South Carolina football: ranking this season’s matchups from least to most anticipated
By Jacob Elsey
10. VANDERBILT
The Gamecocks must travel to Nashville this year, after winning last season’s matchup by a score of 24-7. South Carolina has won 11 straight in the series, and 18 of 20 dating back to the turn of the century.
Vandy will be breaking in a new quarterback in 2020, as well as finding replacements for Ke’Shawn Vaughn, Jared Pinckney, and Kalija Lipscomb. It could be a long year for head coach Derrick Mason as he looks to improve upon his 3-9 record from a year ago.
9. MIZZOU
Missouri got the best of the Gamecocks as Kelly Bryant continued his dominance of South Carolina, extending his career record to 2-0 dating back to his days at Clemson. Now, though, Bryant is gone, and South Carolina will no longer be playing with a rookie quarterback in his first SEC road game.
Gone, too, is Tiger head coach Barry Odom. Eli Drinkwitz comes in as his replacement, after spending a season roaming the sidelines at Appalachian State. The Gamecocks look to get back in the win column in a series that’s knotted at 5-5.
8. OLE MISS
Ole Miss was one of the new additions to the Carolina schedule, taking the place of one of the Gamecocks’ previously scheduled out-of-conference matchups. And speaking of new additions, the Rebels get one at head coach.
Lane Kiffin returns to the SEC, looking to turn the program around. Ole Miss has struggled through losing seasons in each of the last two years. South Carolina will travel to Oxford where they escaped with a 48-44 win in 2018.
7. KENTUCKY
Kentucky does lose dynamic playmaker Lynn Bowden, Jr. but returns much of its production from the eight-win squad of 2019. Terry Wilson is a playmaker at quarterback, and coach Mark Stoops will run out another talented defense in September.
The Gamecocks travel to Lexington, where they haven’t won in their last three attempts. Many will sleep on the Wildcats this year, but they should have a solid bunch in 2020.