Following some in-game conflict last Saturday with Alabama tight end Josh Ford, South Carolina announced the suspension of defensive edge Dylan Stewart for one game.

Stewart was seen punching Ford, as well as arguing with head coach Shane Beamer. Southeastern Conference commissioner Greg Sankey later said that his behavior was “unacceptable and not aligned with the standards of the Southeastern Conference.”

In addition to this, it’s evident that the Gamecocks may be without Stewart after their matchup with Kentucky as well, with Beamer taking the reins on the decision-making process that will allow the star edge rusher to return to the field.

Stewart is a key player for the Gamecocks, being named as a Freshman All-American in 2024 and making Second-Team All-SEC in 2025. The absence of this unit could provide a significant advantage for the Wildcats on Oct. 3, considering how well they ran the ball last week.

Kentucky’s offensive line should have a lighter load this time around to allow for more protection of quarterback Kenny Minchey and open the gaps for their runningback trio. Minchey has been sacked eight times so far this season, so the more relaxed this offensive line can be against a lesser opponent, the more things will come easier for Minchey and the receivers.

Historically, Kentucky has not beat South Carolina since 2021 at Williams-Brice Stadium, losing four straight to the Gamecocks since then. With this matchup being a road game as well for the Wildcats, Will Stein’s team is expected to be able to handle the pressure of the environment while the Carolina fans search for their team’s first SEC win.

The blue and white handled the heat of Texas A&M on the road, but South Carolina could be just as much of a challenge, with Stewart on the field, or not. Kickoff is set for 4:15 p.m. ET from Columbia, South Carolina, streaming live on the SEC Network.

With football weather finally present and Kroger Field back in action, Will Stein and the Wildcats played the most action-packed game of the season on Saturday, Sept. 26, taking down the South Alabama Jaguars by a final score of 45-21.

The beginning of the game didn’t feature much fireworks, with both teams punting on their first two drives of the game. Finally, quarterback Kenny Minchey would lead a solid fourth drive in just under six minutes of game time, capped off by a 4th and 2 conversion touchdown from runningback CJ Baxter.

He would continue to run all over the Jaguars, but it wouldn’t turn into points for the Wildcats until later on in the second quarter.

To start the second installment, Kentucky would muff a punt, giving South Alabama the possession on the Wildcats’ 15-yard line. As expected, a quick touchdown would be scored, tying the game up at 7-7.

Aggressive with the play calling yet again, Stein and his team would turn the ball over for a second time on downs on the responding drive, where the visitors gained 57 yards in one minute of play, scoring on a wide-open 36-yard touchdown and taking the lead in Lexington.

The Wildcats would respond with a backpack effort from Baxter, leading his team all the way down the field before his partner in crime Jovantae Barnes would punch in his first touchdown of the season and of his Kentucky tenure.

After a bad targeting call on linebacker Bo Barnes that eventually led to his ejection, South Alabama would score quickly before the half. With all hope lost, Jason Patterson would break a 75-yard touchdown on the first play of the next drive, making things even yet again.

A quick interception by linebacker Grant Godfrey would result in a quick chip-in filed goal when it was all said and done, giving Stein and the home team a 24-21 lead at the break.

Without missing a beat, the rushing domination would continue to open up the second half, with Kentucky gaining all of its yards, 75 to be exact, on the ground via Baxter and Patterson.

Patterson would score on the fourth play of the drive, putting the Wildcats up 10.

If you like tossing the pigskin, we sincerely apologize, but the ground attack would not stop, as by time the third quarter ended, Baxter, Patterson and Barnes would all amount to over 100 rushing yards each, sniffing at every record ever set in Lexington.

The rest of the game would be nothing but the studs, with every offensive possession being yet another opportunity to run up the score. Patterson would get his hat trick, and Minchey would get his sole passing touchdown of the day, hitting Shane Carr in the corner of the endzone.

Thank goodness that there was a second half, right BBN?

Up next, Kentucky will travel to Columbia to take on the South Carolina Gamecocks, resuming its conference schedule. Kickoff is set for 4:15 p.m. ET and will air live on the SEC Network, with Stein looking to end the Wildcats’ four-game losing streak against Shane Beamer.

There’s near silence at Kyle Field, with the only distant sound being the roar from the Big Blue Nation, who made the long haul down to Aggieland for their Wildcats. The trip was worth it, seeing the blue and white take down No. 9 Texas A&M in dominant fashion.

While the celebration ensued, journalists both close to home and far from Lexington rushed down to the media room, prepared to talk to Will Stein and his team after such an impressive response from the week prior.

CJ Baxter was one of the several to answer eager questions, following an 87-yard performance to go along with two touchdowns. Of course he answered everything that the media inquired about regarding his stat-filled game, but the entire press paused when he referred to quarterback Kenny Minchey as “Floyd.”

It was the first time anyone had heard this, thinking they weren’t knowledgeable of the Notre Dame transfer’s middle name or something along those lines. In actuality, Minchey earned this nickname due to his resemblance to legendary boxer Floyd Mayweather.

How does a SEC field general compare to one of the greatest strikers ever? Minchey had all the answers, crediting offensive coordinator Joe Sloan with giving him the title.

“With like my urgency, he thinks sometimes I can be a little, a little relaxed, too relaxed,” he said. “He likes me just bouncing around on my feet and just being active.”

Active is a true understatement. Stein’s guy threw for 252 yards and two touchdowns against the Aggies, only throwing four incompletions in his batch of 18.

Baxter had a different take on the nickname, but matched the same theme that Sloan attached to Minchey in the first place.

“He was making some kill calls…he was switching up plays and stuff like that,” said Baxter. “He was in full command…if y’all could see how he went about his business, it was like, ‘Oh yeah, I know what three is going to do.’”

Maybe Sade is expecting some type of royalty from the Wildcats, because Minchey was a smooth operator in front of 100,000+ fans in College Station. He had humble words on his demeanor and ability, telling those listening how much he trusts Stein, Sloan and the rest of the coaching staff.

“It was a really good game plan. We trust the coaches through and through every single week,” said Minchey. “They put us in the position to win…it’s a really good thing to see.”

If you asked Stein himself, he would say quit talking about last week, because the past is the past and a new opponent awaits. His quarterback would likely agree, looking to carry on his smooth, killer mentality against the South Alabama Jaguars on Sept. 26.

Minchey Mayweather is a nickname that fans can get behind, hopefully staying undefeated in conversation to align with the great that inspired this new moniker.