South Carolina finds replacement for Miami game on 2026 football schedule
South Carolina football will open its 2026 season on Sept. 5 against Kent State in Williams-Brice Stadium, the two schools announced Monday.
The season-opening matchup with Kent State replaces South Carolina’s previously scheduled game with Miami. USC and Miami mutually decided to cancel the future series after both the ACC and SEC decided to move to a nine-game conference schedule in 2026.
South Carolina’s full schedule (complete with dates) is expected this Thursday when the SEC releases its slate of games for 2026. It’s already known the team will face Kent State, Towson and Clemson in non-conference play. And USC will host five SEC games and play four on the road.
The Gamecocks have played Kent State once in program history. South Carolina, led by quarterback Steve Taneyhill, won that game 77-14 in 1995.
The Gamecocks finished 4-8 this season with a 1-7 record in SEC play. Kent State was 5-7 overall and 4-4 in the MAC.
South Carolina’s 2026 opponents
- Non-conference: vs. Kent State, 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
This story was originally published December 8, 2025 at 11:13 AM.
