The University of South Carolina has officially revealed its 2026 football schedule, announced Thursday night during the SEC Network broadcast.
The upcoming slate features nine SEC matchups, including five showdowns at Williams-Brice Stadium and four on the road. South Carolina will also host Kent State and Towson as part of its seven-game home lineup, while the annual rivalry trip to Clemson rounds out the non-conference schedule.
Key Matchups to Watch
Season Opener
South Carolina kicks off the 2026 campaign on Sept. 5 against Kent State. The two programs have met just once before, when the Gamecocks “drubbed the Golden Flashes” 77–14 back in 1995.
Tennessee Returns to the Rotation
Following a bye week on Oct. 17, the Gamecocks will be back in action at home on Oct. 24 to face Tennessee. The Gamecocks and Volunteers played annually from 1992–2023 but “have not played in either of the last two seasons.”
Renewing Old Rivalries: Georgia and Clemson
On Nov. 21, South Carolina renews one of its longest-running SEC rivalries when Georgia travels to Columbia. The Carolina–Georgia series is the second-oldest in school history, “behind only Carolina-Clemson.”
And fittingly, just a week later, the Gamecocks will make the short trip to face Clemson, closing out their regular season with another chapter in the storied Palmetto State rivalry.
2026 SOUTH CAROLINA FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
- Sept. 5 – vs Kent State
- Sept. 12 – vs Towson
- Sept. 19 – vs Mississippi State*
- Sept. 26 – at Alabama*
- Oct. 3 – vs Kentucky*
- Oct. 10 – at Florida*
- Oct. 17 – BYE
- Oct. 24 – vs Tennessee*
- Oct. 31 – at Oklahoma*
- Nov. 7 – vs Texas A&M*
- Nov. 14 – at Arkansas*
- Nov. 21 – vs Georgia*
- Nov. 28 – at Clemson
If you’d like a clickbait headline or a more dramatic fan-focused version, just let me know!
