South Carolina has officially locked in its final non-conference matchup for the 2026 football season.
The Gamecocks will welcome Kent State to Williams–Brice Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. Kickoff time has not yet been determined, with details expected to be announced closer to the game.
With Kent State added to the slate, South Carolina’s 2026 schedule is now fully set. The Gamecocks will also take on Towson and rival Clemson in non-conference play, along with navigating the SEC’s expanded nine-game conference lineup.
The Kent State matchup replaces the previously planned series with Miami (FL). The Hurricanes and Gamecocks mutually agreed to cancel their home-and-home arrangement back in early October, prompting South Carolina to find a new opponent.
South Carolina and Kent State have faced each other only once before, meeting in 1995. The Gamecocks dominated that contest, cruising to a 77–14 victory at Williams–Brice Stadium on October 7 of that season.
The Golden Flashes enter the 2026 campaign coming off a 5–7 finish in 2025. That record marks a significant improvement for the program, which had won just one game combined over the previous two seasons—going 1–11 in 2023 and 0–12 in 2024. Kent State is guided by head coach Mark Carney, who officially took over the job in late October 2025 after serving as interim head coach since April.
South Carolina will learn the full layout of its 2026 schedule—including game dates—during the SEC’s schedule reveal show on Thursday night. The announcement airs at 8 p.m. on SEC Network.
