Just moments before South Carolina tipped off against LSU on Saturday night, ESPN delivered news that will bring the national spotlight back to Columbia: College GameDay is heading to Colonial Life Arena next weekend when the Gamecocks host Ole Miss.
Record-Breaking GameDay Appearances
The announcement extends South Carolina’s already historic relationship with ESPN’s premier pregame show. This will mark the program’s fourth time serving as host and eighth overall GameDay appearance—both women’s college basketball records that no other program can match.
The familiar GameDay panel of Christine Williamson, Andraya Carter, and Chiney Ogwumike will set up shop in Columbia for the broadcast, which begins at 11:00 a.m. ET with tipoff scheduled for noon. The show will air on ESPN and stream via the ESPN app, while the subsequent SEC showdown will be televised on either ESPN or ESPN2.
Another Lengthy Winning Streak on the Line
While South Carolina’s 18-game winning streak over LSU garners significant attention, the Gamecocks’ dominance over Ole Miss extends even further into the history books.
Dawn Staley’s squad has won 20 consecutive games against Mississippi—a streak that dates back to the 2009-2010 season, just Staley’s second year at the helm in Columbia. The Rebels haven’t tasted victory against the Gamecocks in over 15 years.
The Rankings and Road Ahead
With the AP Top 25 poll update due Monday, South Carolina currently sits at No. 3 nationally following their victory over LSU. Ole Miss checks in at No. 14, making next weekend’s matchup a clash between top-15 programs with significant postseason implications.
The scheduling dynamics heavily favor South Carolina in terms of rest and preparation. The Gamecocks (25-2, 11-1 SEC) face just one game before GameDay arrives—a road contest at Alabama—allowing ample time to prepare for the nationally televised showdown.
Ole Miss (20-5, 7-3 SEC), conversely, faces a brutal gauntlet. The Rebels will play three times between now and Sunday’s GameDay appearance: home games against Tennessee and LSU, sandwiched around a road trip to Kentucky. That condensed schedule could test their depth and energy levels heading into what’s already a daunting matchup against the conference’s top team.
Another Showcase for Women’s Basketball
The GameDay announcement represents another milestone moment for the South Carolina program and women’s college basketball as a whole. Each appearance helps elevate the sport’s visibility and reinforces the Gamecocks’ status as one of the nation’s premier programs.
For fans in Columbia, it’s another opportunity to showcase the passion and atmosphere that has made Colonial Life Arena one of the most formidable venues in women’s basketball—and perhaps send Ole Miss home with loss number 21 in the long-running series.
Source: on3
