SEC schedule news: Gamecocks now know all 10 of their conference games for 2020
South Carolina learned its new football opponents Friday as the Southeastern Conference released the rest of its 2020 schedule.
The Gamecocks will play at Ole Miss and host Auburn in Columbia in addition to its previously announced opponents in the 10-game conference schedule. Actual dates for the games on the 2020 schedule will be announced in the next two weeks, the SEC said.
South Carolina’s other opponents include those previously scheduled: Missouri, Kentucky, Florida, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt, Georgia and LSU.
“I’m excited about adding two teams that are very familiar to me personally,” South Carolina coach Will Muschamp said in a statement. “We will travel to Oxford and have Auburn come to Columbia. I have great respect for both programs. They both have great coaching staffs.”
The SEC last week announced plans to play a 10-game, conference-only schedule as a way to navigate the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
That pair of teams would be the Gamecocks’ next scheduled SEC West crossover opponent (Auburn) and one they faced from two years ago (Ole Miss).
Auburn is coming off a 9-4 season that saw it finish 14th in the country. The Rebels went 4-8 and hired Lane Kiffin after firing Matt Luke.
Muschamp worked at Auburn multiple times, including one year for Gus Malzahn in 2015, before taking the South Carolina job. He also had a relationship with Kiffin, who dropped by his team’s bowl practice before the 2018 Outback Bowl.
Here is a look at the complete opponents list for every SEC team for the 2020 season:
Eastern Division
Florida
NEW: hosts Arkansas, at Texas A&M
Other opponents: Kentucky, Tennessee, South Carolina, LSU, Mississippi, Georgia, Vanderbilt, Missouri
Georgia
NEW: at Arkansas, hosts Mississippi State
Other opponents: Alabama, Vanderbilt, Auburn, Missouri, Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky,
Kentucky
NEW: at Alabama, hosts Ole Miss
Other opponents: Florida, South Carolina, Auburn, Vanderbilt, Missouri, Tennessee, Mississippi State, Georgia,
Missouri
NEW: at LSU, hosts Alabama
Other opponents: Vanderbilt, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Florida, Arkansas,
South Carolina
NEW: at Ole Miss, hosts Auburn
Other opponents: Missouri, Kentucky, Florida, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt, Georgia, LSU,
Tennessee
NEW: at Auburn, hosts Texas A&M
Other opponents: Florida, Missouri, South Carolina, Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Georgia, Vanderbilt,
Vanderbilt
NEW: at Miss. State, hosts LSU
Other opponents: Missouri, Georgia, Mississippi, Kentucky, South Carolina, Florida, Texas A&M, Tennessee,
Western Division
Alabama
NEW: at Missouri, hosts Kentucky
Other opponents: Georgia, Mississippi, Arkansas, Mississippi State, Florida, Vanderbilt, Tennessee, LSU,
Arkansas
NEW: hosts Georgia, at Florida
Other opponents: Mississippi State, Texas A&M, Alabama, LSU, Tennessee, Auburn, Mississippi, Missouri,
Auburn
NEW: at South Carolina, hosts Tennessee
Other opponents: Mississippi, Kentucky, Georgia, Texas A&M, Mississippi State, Arkansas, LSU, Alabama,
LSU
NEW: hosts Missouri, at Vanderbilt
Other opponents: Mississippi, Florida, Arkansas, Mississippi State, Alabama, South Carolina, Auburn, Texas A&M,
Mississippi State
NEW: hosts Vanderbilt, at Georgia
Other opponents: Arkansas, Texas A&M, Alabama, LSU, Auburn, Missouri, Kentucky, Mississippi,
Mississippi
NEW: at Kentucky, hosts South Carolina
Other opponents: Auburn, LSU, Alabama, Vanderbilt, Florida, Texas A&M, Arkansas, Mississippi State,
Texas A&M
NEW: hosts Florida, at Tennessee
Other opponents: Arkansas, Mississippi State, Auburn, South Carolina, Mississippi, Vanderbilt, Alabama, LSU
SEC announces COVID-19 protocols
The SEC also announced Friday its COVID-19 regulations for the fall sports season.
Among the requirements were its testing procedure for student-athletes. The conference will be testing football athletes twice a week, typically six days and three days prior to a game. The league’s task force also is exploring an alternative testing method for a third test.
For volleyball and soccer athletes, two tests will happen with one three days prior to first game of the week. The league’s task force also is exploring an alternative testing method for a third test. Cross country athletes will be tested once a week, three days prior to the meet.
For football, volleyball and soccer, all coaches, staff and non-competing personnel will be required to wear face coverings on the sideline.
This story was originally published August 7, 2020 at 6:09 PM.
