Gamecock Fanatics Official Game Thread
GAME DATE AND TIME: Saturday, Nov. 20th 7:00 P.M.
LOCATION: Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, S.C.
VIDEO BROADCAST:
AUDIO BROADCAST: 107.5 The Game
LIVE STATS: Statbroadcast
Columbia, S.C. - The South Carolina Gamecocks Football team returns home to friendly confines of Williams-Brice Stadium, to host the SEC-West Auburn Tigers tonight at 7:00 p.m. (EST). The game will be televised on ESPN.
The Gamecocks (5-5, 2-5) are still in the hunt for a bowl-qualifying sixth win on the season, after falling to the Missouri Tigers last week on the road 31-28. The Tigers (4-5, 1-4) meanwhile, are looking to break a two-game losing streak after losing to Mississippi State 43-34 at home last week.
ESPN has the national television broadcast with Mark Jones and Robert Griffin III in the booth and Quint Kessenich on the sidelines. Todd Ellis and Tommy Suggs handle the call for the Gamecock Radio Network with Jamar Nesbit on the sidelines.
CAROLINA VS. AUBURN: This is the 14th all-time meeting between South Carolina and Auburn and the second-straight year in which the two squads have met on the gridiron. The Tigers hold a 10-2-1 advantage in the all-time series, including a 3-1 record when the games have been played in Columbia and a 4-0 mark when the teams have met in Auburn. The teams have also played at a neutral site on five occasions, with Auburn holding a 3-1-1 advantage in those contests, including the 2010 SEC Championship game. The teams met in four-consecutive years from 1930-33, then did not meet again until 1996. The teams have played nine times as SEC opponents, with Auburn winning the first eight of those contests.
THE LAST TIME THEY MET: The Gamecocks forced three Bo Nix interceptions, including the first two of Jaycee Horn's career, as Carolina upset the No. 15/14 Auburn Tigers, 30-22, in Columbia on Oct. 17, 2020. Auburn dominated the team statistics, rolling up 481 on 83 plays compared to just 297 yards on 67 plays for the Gamecocks, but the three picks (which all led to touchdowns) along with solid red zone defense, helped Carolina rally from an early 9-0 deficit. Horn was selected as the National Defensive Player of the Week by the Walter Camp Football Foundation for his efforts.
IT HAD BEEN AWHILE: When the Gamecocks knocked off Auburn last season, it marked their first win over the Tigers since 1933. The win also snapped an eight-game losing streak in the all-time series with Auburn.
SOUNDS FAMILIAR: The Gamecocks defeated Auburn by a 30-22 score in 2020 for its first win over the Tigers since 1933. In 2005, South Carolina topped Florida by the same 30-22 score, which marked the Gamecocks' first win over the Gators since 1939. Those are the only two 30-22 wins in school history.
IT HAD HAPPENED BEFORE: Under sixth-year head coach Billy Laval, the Gamecocks traveled to Birmingham on Dec. 2, 1933 to face national power Auburn in the season finale. Earl Clary was the hero, tackling an Auburn runner in the end zone for a, early 2-0 lead, then racing 56 yards for a second period score to make it 9-0 at the half. The Plainsmen roared back to take a 14-9 lead. Clary scampered for a 29-yard fourth-quarter score that lifted Carolina to a 16-14 win, in one of the Gamecocks' greatest victories and quite a final curtain for the Gaffney Ghost. (courtesy The First Hundred Years)