South Carolina Football: 3 Takeaways from Season Finale Loss to Kentucky

South Carolina football traveled to Kentucky and lost its season finale. Here are three takeaways from the loss to Kentucky.

The South Carolina Gamecocks and Kentucky Wildcats faced off in Lexington, KY on Saturday night in the season finale for both teams. South Carolina football came into the game with a 2-7 record, winless since its upset over Auburn on October 17.

Kentucky’s season hadn’t been much better with a 3-6 record entering their last home game for the season. The Wildcats were favored to win this game, but a win for the Gamecocks wasn’t out of the realm of possibility. Unfortunately, the Gamecocks didn’t get that third win and finished their 2020 season with a 2-8 record.

Here are the takeaways.

Too Many Penalties and Turnovers

This was a high-penalty matchup between the teams with both teams receiving multiple penalty calls. At halftime, both teams had four penalties for 45 yards.  Kentucky was called for five penalties for 60 yards totals and South Carolina received six penalties for 75 yards. The penalties began in South Carolina’s first drive and cost them a touchdown score and several other offensive penalties also set the Gamecocks back.

South Carolina was also plagued by turnovers during this game. In the first half they turned the ball over three times, two fumbled balls, and an interception.

The Gamecocks nearly lost the ball again in the fourth quarter when Kentucky recovered what was initially called a fumble, but reversed upon review. However, with 1:31 left on the clock, South Carolina fumbled the ball again in the same drive, which ended the game.