SportsQuest
All games

Week 5, Sat, Oct 3, 4:15 PM local on SEC Network

Kentucky Wildcatsat South Carolina Gamecocks

Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia. Fly into CAE.

Build the quest

The matchup

On SEC Network

#24Kentucky

3-1

South Carolina

2-2

42% to winESPN's model58% to win
Form, ESPN's model and the stat leaders
Form

Kentucky is ranked 24th in the AP poll.

South Carolina has won 2 of its last 5.

Kentucky has won 3 of its last 5.

ESPN's model

ESPN's model gives South Carolina a 58 percent chance at home.

Kentucky

L41-0 @ LOUW45-13 vs YSUL45-17 vs ALAW31-21 @ TA&MW45-21 vs USA
  • Passing YardsK. Minchey, 69/101, 876 YDS, 8 TD, 1 INT
  • Rushing YardsJ. Patterson, 40 CAR, 326 YDS, 3 TD
  • Receiving YardsK. Darby, 13 REC, 226 YDS, 2 TD

South Carolina

L28-14 vs CLEMW57-0 vs KENTW45-9 vs TOWL41-34 vs MSSTL49-18 @ ALA
  • Passing YardsL. Sellers, 72/116, 833 YDS, 6 TD, 4 INT
  • Rushing YardsM. Fuller, 57 CAR, 384 YDS, 4 TD
  • Receiving YardsN. Harbor, 11 REC, 169 YDS, 1 TD

Win chances come from ESPN's model.

What we know about Williams-Brice Stadium

Where visiting fans stay

From a specialist guide
  • The Vista. Game-day shuttle from Lincoln at Devine to the Fairgrounds, $5 round trip. Downtown district with public art, live music and bars, and a shuttle stop on its doorstep.
  • Five Points and the USC campus. Game-day shuttle from the Russell House (1400 Greene St.) to the Fairgrounds, $5 round trip. Closest bar district to the stadium and the heart of the student scene.
  • Main Street, downtown. Walk to the Lincoln at Devine shuttle stop, or drive and park in a lot. Columbia's cultural core by the State House, with the Saturday Soda City Market.

Around the stadium

From a specialist guide
Five Points, Columbia's historic bar and food district by the University of South Carolina campus, where Harden Street, Devine Street and Santee Avenue meet. The stadium itself sits by the State Fairgrounds, so most fans drink in Five Points or tailgate in the lots.

Getting in from the airport

Checked at the source
CAE Columbia Metropolitan Airport, southwest of Columbia, with nonstops to Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Miami, New York, Newark, Philadelphia and Washington. Rideshare and taxis wait at the terminal.

Getting to the stadium

Checked at the source
Game-day shuttle from Lincoln at Devine to Inside the Fairgrounds. Game-day shuttle from the Russell House to Inside the Fairgrounds. Drive and park in the Fairgrounds. South Carolina State Fairgrounds, east of Assembly Street.

Tailgating

Checked at the source
Fans tailgate in Gamecock Park, the Fairgrounds and Woodstock lots around the stadium. Tailgate within your own parking space. Gamecock Park opens six hours before kickoff, other lots five hours before, never earlier than 8 AM. Tents up to 10 by 10 feet that fit inside your space. Gas grills are fine; charcoal is banned. No live music at tailgates, and leave the glass at home. Game-day RV parking is in the Fairgrounds on the east side of Assembly Street (803-799-3387) and at Gate 12 on Rosewood Drive. 22 cabooses sit on an unused track behind the south end of the stadium and serve as private tailgate spots, the most famous in Columbia. The school's fan zone opened at 8 AM for the 2025 Clemson game, with live music, food and drink, and games.

Getting in

Checked at the source
  • Bag policy: Clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags up to 12 x 6 x 12 inches, a one-gallon clear freezer bag, or a clutch up to 4.5 x 6.5 inches. One clear bag plus one clutch per person. No backpacks, fanny packs, drawstring bags or camera bags.
  • Cashless: Concessions take no cash. Reverse ATMs at the West Main and East Ground levels turn cash into a debit card.
  • Re-entry: No re-entry. Tickets are mobile only and scan once.

After the final whistle

Checked at the source
After the game all lanes of Assembly Street carry traffic away from the stadium, with the two left lanes turning onto Blossom Street. Traffic from South Stadium Road goes south on Bluff Road to I-77 North or South. The game-day shuttle runs from the Fairgrounds back to the Russell House and Lincoln at Devine until two hours after the game.

One thing to avoid

From a specialist guide
Don't park on Key Road, Market Street, South Stadium Road, National Guard Road, Shop Road or Hemlock Road on game day: fines run $20 to $155, plus a $125 tow.

Bars near the stadium

From a specialist guide

  • Touchdowns

    715 Harden Street, Columbia, SC

    Bar on Harden Street, the spine of Five Points, surrounded by the district's other bars and late-night food.

    Away fans: bar in the middle of the main game-day strip.

  • Taneyhill's Group Therapy

    2107 Greene St, Columbia, SC

    Neighborhood bar on Greene Street in Five Points, a short walk from Harden Street.

    Away fans: a Five Points bar on Greene Street with a mixed crowd.

  • Village Idiot Pizza

    2009 Devine Street, Columbia, SC

    A Columbia pizza and beer spot for 35 years, with daily specials and a monthly feature pie.

    Away fans: come one, come all: students, families and visitors.

  • Home Team BBQ

    700 Harden Street, Columbia, SC

    Barbecue restaurant at the top of Harden Street, a solid base before heading to the bars.

    Away fans: barbecue and drinks on the main Five Points strip.

Sidequests in Columbia

In the order they happen. Each one earns points.

  1. Landmark40 points

    Find the bronze stars on the State House

    Six bronze stars mark the State House walls. They show where Sherman's cannons hit the building.

    Free. The day before

  2. Drink65 points

    Friday night in Five Points

    Five Points was Columbia's first shopping district, now its main bar strip. USC students and visiting fans pack it on game weekends.

    $$. 18 hours before kickoff

  3. Photo65 points

    See the Cockaboose Railroad

    22 cabooses sit on a dead track behind the south end zone. It's the most unusual tailgate row in the country.

    Free. 3 hours before kickoff

  4. Ritual75 points

    Gamecock Walk on Tommy Suggs Garnet Way

    The team walks down Tommy Suggs Garnet Way about two hours before kickoff. Get there early for a rail spot.

    Free. 2 hours 15 minutes before kickoff

  5. Ritual90 points

    Be in your seat for 2001 and Sandstorm

    The Gamecocks run out to the theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey. Sporting News called it the most exciting entrance in college football, and Sandstorm follows before kickoff.

    Free. 15 minutes before kickoff

  6. Outing75 points

    Congaree National Park boardwalk

    18 miles southeast of Columbia, a 2.4 mile boardwalk loop runs through the largest old-growth bottomland hardwood forest left in the country.

    Free. The day before

Seats and views

Where each part of Williams-Brice Stadium sits, and what you see from it.

Lower bowl, end zoneLower bowl, corner, home sideLower bowl, home sidelineLower bowl, corner, home sideLower bowl, end zoneLower bowl, corner, visitor sideLower bowl, visitor sidelineLower bowl, corner, visitor sideClub and suite level, end zoneClub and suite level, corner, home sideClub and suite level, home sidelineClub and suite level, corner, home sideClub and suite level, end zoneClub and suite level, corner, visitor sideClub and suite level, visitor sidelineClub and suite level, corner, visitor sideUpper level, end zoneUpper level, corner, home sideUpper level, home sidelineUpper level, corner, home sideUpper level, end zoneUpper level, corner, visitor sideUpper level, visitor sidelineUpper level, corner, visitor sideHomeVisitors
Lower bowl1 to 34Club and suite level101 to 109 and 201 to 209Upper level301 to 309 and 601 to 606Tap any part of the stadium to see its view.