The South Carolina Gamecocks delivered a dominant performance in the second half against the Kentucky Wildcats, winning 31-6 and marking their largest road victory under head coach Shane Beamer. The Gamecocks' defense was especially strong, allowing only 115 total yards and scoring a touchdown through an interception return by Nick Emmanwori. The rivalry with Kentucky has intensified since 2022, following controversial comments from Wildcats' coach Mark Stoops, leading to South Carolina's third consecutive win against Kentucky. In a separate matchup, South Carolina State secured a 23-20 victory over The Citadel, with quarterback Eric Phoenix throwing for 194 yards and running back Deondra Duehart contributing 128 rushing yards. This win marked the first for new head coach Chennis Berry, echoing a successful previous season against The Citadel. The Citadel's coach Maurice Drayton expressed frustration over his team's slow starts and unforced errors, highlighting areas for improvement moving forward.