With both the ACC and SEC set to move to nine-game conference schedules in 2026, Miami and South Carolina have mutually agreed to cancel their upcoming two-game football series, originally planned for the 2026 and 2027 seasons. The Hurricanes were scheduled to visit Columbia in 2026, while the Gamecocks were to make the return trip to Miami in 2027.
The decision allows both programs to adjust to their expanded league slates while maintaining flexibility for non-conference opponents.
Miami has already filled the newly open 2026 slots with Florida A&M (Sept. 12) and Central Michigan (Sept. 26), and will also play Notre Dame on a date yet to be determined. In 2027, Miami is set to face Utah in Las Vegas (Sept. 4) and Troy at home a week later.
Between 2027 and 2030, Miami currently has two confirmed non-conference opponents per season and is expected to add an FCS opponent to round out its schedule. The Hurricanes have ensured that a Power Four or Notre Dame matchup remains part of their non-conference lineup through at least 2031.
On the South Carolina side, the 2025 season has been an up-and-down ride under head coach Shane Beamer. The Gamecocks started the year with wins over Virginia Tech and South Carolina State, dropped games to Vanderbilt and Missouri, then bounced back with a 35-13 victory over Kentucky before their bye week.
Historically, Miami leads the all-time series against South Carolina 8-6-2. However, the Gamecocks snapped a six-game losing streak in their most recent meeting — a 24-21 win in the 2014 Independence Bowl. South Carolina also dominated the early years of the rivalry, winning the first four matchups between 1936 and 1940.
Miami last faced South Carolina in the regular season in 1987, when the Hurricanes edged out a 20-16 victory. The programs have not met since the 2014 bowl showdown but remain linked through their regional and historical ties.
Looking ahead, Miami’s next SEC matchup will come when it hosts Auburn on Sept. 1, 2029, followed by a return game at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Aug. 31, 2030. The Hurricanes are also slated to host Temple in 2029 and Buffalo in 2030, with additional non-conference games including South Florida (Sept. 9, 2028) and future dates with Notre Dame in 2026, 2028, 2031, 2032, 2034, and 2037.
Though fans may be disappointed by the cancellation, both programs appear focused on long-term scheduling stability amid college football’s ever-changing landscape.
