South Carolina and Miami cancel football series. More cancellations coming?
South Carolina and Miami football have mutually agreed to cancel their future non-conference series, USC announced in a statement on Monday.
The Hurricanes were scheduled to play in Williams-Brice Stadium next September, with South Carolina set to make the return trip to Miami in September 2027.
The news comes in the wake of both the SEC and ACC both agreeing to play nine conference football games beginning next season. And while both conferences require its member schools to other play a non-conference game against a Power-4 opponent, both South Carolina (Clemson) and Miami (Notre Dame in 2026 and Utah in 2027) have that box checked.
With the SEC and ACC decisions, every Power-4 conference will now play nine conference games, which can provide more TV revenue while potentially bolstering the respective conference’s strength of schedule. That might be the deciding factor when the College Football Playoff selection committee is making its picks.
By dropping the Miami game, South Carolina will now have to add a game to its 2026 non-conference schedule — likely with a Group of 5 or FCS squad.
Per South Carolina’s statement Monday, the decision was mutually agreed upon, means that neither school will pay the $3 million cancellation fee as outlined by the game contract that was signed in 2019.
This news perhaps could begin a domino effect of South Carolina shedding non-conference games against any Power 4 team not named Clemson.
Other series that might be in jeopardy for South Carolina include: North Carolina (2028 and ‘29), N.C. State (’30 and ‘31) and Virginia Tech (’34 and ‘35).
SOUTH CAROLINA FUTURE FOOTBALL SCHEDULES
2026
NON-CONFERENCE: vs. Towson, at Clemson
SEC: vs. Georgia, vs. Kentucky, vs. Mississippi State, vs. Texas A&M, vs. Tennessee // at Florida, at Alabama, at Arkansas, at Oklahoma
2027
NON-CONFERENCE: vs. Furman, vs. App State, vs. Clemson
SEC: vs. Florida, vs. LSU, vs. Missouri, vs. Texas // at Georgia, at Kentucky, at Ole Miss, at Auburn, at Vanderbilt
2028
NON-CONFERENCE: vs. North Carolina, vs. Wofford, at Clemson
SEC: vs. Georgia, vs. Kentucky, vs. Alabama, vs. Arkansas, vs. Oklahoma // at Florida, at Texas A&M, at Mississippi State, at Tennessee
2029
NON-CONFERENCE: at North Carolina, vs. App State, vs. Clemson
SEC: vs. Florida, vs. Ole Miss, vs. Auburn, vs. Vanderbilt // at Georgia, at Kentucky, at LSU, at Missouri, at Texas/
2030
NON-CONFERENCE: vs. East Carolina, vs. NC State, at Clemson
2031
NON-CONFERENCE: at NC State, vs. Clemson
2032
NON-CONFERENCE: at Clemson
2033
NON-CONFERENCE: at App State, vs. Clemson
2034
NON-CONFERENCE: vs. App State, vs. Virginia Tech, at Clemson
2035
NON-CONFERENCE: at Virginia Tech, vs. Clemson
This story was originally published October 6, 2025 at 3:20 PM.
