The lead in the Southeastern Conference will be at stake when Alabama hosts Kentucky on Tuesday in Lexington.
The Crimson Tide (9-3, 4-0 SEC) and Wildcats (4-6, 3-0) are two of the three teams undefeated in league play, but South Carolina has played only one conference game, a home win over Texas A&M last week.
That the Tide and Wildcats are atop the standings even this early in the season is somewhat of a surprise since both teams struggled in nonconference play.
The Tide were only 5-3, while the Wildcats opened 1-6, their worst start to a season since the 1926-27 Wildcats lost eight of nine.
But both have feasted in conference play.