First look at South Carolina’s SEC opponents for next four years
We now know the nine SEC teams that South Carolina will play each season over the next four years.
To be clear: This is not a schedule release. This the SEC telling its member schools: Here are the teams you’ll play over the next four years as we transition to a nine-game conference schedule.
Something to know: Every SEC school will play each of its conference foes at least once every two years. Also, over a four-year span, it will play a home and road game against every other SEC team.
With the nine-game SEC schedule, each school will have three “permanent opponents” — or, the three schools it will be guaranteed to plan annually.
For the near future, South Carolina will face off annually against Florida, Georgia and Kentucky.
The SEC created this based upon existing rivalries, historic matchups, competitive fairness, geography and more. The permanent opponents can be reevaluated after four years, the SEC announced.
Here’s the breakdown of the Gamecocks’ SEC opponents from 2026 through 2029. (Permanent opponents are bolded).
2026
HOME
- vs. Georgia
- vs. Kentucky
- vs. Mississippi State
- vs. Texas A&M
- vs. Tennessee
AWAY
- at Florida
- at Alabama
- at Arkansas
- at Oklahoma
2027
HOME
- vs. Florida
- vs. LSU
- vs. Missouri
- vs. Texas
AWAY
- at Georgia
- at Kentucky
- at Ole Miss
- at Auburn
- at Vanderbilt
2028
HOME
- vs. Georgia
- vs. Kentucky
- vs. Alabama
- vs. Arkansas
- vs. Oklahoma
AWAY
- at Florida
- at Texas A&M
- at Mississippi State
- at Tennessee
2029
HOME
- vs. Florida
- vs. Auburn
- vs. Ole Miss
- vs. Vanderbilt
AWAY
- at Georgia
- at Kentucky
- at LSU
- at Missouri
- at Texas
Some observations:
- As you can tell, South Carolina switches off between four and five home SEC games. What’s interesting is the Gamecocks will play five games at Williams-Brice in 2028, which is when renovations are scheduled to be finished.
- The matchup between South Carolina and Tennessee will be renewed in 2026 following a two-year hiatus. Before 2024, the Gamecocks and Volunteers had played every season since USC joined the SEC in 1992.
- When South Carolina visits Auburn in 2027, it will be the first time the Gamecocks play in Jordan-Hare Stadium since 2014.
- Arkansas will visit Williams-Brice Stadium in 2028. The Razorbacks have not traveled to Columbia since 2017.
- South Carolina’s first matchup against Texas (since the Longhorns joined the SEC last year) won’t come until 2027, when UT will play at Williams-Brice. The Gamecocks will make the return trip in 2029.
- There was always going to be some oddities as the SEC shifts from eight to nine conference games. Like that fact that Kentucky will play South Carolina in Columbia this season, and again in 2026.
This story was originally published September 23, 2025 at 7:38 PM.
