It's not a marquee game on the schedule but still important to win this fall. Prior to 2000, this was basically a toss-up game, with UK holding a slight 6-4-1 edge. Starting in 2000, The Gamecocks flipped the script and won 13 of 14 against them (2010 will live in infamy). For a little more than a decade, the Gamecocks basically added a win to their conference slate by turning a toss-up game into a reliable win. Then a switch flipped and they won 7 out of 8.
It's crucial because that was one of the few reliable conferences wins on the Gamecocks schedule that has now become a loss. Maybe, along with Vandy, UK was the only game the Gamecocks could look forward to as pretty certainly a win each season. Making matters worse, the Gamecocks haven't replaced that reliable win with another game (of course, in some seasons Gamecocks do win a conference game they weren't supposed to win). Outside of Vandy and UK, for most seasons, the majority of the conference games have been toss-ups or likely losses. But, for the UK game, that's just one additional conference loss they've eaten 7 out of the past 8 seasons. That's a pretty big deal from the conference perspective, to have a reliable win flip to a likely loss.
Gamecocks have to get UK back to the reliable win column before they can make any progress. Priority 1. Yes, the Gamecocks have bigger goals (win the East, beat Clemson, etc), but none of that is happening if they don't start beating UK.
It's crucial because that was one of the few reliable conferences wins on the Gamecocks schedule that has now become a loss. Maybe, along with Vandy, UK was the only game the Gamecocks could look forward to as pretty certainly a win each season. Making matters worse, the Gamecocks haven't replaced that reliable win with another game (of course, in some seasons Gamecocks do win a conference game they weren't supposed to win). Outside of Vandy and UK, for most seasons, the majority of the conference games have been toss-ups or likely losses. But, for the UK game, that's just one additional conference loss they've eaten 7 out of the past 8 seasons. That's a pretty big deal from the conference perspective, to have a reliable win flip to a likely loss.
Gamecocks have to get UK back to the reliable win column before they can make any progress. Priority 1. Yes, the Gamecocks have bigger goals (win the East, beat Clemson, etc), but none of that is happening if they don't start beating UK.
