USC Gamecocks Football

Two more early-season kickoff times set for South Carolina’s 2023 football team

South Carolina Gamecocks wide receiver Dakereon Joyner (5) is tackled by North Carolina’s Power Echols 23 and Jahvaree Ritzie 5 at the Duke’s Mayo Bowl at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina on Thursday, December 30, 2021.
South Carolina Gamecocks wide receiver Dakereon Joyner (5) is tackled by North Carolina’s Power Echols 23 and Jahvaree Ritzie 5 at the Duke’s Mayo Bowl at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina on Thursday, December 30, 2021. online@thestate.com

South Carolina is starting the 2023 football season in primetime.

USC will open its season against North Carolina at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 2 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, per an announcement made on Wednesday afternoon.

South Carolina’s home opener — Sept 9 against Furman — will kick off at 7:30 p.m. and be televised on SEC Network Plus.

The game against the Tar Heels will be televised by ABC and feature two of the top quarterbacks in the country in UNC’s Drake Maye and South Carolina’s Spencer Rattler. Maye is projected as a first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

“We are thrilled to host what could be a top-25 matchup featuring two of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the country,” Charlotte Sports Foundation executive director Danny Morrison said in a news release. “With two passionate fan bases we know that the stadium will have an incredible atmosphere and we look forward to showing off the Queen City to the nation.”

North Carolina leads the all-time series 35-20-4, but USC has won seven of the last nine games between the two teams. The last three meetings have taken place in Charlotte, including USC’s 38-21 win in the 2021 Duke’s Mayo Bowl.

“We are extremely grateful to support the traditions that come with college football and the positive impact they continue to have on the Charlotte community and fans around the country,” Joe Tuza, president of Duke’s Mayo, said in a news release. “As a Southern brand and the Official Condiment of the Tailgate, we pride ourselves on memorable hospitality and hope to create a weekend of fun and unique experiences as we kick off another great season.”

Tickets for the season opener will go on sale on June 6. Fans can sign up for presale opportunities via the Charlotte Sports Foundation website.

South Carolina 2023 football schedule

  • Sept. 2 – North Carolina (at Charlotte) – 7:30 pm, ABC
  • Sept. 9 – vs Furman – 7:30 p.m., SEC Network
  • Sept. 16 – at Georgia – 3:30 pm, CBS
  • Sept. 23 – vs Mississippi State – TBA
  • Sept. 30 – at Tennessee – TBA
  • Oct. 14 – vs Florida – TBA
  • Oct. 21 – at Missouri – TBA
  • Oct. 28 – at Texas A&M – TBA
  • Nov. 4 – Jacksonville State – TBA
  • Nov. 11- vs Vanderbilt – TBA
  • Nov. 18 – vs Kentucky – TBA
  • Nov. 25 – vs Clemson – TBA

This story was originally published May 31, 2023 at 2:00 PM.

Ben Portnoy
The State
Ben Portnoy is The State’s South Carolina Gamecocks football beat writer. He’s a 10-time Associated Press Sports Editors award honoree and has earned recognition from the Mississippi Press Association and the National Sports Media Association. Portnoy previously covered Mississippi State for the Columbus Commercial Dispatch and Indiana football for the Journal Gazette in Ft. Wayne, IN.
Lou Bezjak
The State
Lou Bezjak is the High School Sports Prep Coordinator for The (Columbia) State and (Hilton Head) Island Packet. He previously worked at the Florence Morning News and had covered high school sports in South Carolina since 2002. Lou is a two-time South Carolina Sports Writer of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. Support my work with a digital subscription
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