Going to USC football’s home opener? Here are some tips for navigating gameday
The boys are back in town.
A week after the University of South Carolina football team opened its 2025 campaign with a 24-11 victory over Virginia Tech at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, it is now set to host the first home game of the season. The Gamecocks will meet Coach Chennis Berry and the South Carolina State University Bulldogs at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6 at Williams-Brice Stadium.
For many, the first home game of the season brings with it the rekindling of annual traditions, a time when they return to familiar settings near Williams-Brice. It can be generational, with fans who took their children to games in years past living to see grandchildren now joining the tailgating scene, the youngsters tossing footballs back and forth amid the food, drink and revelry in the pregame hours before kickoff.
But while the USC football gameday experience is a time-honored tradition for some, there are always new fans entering the fold, or casual supporters for whom interest in the team sparks when the moment is right. And this young season feels like a time when new Gamecocks and casual fans alike are particularly interested, as USC will enter its first home tilt ranked No. 10 in the Associated Press poll and featuring a bona fide Heisman Trophy hopeful in quarterback LaNorris Sellers.
With Saturday’s game against S.C. State set to kickoff a new home slate for the Gamecocks, we thought we’d offer a few tips, tricks and things to know and do for fans headed to Williams-Brice. Think of it as a rudimentary guide to gameday.
Tickets are scarce ... but attainable
As is customary, South Carolina’s home schedule is loaded with massive games against top-tier SEC and Power 4 conference opponents. This year that includes matchups with Alabama, Oklahoma, Kentucky and archrival Clemson, among others. While Saturday’s game isn’t cut from that cloth — S.C. State plays in the lower FCS division — that hasn’t tamped down interest in attending the game at Williams-Brice, which has a capacity of nearly 78,000.
USC announced on social media Tuesday that the S.C. State game is a sellout. The school also noted that it received a record 21,000 requests for student tickets. While home openers — and USC football in general — are always popular in Columbia, that’s a particularly pronounced amount of interest for a game against an FCS opponent.
As of Wednesday afternoon, there were resale tickets available for Saturday’s game via Ticketmaster’s website and app, with seats in the east upper deck available in the $40 to $45 range. Secondary ticket market leader StubHub also had upper deck seats in the $50 neighborhood as of Wednesday.
There will also undoubtedly be scalpers and fans selling tickets in the streets around the stadium before the game, if curbside negotiations are your jam.
Check out Gamecock Walk, especially with youngsters
If you want to get an up-close and spirited look at the USC players and coaches — and maybe even get a few high-fives along the way — then make sure to go to Gamecock Walk before the game.
The walk typically happens a couple hours before kickoff in Gamecock Park, the large tailgating area that is right across Bluff Road from Williams-Brice. For the S.C. State game, the walk is slated to start at about 4:50 p.m., per the university, though you’ll want to get there early to get a good place to stand.
Thousands of fans pack into the park for the Gamecock Walk, where the team buses pull up and the players and coaches file out and walk across to the stadium, typically preceded by members of the marching band, cheerleaders and beloved USC mascot Cocky.
While the excitement of Gamecock Walk gets fans of all ages fired up, it can be particularly fun for kids who are experiencing the whole scene for the first time. The band is playing, the crowd is going wild and the youngsters are craning their necks to get a look at their gridiron heroes. It is, indeed, Saturday in South Carolina, and there are memories to be made.
Get a picture at the giant Gamecock sculpture or the George Rogers statue
If you go to a game, or any major event, and don’t get some photos for Instagram and social media, did you even really go?
It’s certainly the case at USC football games, where fans digitally document all the parts of their day, from tailgating to the towel-waving during “Sandstorm” to the in-game light shows that have become popular in recent years.
And many people stop before the games to get photos at the giant, bronze Gamecock sculpture in Springs Brooks Plaza in front of Williams-Brice near Bluff Road, and at the nearby statue of George Rogers, who won the Heisman Trophy at South Carolina in 1980. You’ve certainly seen friends post pictures from those spots on social media. Now it’s your turn.
Sometimes Rogers himself can even be found near the statue in his likeness during the hours before home games, meeting fans and signing autographs, with his Heisman Trophy in tow. Be on the lookout for him this season.
Other things to know
- Williams-Brice Stadium has a clear bag policy. That means you should leave your backpacks, fanny packs, big purses, diaper bags, camera bags, binocular cases, etc. at home or in the car. You can visit gamecocksonline.com/gameday/clearbag/ for full details on the size and type of clear bags that are permitted. There is nothing as frustrating as getting to the front gate and having to go back to the car to take back an impermissible bag, so take heed of this one.
- Williams-Brice Stadium also is a cashless venue, meaning it does not take cash at its concession stands or merchandise spots. So, be sure to have your debit card or credit card with you, or be prepared to pay with Apple Pay or Google Pay from your smartphone. You may also want to pack a good dose of patience when you go to concessions, which get particularly crowded during the breaks between quarters and at halftime.
- Drink, drink, drink. And no, we’re not talking about beer or brown liquor, though those libations will certainly be consumed by many on Saturday. Rather, you should make sure to drink plenty of water before and during the S.C. State game, as weather forecasts are predicting high temperatures of 93 degrees on Saturday. Gamedays at USC are fun, but can also be long and strenuous. Don’t forget to hydrate.
This story was originally published September 4, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
