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Georgia–South Carolina football rivalry

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The Georgia–South Carolina football rivalry is an American college football rivalry between the Georgia Bulldogs and South Carolina Gamecocks. The series started in 1894 and was played intermittently over the next several decades.[1] The series then became much more frequent, being played almost every year from 1958 to 1989.[1] After the Gamecocks joined the Southeastern Conference (SEC), the rivalry was played annually from 1992 to 2023.[1][2] As a result of SEC expansion, it ceased to be an annual matchup in 2024, although there is speculation that the two could become permanent annual rivals again if the SEC moves to a nine-game conference schedule.[1][2] Georgia leads the series 55–19–2.[1]

Georgia–South Carolina football rivalry
Georgia Bulldogs
South Carolina Gamecocks
First meetingNovember 3, 1894
Georgia, 40–0
Latest meetingSeptember 16, 2023
Georgia, 24–14
Statistics
Meetings total76
All-time seriesGeorgia leads 55–19–2[1]
Largest victoryGeorgia, 48–7 (2022)
Longest win streakGeorgia, 10 (1908–1941, 1966–1977)
Current win streakGeorgia, 4 (2020–present)
Map
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75km
50miles
South Carolina
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Georgia
Locations of Georgia and South Carolina

Emergence of the rivalry

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Traditionally, Georgia has had three main rivals: Georgia Tech, Auburn, and Florida.

  • The two schools played periodically until South Carolina's entrance into the SEC in 1992.[3]
  • Recruiting battles have always existed between the two, but intensified due to South Carolina's success under head coach Steve Spurrier.[4]
  • Georgia's fan base has disliked former South Carolina football coach, Steve Spurrier, since his days as head coach at the University of Florida.[5]
  • The series between the two schools became especially competitive during the Steve Spurrier years, with Spurrier's Gamecocks holding an almost perfectly even 5–6 record against Georgia.
  • The game has traditionally been nationally televised to a large audience (dating back to 1996, either on CBS, ESPN or ESPN2 except in 2016 and 2020).

They’ve got more rivals than almost anybody I know. They really do. Traditionally, we’ve only had Clemson because we haven’t beaten anybody enough to have any more rivals. Georgia, I’ve always said, is our biggest conference rival since they’re closest to us, I think, than any other school.[6]

— Steve Spurrier, former South Carolina Head Coach, October 3, 2012

Notable games

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  • 1980: One of the most memorable games was the 1980 game between Heisman Trophy hopefuls George Rogers and Herschel Walker. Led by Walker's 219 rushing yards, Georgia won 13–10 and went on to win the national title. Rogers turned in 168 rushing yards in the contest, setting the stage for a successful finish to his Heisman Trophy campaign. Walker, on the other hand, would finish 3rd in the Heisman Trophy voting[7] and go on to win the award in 1982.[8]
  • 1984: This game was a memorable upset. Before the season began, Mike Hold, South Carolina's backup quarterback, was thinking about transferring to Arizona State. Offensive coordinator Frank Sadler had told Hold that as long as he was offensive coordinator, he would never play. Hold called his dad and announced he was transferring, but his dad told him to stay one more week for the Georgia game. Starting quarterback Allen Mitchell was injured, and Hold had a 66-yard quick kick and a 62-yard pass to Ira Hillary that set up the game-winning touchdown, which he scored on a two-yard run. The result was a 17–10 upset over #12 Georgia that jump started a 10–1 season. Hold later stayed and said that it "was the best decision I've ever made in my life."
  • 1993: South Carolina defeated #14 Georgia in Athens 23–21 when running back Brandon Bennett dove over the pile into the end zone with two seconds left to give South Carolina just their 10th victory ever against Georgia.[9]
  • 2000: South Carolina's defense intercepted Heisman Trophy hopeful Quincy Carter five times in a 21–10 upset of the #10 Bulldogs in Columbia. The victory broke an 18-game SEC losing streak for the Gamecocks.[10]
  • 2002: Georgia linebacker David Pollack batted down and intercepted a pass from South Carolina quarterback Corey Jenkins in the South Carolina end zone. This memorable play jump-started a quiet Georgia team, leading to a 13–7 victory.[11]
  • 2004: Georgia fell down early 16–0 thanks to a pick-six and an amazing touchdown catch and run by Troy Williamson. However, David Greene led a second-half comeback, complete with a deep touchdown pass to Reggie Brown late in the fourth. Georgia won 20–16 and kept their SEC hopes alive.[12]
  • 2005: D. J. Shockley's first SEC start after being named the player of the week by the SEC for the opener against Boise State. The Heisman campaign by Shockley came crashing down against South Carolina as the Gamecocks stifled the Georgia offense. Georgia would survive and win 17–15.[13]
  • 2006: Georgia entered the game ranked #12 in what many believed (and later proved) to be a rebuilding year for the program. Joe Tereshinski started the game but was injured early on and Georgia was forced into playing the #1 QB recruit in true freshman Matthew Stafford. Stafford showed off his arm strength on a few throws, but ended up having a very freshman-like performance, throwing 3 interceptions. The Bulldogs relied on a stingy defense, that held South Carolina to only 35 yards on the ground in 22 attempts in the 18–0 win. Just a day prior, former UGA defensive coordinator Erk Russell had died. In a fitting tribute to a Georgia great, the Georgia defense posted their first shutout in three years and only the second shutout of Spurrier's coaching career.
  • 2007: South Carolina's second win against Georgia in the Richt era. The Gamecocks won 16–12, holding off a late drive by Georgia and recording an interception to end the game. This game would go on to cost Georgia the SEC East and a chance at an SEC and even national title as Georgia's only other loss would be to Tennessee, who would go on to win the East because of a tiebreaker over Georgia. South Carolina would finish the year 6–6 after a 6–1 start and Georgia would beat Hawaii in the Sugar Bowl to finish ranked #2 in the AP Poll.[14]
  • 2008: The second-ranked Bulldogs won a low scoring game on particularly hot and humid day in Williams-Brice Stadium. A goal-line fumble forced by Rennie Curran and a late game interception from Reshad Jones preserved an otherwise unimpressive 14–7 victory.[15]
  • 2009: Considered an instant classic, South Carolina jumped all over the Bulldogs, taking an early 17–7 lead, but #21 Georgia stormed back and won a shootout, 41–37, sealed by a batted pass in the end zone by linebacker Rennie Curran.[16]
  • 2010: The matchup in Columbia highlighted the archetype of the rivalry – a low scoring defensive shootout. #24 South Carolina defeated #22 Georgia 17–6, pulling away late in the game. Freshman running back Marcus Lattimore ran for 182 yards on 37 carries in his SEC debut.[17] This victory set the stage for South Carolina's run to the SEC Eastern division.[18]
  • 2011: The 2011 game proved to be almost identical to the 2009 game. The #12 Gamecocks defeated the unranked Bulldogs in Athens 45–42. South Carolina defensive end Melvin Ingram became the third player since 2006 to score a touchdown both on offense and defense in the same game, a 68-yard run on a fake punt and a 5-yard fumble return. He also recovered an onside kick late in the game to seal the victory for the Gamecocks.[19] South Carolina was the division leader for the majority of the season until the Gamecocks lost to the Arkansas Razorbacks, resulting in a Bulldog berth in the championship game.[20]
  • 2012: #6 South Carolina defeated #5 Georgia 35–7 in front of a record crowd (85,199) at Williams-Brice Stadium, the highest-ranked matchup of the teams in series history and the first time the Gamecocks have won three in a row over the Bulldogs.[21] It remains the largest margin of victory in the series for the Gamecocks.
  • 2013: #11 Georgia snapped #6 South Carolina's three game win streak against the Bulldogs and got a 41–30 win. A career day by Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray who had 309 passing yards and 4 touchdowns to go along with 132 rushing yards and touchdown by running back Todd Gurley led the Georgia win.[22]
  • 2014 : #6 Georgia was favored to defeat #24 South Carolina. However, SC had other ideas, and took a 24–13 lead at the half thanks to 3 touchdowns passing from Dylan Thompson. South Carolina extended the lead to 31–20 with a short TD run from Thompson. Feeling pressure, Georgia QB Hutson Mason threw a TD to Jay Rome. The Dawgs got the 2-point conversion, and trailed 31–28. Brandon Wilds then ran for a TD to put the Gamecocks up 38–28. Georgia scored again to cut it to 38–35, and Dylan Thompson was intercepted in his own red-zone. Georgia couldn't move the ball and settled for a Marshall Morgan field goal. The kick went just right of the uprights and was no good. On the ensuing drive South Carolina converted a fourth and inches near midfield that allowed them to kneel the rest of the clock out, winning 38–35. The Gamecocks reached #13 two weeks later, but a loss to Missouri sent them out of the rankings and to a 7–6 finish. Georgia went 10–3 and narrowly missed out on an SEC East Title.
  • 2016: This game was postponed to Sunday due to Hurricane Matthew and South Carolina and Georgia both had two new coaches in Will Muschamp and Kirby Smart (both of which had served as assistants under Nick Saban). Georgia won 28–14.
  • 2017 : Led by freshman Jake Fromm (who took over for former 5-star Jacob Eason when he got hurt in the season opener) Georgia had reached #1 in the CFP poll, entering November with an 8–0 record. They were closely tested against a 6–2 South Carolina team, as Georgia led just 14–7 at halftime. Ultimately, Georgia hung on for a 24–10 win. Fromm went 16/22 for 196 yards and 2 TDS for Georgia.
  • 2019 : Undefeated, No. 3 Georgia came into the game as a 24.5-point favorite at home against unranked South Carolina. South Carolina had lost 3 games, including one to North Carolina, who had previously gone 2–9 in 2018. Shockingly, South Carolina upset Georgia 20–17 in double overtime behind Israel Mukuamu's 3 interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown late in the second quarter. South Carolina would only win one more game after this against Vanderbilt and finish 4–8. Georgia would go on to finish 12–2 and lose the SEC Championship to LSU, but would rebound by defeating Baylor in the Sugar Bowl.

Schedule change

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In most years, since the 1991 SEC conference expansion, the game was the first conference game on the schedule for both teams. The game was typically held during the second week of the season with a non-conference game being played prior. (This was typically the case with a few early exceptions where the game was the first game of the season for both programs.) Due to SEC expansion in 2012, the schedule needed to be modified to accommodate new SEC members Texas A&M and Missouri. These became known as "bridge" schedules because they were meant to be temporary scheduling formats used to bridge the gap between the formats of 5–1–2, pre-expansion, and 6–1–1, which was agreed upon by the SEC membership as the new format. The 2012 "bridge" schedule, issued by the SEC home office, moved the UGA-USC game to October 6, 2012. However, in 2013 the SEC offices saw fit, even in the face of issuing another "bridge" schedule, to move the yearly tilt between the two programs back to the second week of the season for each program stating that the game would fill needed conference TV inventory for the early week in the season. At the same time the SEC announced that another "bridge" schedule would be issued for 2014, but that schedule has yet to be released by the SEC home office in Birmingham, Alabama.[23][24][25] However, later the SEC released a 2014 schedule that is not a bridge schedule, and also released the future cross-division opponents for each team for the 2014–2025 seasons. Additionally, while USC remained as UGA's first conference game, the first conference game for USC was a week 1 game against Texas A&M. In 2016, the game was postponed from Saturday October 8 to Sunday October 9 due to the effects of Hurricane Matthew.

in 2024, the game ceased to be a permanent fixture on both teams schedule due to the addition of Texas and Oklahoma to the league, and the abolition of the Eastern and Western Divisions.[2] However, it has been reported that the SEC will likely eventually move to a nine-game conference schedule that incorporates three “permanent” opponents along with six other rotating contests.[2] There has been speculation that, if this change does occur, South Carolina and Georgia could be one of each other's three permanent opponents.[2]

Game results

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Georgia victoriesSouth Carolina victoriesTie games
No.DateLocationWinning teamLosing team
1 October 3, 1894 Columbia, SC Georgia 40 South Carolina 0
2 October 20, 1900 Athens, GA Georgia 5 South Carolina 0
3 October 12, 1901 Augusta, GA Georgia 10 South Carolina 5
4 October 17, 1903 Athens, GA South Carolina 17 Georgia 0
5 October 26, 1904 Columbia, SC South Carolina 2 Georgia 0
6 October 17, 1908 Athens, GA Georgia 29 South Carolina 6
7 October 7, 1911 Athens, GA Georgia 38 South Carolina 0
8 October 11, 1919 Athens, GA Georgia 14 South Carolina 0
9 October 9, 1920 Columbia, SC Georgia 37 South Carolina 0
10 October 4, 1924 Athens, GA Georgia 18 South Carolina 0
11 October 2, 1937 Columbia, SC Georgia 13 South Carolina 7
12 October 1, 1938 Columbia, SC Georgia 7 South Carolina 6
13 November 18, 1939 Athens, GA Georgia 33 South Carolina 7
14 October 5, 1940 Columbia, SC Georgia 33 South Carolina 2
15 October 4, 1941 Athens, GA Georgia 34 South Carolina 6
16 October 4, 1958 Athens, GA South Carolina 24 Georgia 14
17 October 3, 1959 Columbia, SC #16 South Carolina 30 #13 Georgia 14
18 October 1, 1960 Athens, GA Georgia 38 South Carolina 6
19 October 7, 1961 Athens, GA Georgia 17 South Carolina 14
20 October 6, 1962 Columbia, SC Tie7Tie7
21 October 5, 1963 Athens, GA Georgia 27 South Carolina 7
22 October 3, 1964 Columbia, SC Tie7Tie7
23 October 1, 1966 Columbia, SC Georgia 7 South Carolina 0
24 October 7, 1967 Athens, GA #5 Georgia 21 South Carolina 0
25 October 5, 1968 Columbia, SC #16 Georgia 21 South Carolina 20
26 October 4, 1969 Athens, GA #7 Georgia 41 South Carolina 16
27 October 31, 1970 Athens, GA Georgia 52 South Carolina 34
28 October 30, 1971 Columbia, SC #7 Georgia 24 South Carolina 0
29 September 28, 1974 Athens, GA Georgia 52 South Carolina 14
30 September 27, 1975 Columbia, SC Georgia 28 South Carolina 20
31 September 25, 1976 Athens, GA #7 Georgia 20 South Carolina 12
32 September 24, 1977 Columbia, SC Georgia 15 South Carolina 13
33 September 30, 1978 Columbia, SC South Carolina 27 #19 Georgia 10
34 September 29, 1979 Athens, GA South Carolina 27 Georgia 20
35 November 1, 1980 Athens, GA #4 Georgia 13 #14 South Carolina 10
36 September 26, 1981 Athens, GA #17 Georgia 24 South Carolina 0
37 September 25, 1982 Columbia, SC #7 Georgia 34 South Carolina 18
38 September 24, 1983 Athens, GA #14 Georgia 31 South Carolina 13
39 September 29, 1984 Columbia, SC South Carolina 17 #12 Georgia 10
No.DateLocationWinning teamLosing team
40 September 28, 1985 Athens, GA Georgia 35 South Carolina 21
41 September 27, 1986 Columbia, SC Georgia 31 South Carolina 26
42 September 26, 1987 Athens, GA Georgia 13 South Carolina 6
43 September 24, 1988 Columbia, SC #14 South Carolina 23 #6 Georgia 10
44 September 30, 1989 Athens, GA South Carolina 24 #23 Georgia 20
45 September 5, 1992 Columbia, SC #14 Georgia 28 South Carolina 6
46 September 4, 1993 Athens, GA South Carolina 23 #14 Georgia 21
47 September 3, 1994 Columbia, SC Georgia 24 South Carolina 21
48 September 2, 1995 Athens, GA Georgia 42 South Carolina 23
49 September 14, 1996 Columbia, SC South Carolina 23 Georgia 14
50 September 13, 1997 Athens, GA #25 Georgia 31 South Carolina 15
51 September 12, 1998 Columbia, SC #13 Georgia 17 South Carolina 3
52 September 11, 1999 Athens, GA #12 Georgia 24 South Carolina 9
53 September 9, 2000 Columbia, SC South Carolina 21 #10 Georgia 10
54 September 8, 2001 Athens, GA #21 South Carolina 14 #25 Georgia 9
55 September 14, 2002 Columbia, SC #10 Georgia 13 South Carolina 7
56 September 13, 2003 Athens, GA #8 Georgia 31 #25 South Carolina 7
57 September 11, 2004 Columbia, SC #4 Georgia 20 South Carolina 16
58 September 10, 2005 Athens, GA #9 Georgia 17 South Carolina 15
59 September 9, 2006 Columbia, SC #12 Georgia 18 South Carolina 0
60 September 8, 2007 Athens, GA South Carolina 16 #11 Georgia 12
61 September 13, 2008 Columbia, SC #2 Georgia 14 South Carolina 7
62 September 12, 2009 Athens, GA #21 Georgia 41 South Carolina 37
63 September 11, 2010 Columbia, SC #24 South Carolina 17 #22 Georgia 6
64 September 10, 2011 Athens, GA #12 South Carolina 45 Georgia 42
65 October 6, 2012 Columbia, SC #6 South Carolina 35 #5 Georgia 7
66 September 7, 2013 Athens, GA #11 Georgia 41 #6 South Carolina 30
67 September 13, 2014 Columbia, SC #24 South Carolina 38 #6 Georgia 35
68 September 19, 2015 Athens, GA #7 Georgia 52 South Carolina 20
69 October 9, 2016 Columbia, SC Georgia 28 South Carolina 14
70 November 4, 2017 Athens, GA #1 Georgia 24 South Carolina 10
71 September 8, 2018 Columbia, SC #3 Georgia 41 #24 South Carolina 17
72 October 12, 2019 Athens, GA South Carolina 20 #3 Georgia 17 2OT
73 November 28, 2020 Columbia, SC #9 Georgia 45 South Carolina 16
74 September 18, 2021 Athens, GA #2 Georgia 40 South Carolina 13
75 September 17, 2022 Columbia, SC #1 Georgia 48South Carolina 7
76 September 16, 2023 Athens, GA #1 Georgia 24South Carolina 14
Series: Georgia leads 55–19–2[1]

Border Bash

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The last Border Bash in 2023 was held in SRP Park in North Augusta, South Carolina

Since 1994, the "Border Bash" has been held as a charity tailgate event in the Augusta metropolitan area before every Georgia–South Carolina football game. For decades, it was only held in Georgia (Augusta), but it was held in South Carolina (North Augusta) for the first time in 2017. The event is supported by numerous business and private sponsors from both sides of the Savannah River. The evening event draws thousands of fans from both fan-bases, and proceeds are used to support numerous children's charities from around the CSRA through the Border Bash Foundation. Both mascots, as well as each program's cheerleaders, represent their programs at the event along with various dignitaries from the schools themselves. Neither the football coaches or the ballplayers attend due to conflicts with their pregame preparations.[26][27][28][29][30][31][32]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Winsipedia – Georgia Bulldogs vs. South Carolina Gamecocks football series history". Winsipedia.
  2. ^ a b c d e Portnoy, Ben (July 18, 2023). "Kirby Smart sounds off on future of South Carolina-Georgia football series". The State. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  3. ^ "SOUTH CAROLINA FOOTBALL HISTORY DATABASE". Retrieved March 14, 2012.
  4. ^ "Spurrier gives UGA some love in recruiting". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved March 15, 2013.
  5. ^ "UGA Football: Steve Spurrier, South Carolina and the Brewing of a Fierce Rivalry". Bleacher Report. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  6. ^ "Gamecocks preparing for emotional week". IndependentMail.com. Archived from the original on November 3, 2012. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
  7. ^ 1980 Heisman Trophy Voting
  8. ^ 1982 Heisman Trophy Voting
  9. ^ "South Carolina-Georgia 1993: Who Could Forget?".
  10. ^ "NCAA Football – Georgia vs. South Carolina". usatoday30.usatoday.com.
  11. ^ "Pollack's fourth-quarter interception an odd gem". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on December 18, 2013. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  12. ^ "Greene heats up late to rescue Bulldogs". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on April 11, 2013. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  13. ^ "Georgia finally beats Spurrier". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  14. ^ "Cock of the Walk: USC upsets No. 11 Georgia". Anderson Independent Mail. Archived from the original on January 9, 2009. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  15. ^ "UGA survives Gamecocks to earn- revenge". Anderson Independent Mail. Archived from the original on May 5, 2014. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  16. ^ Foster, Mike. "The UGA-South Carolina Rivalry: Downright Dirty, New Fashioned Hate". The Bleacher Report. Retrieved March 14, 2012.
  17. ^ "Marcus Lattimore gives South Carolina edge over Georgia". ESPN. Associated Press. Archived from the original on September 14, 2010. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
  18. ^ "South Carolina 2010 Results". 247 Sports. Retrieved March 14, 2012.
  19. ^ "Georgia turnovers help No. 12 South Carolina win on the road". ESPN. Associated Press. Archived from the original on September 26, 2011. Retrieved March 14, 2012.
  20. ^ "Georgia fights off Kentucky to win SEC East title". ESPN. Associated Press. Archived from the original on January 2, 2013. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
  21. ^ "Connor Shaw solid as South Carolina squashes Georgia to stay unbeaten". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  22. ^ "Aaron Murray, No. 11 Georgia top No. 6 S. Carolina in SEC East clash". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 8, 2014.
  23. ^ "SEC has another 'bridge' schedule in 2013". Times Free Press. October 19, 2012. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
  24. ^ "SEC Releases 2013 Conference Football Schedule > SEC > NEWS". Secdigitalnetwork.com. October 18, 2012. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
  25. ^ "SEC slate a dilemma: Cross-divisional matchups create potential imbalances in schedules". Times Free Press. April 25, 2013. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
  26. ^ Kaylor, Lisa (December 14, 2012). "Border Bash money goes to 17 Augusta-area charities | The Augusta Chronicle". Chronicle.augusta.com. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
  27. ^ "Access Denied | The Community Foundation". Cfcsra.org. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
  28. ^ Legoas, Miguel. "Arts in the Heart of Augusta, Border Bash return. Here's what to know". The Augusta Chronicle. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  29. ^ Messer, Karsten. "Augusta holds 30th annual Border Bash". The Augusta Chronicle. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  30. ^ Lee, Graham (September 12, 2023). "Border Bash going all out to celebrate 30 years, no party in 2024". WJBF News. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  31. ^ King, Amanda. "New venue gives Border Bash room for growth". The Augusta Chronicle. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  32. ^ Stutsman, Doug. "UGA-USC fans take part in annual Border Bash". The Augusta Chronicle. Retrieved October 28, 2024.

Additional sources

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