How much is South Carolina paying Coastal Carolina for upcoming football game?
For the second time this season, South Carolina is paying an in-state football program to come play at Williams-Brice Stadium.
In September, the Gamecocks played a “buy game” against S.C. State, paying the Bulldogs $500,000 to play Shane Beamer’s football team. South Carolina won 38-10 and moved to 2-0 on the season.
Two months later, things are much different. Since that S.C. State game, the Gamecocks (3-7, 1-7 SEC) have won just once and no longer have hope of making a bowl.
Still, South Carolina will face off against Coastal Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium on Saturday. The game kicks off at 4:15 p.m. and will air on SEC Network.
And, regardless of the outcome, South Carolina will pay the Chanticleers $1.4 million just for showing up.
Coastal Carolina already bowl-eligible
This matchup was originally set for September 2020, but was rescheduled due to the pandemic. When the contract was first signed, the Gamecocks were only slated to pay Coastal $1.2 million.
Coastal Carolina (6-4) has already secured bowl eligibility in 2025, and finishes the regular season with games against South Carolina and James Madison (9-1).
Saturday will be the second “buy game” for the Chanticleers. They opened the season at Virginia and lost 48-7.
South Carolina and Coastal Carolina have faced off just twice before, with the Gamecocks winning both matchups — a 70-10 win in 2013 and a 49-15 victory in 2018.
South Carolina’s contract with Coastal Carolina
Along with the $1.4 million check, here are other details inside the game contract, which was signed in 2016 and amended in 2021.
- South Carolina will give Coastal Carolina 1,500 complimentary tickets.
- USC will also give the Chanticleers 2,000 additional tickets to sell. It had to return any unsold tickets by mid-October. The value of the unreturned tickets will be deducted from the $1.4 million guarantee.
- Coastal will be allowed 40 sideline passes to be used by coaches, trainers and other working personnel. That’s 20 fewer than S.C. State was given.
- The game will be officiated by SEC referees.
- South Carolina has to pay Coastal the $1.4 million by Jan. 31, 2026.
