boley struggled in his first road start, contributing to the team’s four turnovers. The Wildcats’ defense was unable to combat South Carolina’s aggressive plays, resulting in a disappointing overall performance and growing pressure on Head Coach Mark Stoops as the team looks towards future challenging games, including a match against ranked Georgia.

Columbia, S.C. – Kentucky Wildcats’ 2025 Season Hopes Diminish After 35-13 Loss to South Carolina

The Kentucky Wildcats suffered a disappointing defeat, falling to the South Carolina Gamecocks 35-13 on Saturday. This loss drops Kentucky’s overall record to 2-2 and leaves them at 0-2 in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), significantly diminishing their hopes for a successful season following a troubling 4-8 record in 2024.

The game took place at Williams-Brice Stadium, where an announced crowd of 79,266 witnessed the Wildcats’ struggles. Kentucky quarterback Cutter Boley made his first college road start, facing significant pressure throughout the matchup. Despite starting strong, with the Wildcats leading 10-7 after the first quarter, Kentucky’s fortunes soured in the second quarter, where they suffered four critical turnovers.

Running back Seth McGowan provided the Wildcats with their only touchdown through a 20-yard rushing play. However, South Carolina quickly capitalized on Kentucky’s mistakes. The Gamecocks scored two defensive touchdowns, one resulting from a strip-sack fumble returned by Jatius Geer and another from a pick-six by Gerald Kilgore, leading to a 28-10 halftime lead for South Carolina.

Head coach Mark Stoops highlighted the team’s critical mistakes that ultimately cost them the game. Kentucky’s problems continued as they managed only a field goal in the second half, while South Carolina added another touchdown in the fourth quarter, solidifying their win.

This ongoing struggle against South Carolina is notable, as this defeat marks Kentucky’s fourth consecutive loss to the Gamecocks and their overall record has worsened to 3-16 in their last 19 games against power conference teams. With the pressure increasing for Stoops to secure three wins in September for bowl eligibility, these recent setbacks could have significant implications for the team’s future.

Boley’s performance raised questions about his ability to lead the team moving forward, as he threw two interceptions and was involved in two fumbles while South Carolina’s defense capitalized with four turnovers and recorded six sacks against him. Despite this, Stoops remained optimistic about Boley’s long-term potential, indicating that he is a player with a bright future ahead.

Looking ahead, Kentucky faces a challenging schedule with upcoming games against ranked opponents, including a match against No. 5 Georgia. The Wildcats will need to regroup quickly to reverse their recent fortunes and to fulfill the aspirations of their restless fan base.

In a lighter moment after the game, McGowan issued a public apology for accidentally hitting a fan with a football after scoring his touchdown, showing the human side of the sport amidst a disappointing outcome for the team.

Key Statistics from the Game

• Kentucky’s record: 2-2 overall, 0-2 SEC
• South Carolina’s record: 3-2 overall, 1-1 SEC
• Attendance at Williams-Brice Stadium: 79,266
• Turnovers: Kentucky – 4, South Carolina – 0
• Sacks against Kentucky: 6

Upcoming Challenges

• Next game against No. 5 Georgia
• Need to secure wins to maintain bowl eligibility

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Additional Resources

• On3: Seth McGowan Apologizes for Touchdown Celebration
• Wikipedia: Kentucky Wildcats Football
• The State: USC Football Article
• Google Search: Kentucky Football News
• Greenville Online: Connor Shaw Collapse
• Encyclopedia Britannica: College Football
• WDRB: South Carolina Undid Kentucky
• Google News: South Carolina vs Kentucky

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