Columbia, South Carolina, September 30, 2025
News Summary
The University of South Carolina’s football team will begin annual matchups against Florida, Georgia, and Kentucky as part of the SEC’s nine-game schedule format from 2026 to 2029. This change aims to maintain traditional rivalries and promote competitive balance. The Gamecocks will face a rotating selection of other SEC opponents, ensuring each team competes against one another at least once every two years. The updated schedule is praised by both the head coach and athletics director as a positive move for the program and its supporters.
Columbia, South Carolina – Beginning with the 2026 football season, the University of South Carolina will engage in annual matchups against Florida, Georgia, and Kentucky as part of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) nine-game schedule format that will extend from 2026 to 2029. This change ensures that the Gamecocks will face these three rival teams every single year during this period.
The Gamecocks’ schedule will feature a rotating selection of six additional SEC opponents each year, allowing every SEC team to compete against each other at least once every two years. Each team will have home-and-away matchups within the four-season timeframe. The announced schedule aims to preserve traditional rivalries among teams while ensuring competitive balance and accommodating existing non-conference commitments.
In 2026, South Carolina will host home games against Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Tennessee, and Texas A&M. They will play away games at Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, and Oklahoma. The following year, in 2027, South Carolina will welcome Florida, LSU, Missouri, and Texas to their home turf while traveling to play against Auburn, Georgia, Kentucky, Ole Miss, and Vanderbilt. The game against Texas will be especially notable as it will mark Texas’ first-ever visit to Williams-Brice Stadium.
In 2028, the Gamecocks’ home games will include Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, and Oklahoma. They will play away games against Florida, Mississippi State, Tennessee, and Texas A&M. The 2029 season will see South Carolina host Auburn, Florida, Ole Miss, and Vanderbilt while competing on the road against Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Missouri, and Texas.
Head coach Shane Beamer has pointed out the demanding nature of the SEC and reinforced the significance of competition for the development of their football program. Jeremiah Donati, the Athletics Director, expressed that the newly updated schedule represents a positive development for both the Gamecock football program and its supporters.
The rivalry with Georgia stands as the most-played SEC series for South Carolina, with a total of 76 games played; Georgia currently leads with a record of 55-19-2. The Gamecocks’ second most-played rivalry is against Florida, with Florida having the edge at 31-10-3 since the teams joined the SEC in 1992. They will also face Kentucky for their 37th matchup this upcoming Saturday, where South Carolina currently leads the series at 21-14-1.
Since 2018, South Carolina’s average strength of schedule has been ranked 15th according to ESPN’s Football Power Index, with their current ranking standing at 9th for the ongoing season. Additionally, the Gamecocks’ annual game against Clemson meets the SEC’s requirement to play a non-conference opponent from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, or Notre Dame.
Looking ahead, the Williams-Brice Stadium Reimagined Project is set to begin after the 2025 season, which aims to improve the fan experience over the course of the new SEC schedule. The SEC will unveil the complete 2026 football schedule, including specific game dates, in December 2025.
FAQ
What teams will South Carolina play annually from 2026 to 2029?
Beginning with the 2026 football season, South Carolina will face Florida, Georgia, and Kentucky each year for the next four seasons.
How many games will South Carolina play against each SEC team over the four years?
South Carolina will play every SEC opponent at least once every two years, with home-and-away matchups against each team over four years.
When will South Carolina host a game against Texas?
In 2027, South Carolina will host Florida, LSU, Missouri, and Texas, and the 2027 game against Texas will mark their first-ever visit to Williams-Brice Stadium.
What does the Williams-Brice Stadium Reimagined Project aim to do?
The Williams-Brice Stadium Reimagined Project will commence after the 2025 season and aims to enhance the fan experience during the four-year SEC schedule.
Key Features of the South Carolina SEC Schedule (2026-2029)
| Year | Home Games | Away Games |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Tennessee, Texas A&M | Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Oklahoma |
| 2027 | Florida, LSU, Missouri, Texas | Auburn, Georgia, Kentucky, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt |
| 2028 | Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Oklahoma | Florida, Mississippi State, Tennessee, Texas A&M |
| 2029 | Auburn, Florida, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt | Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Missouri, Texas |
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Additional Resources
- Gamecocks Online: Future SEC Opponents Announced
- Wikipedia: South Carolina Gamecocks
- The Advertiser: LSU Football vs South Carolina
- Google Search: South Carolina Gamecocks football
- Greenville Online: South Carolina Football Schedule
- Google Scholar: South Carolina Gamecocks SEC
- ESPN: SEC College Football Future Schedule
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Southeastern Conference
- Garnet and Cocky: South Carolina vs LSU 2025
- Google News: SEC Football schedule 2026-2029
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