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History under the lights: What is Kentucky's record in night games at South Carolina under Mark Stoops?

History proves one thing: when the lights come on in Columbia, anything can happen.
ByDrew Holbrook|
sNov 18, 2023; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks defensive back Nick Emmanwori (21) brings down Kentucky Wildcats running back Demie Sumo-Karngbaye (0) in the second half at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images Kentucky
sNov 18, 2023; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks defensive back Nick Emmanwori (21) brings down Kentucky Wildcats running back Demie Sumo-Karngbaye (0) in the second half at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images Kentucky | Jeff Blake-Imagn Images

It has become a familiar tradition in the SEC rivalry between Kentucky and South Carolina: a showdown under the lights at Williams-Brice Stadium. The SEC announced that the Wildcats and Gamecocks will once again play in primetime, with a 7:45 PM EDT kickoff on the SEC Network for their September 27th matchup.

For the Wildcats, coming off a bye week, this is a pivotal road test. For fans, it raises a familiar question: How does Kentucky actually perform in these night games in Columbia? We took a look back at every matchup in the Mark Stoops era played at night in South Carolina.

A rivalry perfectly split

Shane Beamer
South Carolina v Kentucky | Michael Hickey/GettyImages

Playing in front of 80,000 screaming fans at night is one of the most daunting tasks in college football. For Kentucky, the results in Columbia have been a tale of two extremes, with no middle ground. In the six night games played at South Carolina during the Stoops era, the record is a dead-even 3-3.

Let's break down the history:

  • 2023: South Carolina 17, Kentucky 14. A painful, close loss for the Wildcats in the most recent matchup.
  • 2021: Kentucky 16, South Carolina 10. A gritty defensive victory for the Cats on their way to a 10-win season.
  • 2019: South Carolina 24, Kentucky 7. A tough night for an injury-plagued Kentucky team.
  • 2017: Kentucky 23, South Carolina 13. A key victory that helped solidify the program's upward trajectory.
  • 2015: Kentucky 26, South Carolina 22. A thrilling, back-and-forth win that signaled a turning point in the series.
  • 2013: South Carolina 35, Kentucky 28. A hard-fought loss in Stoops' first season that showed early signs of the team's competitive fire.

What does it mean for 2025?

The history shows a streaky series defined by close games. Kentucky when things were going well was beating South Carolina on the regular, than the infamous Mark Stoops SEC media days comment happened. Since then South Carolina has been on a heater. Can Kentucky get back on track down in Columbia?

Drew Holbrook is an avid Kentucky fan who has been covering the Cats for over 10 years. In his free time he enjoyes downtime with his family and Premier League soccer.You can find him on X here.Micah 7:7. #UptheAlbion

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