Three straight home games to open the year. Road trips to Alabama and Oklahoma sandwiched around a soft middle. And the rivalry with Clemson closing things out, kickoff time still unknown. The 2026 South Carolina football schedule builds toward November the way it usually does — slowly, then all at once.
2026 South Carolina Football Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Sep 5 | Kent State Golden Flashes | Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, SC | 12:45 PM | SECN |
| Sat, Sep 12 | Towson Tigers | Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, SC | 7:00 PM | SECN+ |
| Sat, Sep 19 | Mississippi State Bulldogs | Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, SC | 4:15 PM | SECN |
| Sat, Sep 26 | at Alabama Crimson Tide | Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, AL | 6:00–8:00 PM | TV TBA |
| Sat, Oct 3 | Kentucky Wildcats | Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, SC | 3:30–8:00 PM | TV TBA |
| Sat, Oct 10 | at Florida Gators | Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, FL | 12:00–1:00 PM | TV TBA |
| Sat, Oct 17 | — | OFF | — | — |
| Sat, Oct 24 | Tennessee Volunteers | Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, SC | 3:30–4:30 PM | TV TBA |
| Sat, Oct 31 | at Oklahoma Sooners | Gaylord Family OK Mem. Stadium, Norman, OK | 3:30–8:00 PM | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 7 | Texas A&M Aggies (Homecoming) | Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, SC | 3:30–4:30 PM | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 14 | at Arkansas Razorbacks | D.W.R. Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville, AR | 3:30–8:00 PM | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 21 | Georgia Bulldogs | Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, SC | 3:30–8:00 PM | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 28 | at Clemson Tigers | Memorial Stadium, Clemson, SC | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Dec 5 | SEC Championship | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA | 4:00 PM | ABC |
A Soft Open, Then an Early Gut-Check
South Carolina opens the 2026 South Carolina football schedule with three straight home games — Kent State, Towson, and Mississippi State — before the calendar turns unforgiving fast. A trip to Alabama on September 26 arrives just four weeks into the season, the first real measuring-stick game of the year.
A Break in the Middle
Kentucky comes to Columbia on October 3, followed by a road trip to Florida and a timely bye week on October 17. It’s the calmest stretch on the entire South Carolina SEC schedule 2026, and the Gamecocks will need it before the back half of the year arrives.
Tennessee, Oklahoma, and a Loaded Closing Run
Tennessee visits Williams-Brice on October 24, then South Carolina hits the road again for Oklahoma on Halloween. Texas A&M comes to Columbia for Homecoming on November 7, followed by a trip to Arkansas and a home date with Georgia on November 21 — three ranked opponents inside a five-game stretch that will shape the entire season’s bowl outlook.
The Rivalry Closes It Out
South Carolina vs Clemson 2026 caps the regular season on November 28 at Memorial Stadium, with kickoff time still to be announced. As always, the rivalry doesn’t need rankings or stakes attached to matter — it just does.
FAQ
Q: When does South Carolina football play its first game in 2026?
A: South Carolina opens the 2026 South Carolina football schedule at home against Kent State on Saturday, September 5, at Williams-Brice Stadium.
Q: When is South Carolina vs Clemson 2026?
A: South Carolina vs Clemson 2026 is set for Saturday, November 28, on the road at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, with kickoff time still TBA.
Q: How many home games does South Carolina play in 2026?
A: South Carolina has seven South Carolina football home games in 2026 at Williams-Brice Stadium: Kent State, Towson, Mississippi State, Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas A&M, and Georgia.
Q: What is South Carolina’s toughest stretch on the 2026 schedule?
A: The run from Tennessee (home) through Oklahoma (road), Texas A&M (home), Arkansas (road), and Georgia (home) — October 24 through November 21 — is the toughest part of the South Carolina SEC schedule 2026.
