New contract clause opens door for Clemson-USC game on Black Friday
A Clemson-South Carolina game on Black Friday is that much closer to happening.
The latest contract for Clemson-USC football series, signed in early October, includes a specific clause that allows the Gamecocks to easily move their 2027 home game against Clemson from the Saturday after Thanksgiving one day earlier to Friday.
The latest contract for Clemson-USC extends the series through 2026-27 and was obtained Monday by The State via public records request. The 2026 game date is standard: Next season, Clemson will host South Carolina at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 28, 2026, the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
But the 2027 game date at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia includes a new tweak: South Carolina, per the contract, can host Clemson on Nov. 26, 2027 (Black Friday of that year) or Nov. 27, 2027 (the traditional Saturday game date).
The alternate dates are designated with an “or” in the contract — and they clear the way for the Gamecocks to make a notable shakeup to their rivalry series.
Every college game contract includes a caveat that game dates are subject to change “pending the mutual written agreement of the participating institutions.”
But adding a specific clause up front that allows USC to host the 2027 game on the Friday or Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend allows the schools to avoid adding a separate process, which would likely involve formally amending the contract.
A specific clause allowing for different dates wasn’t included in previous Clemson-USC contracts, records show. Although the in-state schools are committed to playing each other annually, their formal game contracts usually only run for a few years (the 2024-25 games were formally agreed upon in fall 2023).
In recent years, Clemson has been notably resistant to playing a football game on Black Friday, citing logistical, travel and recruiting concerns. Clemson even refused the ACC’s request to move their 2024 home game vs. USC to Black Friday.
But South Carolina has been far more receptive to the idea of hosting Clemson on Black Friday, a game date that has its fair share of pros (national stage, possible primetime TV audience) and cons (playing just one day after a major holiday).
The ACC and SEC usually lock in their football schedules for the following season in December or January. Under that timeline, South Carolina would likely have to make a call on the date of the 2027 game by late fall 2026 or early winter 2027.
Last year’s game was the 121st all-time football game between Clemson and South Carolina. This year’s game holds its regular “Saturday after Thanksgiving” slot and is set for a noon kickoff on ABC or ESPN from Columbia on Saturday, Nov. 29.
ESPN’s FPI currently gives USC a 55.2% chance of winning the rivalry game.
This story was originally published October 27, 2025 at 9:56 AM.
