Top 5 games in Georgia vs South Carolina history

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Sep 19, 2015; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running back Nick Chubb (27) runs against South Carolina Gamecocks linebacker Skai Moore (10) during the second half at Sanford Stadium. Georgia defeated South Carolina 52-20. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Georgia and South Carolina are set to play in a unique Sunday match-up because of Hurricane Matthew this weekend.

Judging by the all-time series record you wouldn’t know just how great of a rivalry Georgia vs. South Carolina is.

Georgia leads the series 48-18-2, but since 2007 the Gamecocks have gone 5-4 against the Bulldogs including three straight wins in Columbia.

Throughout the history of the two programs, only South Carolina saw their series with Georgia as a major rivalry. Georgia on the other hand had them below Georgia Tech, Florida, Auburn, Tennessee and, depending on who you asked, Clemson.

It wasn’t until 2005 when Steve Spurrier, former Florida head coach and Heisman winner, became head coach of South Carolina. That added a spark to the rivalry that it previously did not have and gave the Bulldogs a reason to hate South Carolina.

Now former Georgia Bulldog defensive-back Will Muschamp is head coach at South Carolina which only fuels the animosity between the two schools.

But great and memorable games have always taken place in the rivalry’s history and here are five of the best games that the rivalry has to offer.

Sep 19, 2015; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell (26) reacts after a Georgia touchdown against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the second half at Sanford Stadium. Georgia defeated South Carolina 52-20. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

1968: Georgia 21, South Carolina 20

Georgia finished the regular season 8-0-2 to win the SEC Championship and a chance to win a National Championship. If Georgia just gives up four more points that season, then Georgia is without any championships or opportunities.

But the Bulldogs took care of business when they had to preserve ties with Tennessee and Houston, and a close victory over the Gamecocks.

Sep 19, 2015; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running back Nick Chubb (27) warms up on the field prior to the game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

1980: Georgia 13, South Carolina 10

Georgia vs. South Carolina is known for low-scoring, defensive games. In fact, there have been 24 games between the two schools where neither team scored 20 points. And 44 games in which neither team scored 30 points.

But of all the defensive struggles, none is more talked about or celebrated as the meeting in 1980. South Carolina was led by eventual Heisman winner George Rogers. Georgia was led by Herschel Walker who would win the Heisman in 1982.

Despite the superstars both teams had on offense, the defenses dominated the game except for Walker’s 76-yard touchdown run. That was the difference that day.

Rogers however fumbled late giving the ball back to Georgia. The Bulldogs ran out the clock to remain undefeated on route to a National Championship.

Sep 17, 2016; Columbia, SC, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks take the field against the East Carolina Pirates during the first quarter at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

2014. South Carolina 38, Georgia 35

Or maybe it was less than inches. South Carolina defeated Georgia after converting a fourth down late in the game. When the referees measured for he first down, the ball was barely past the line.

Much like this year, weather delayed the game that year. The delay lasted over an hour because of a thunderstorm, but lightning continued to strike all game by the two offenses.

South Carolina lead 24-13 at halftime behind three touchdown passes from Dylan Thompson. But the Bulldogs outscored the Gamecocks 22-14 in the second half and had a chance to take a lead or tie the game after an interception by Damian Swann put Georgia at the 4-yard line. The sequence afterwards was:

South Carolina took over with four minutes left and drove to their own 49-yard line where Georgia forced a fourth-and-inches. Dylan Thompson went for a QB sneak and the officials judged that he advanced the ball passed the line.

They went on to run the rest of the clock out to preserve the win.

Sep 10, 2016; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Natrez Patrick (6) runs through the Georgia banner on the field before the game against Nicholls State Colonels at Sanford Stadium. Georgia defeated Nicholls State 26-24. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

2009. Georgia 14, South Carolina 37

Going into the 2009 Georgia vs. South Carolina game, nine of the previous 11 games saw neither team score more than 21 points. Six of those games were decided by less than a touchdown. Expectations going into that game was that it was going to be another low-scoring game.

Those expectations ended mere seconds into the second quarter when Branden Smith ran a reverse 61-yards into the end zone to give Georgia a 21-17 lead. After that touchdown, ESPN play-by-play announcer Mike Patrick said “Cats out of the bad, there’s going to be some points scored.”

Points were scored in bunches. Both offenses were unstoppable until the fourth quarter when suddenly the defenses remembered that they were supposed to be the defining unit of the rivalry.

The only points in the fourth quarter were scored by way of field goals from South Carolina’s Spencer Lanning and Georgia’s Blair Walsh, as well as an interception return for a touchdown by USC’s Eric Norwood.

Because Georgia blocked the PAT after Norwood’s touchdown, the Gamecocks needed a touchdown on their final drive following Walsh’s field goal. Stephen Garcia drove the offense from their 19-yard line to the Georgia 7-yard line. But his fourth down pass was deflected incomplete by Rennie Curran to give Georgia the win.

Sep 19, 2015; Athens, GA, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks safety Isaiah Johnson (21) tackles Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell (26) during the second half at Sanford Stadium. Georgia defeated South Carolina 52-20. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

2011: South Carolina 45, Georgia 42

The biggest shootout in the history of the rivalry, the Gamecocks won their second game against Georgia is a row with a pair of touchdowns from defensive lineman Melvin Ingram.

Up 13-7 late in the second quarter, Georgia stopped the Gamecocks on third down to force a punt. But Ingram took a direct snap and ran 68 yards to give the Gamecocks a 14-13 halftime lead.

The second half featured a combined 60 points between both squads. But the biggest was Ingrams fumble recovery for a touchdown after a Jadeveon Clowney sack on Aaron Murray. That put South Carolina ahead 45-35 with only three minutes left.

Georgia scored one more touchdown less than a minute later to cut the lead to 45-42 but they were unable to recover the onside kick and the Gamecocks held on to beat Georgia.

But the Bulldogs got the last laugh. They won out to finish the regular season 10-2 and 7-1 in the SEC. The Gamecocks were beaten by Auburn and Arkansas to finish 10-2 and 6-2 in the SEC. Despite the victory, the Gamecocks sat at home to watch Georgia play in the SEC Championship game.

Sep 3, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs mascot Uga on the sidelines during the third quarter of the 2016 Chick-Fil-A Kickoff game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

2002: Georgia 13, South Carolina 7

Another game that was delayed because of the weather, lightning strikes in the area from Tropical Storm Hannah. But despite the thunder around Columbia, the game was fairly silent. Georgia lead 3-0 until the fourth quarter.

The game was dominated by defenses so it’s fitting that one of the SEC ‘s biggest defenses stars of all time scored the deciding touchdown. With South Carolina quarterback Corey Jenkins in the end zone, Georgia defensive end David Pollack intercepted a pass the moment the ball left Jenkins hand.

It’s a highlight that is still played to this day. South Carolina kept the game close with a touchdown of their own, but Pollack’s touchdown was the deciding play in Georgia’s win that day.