Early analysis of Gamecocks’ 2026 football schedule. How many wins do you see?
It feels like there are still a million unknowns about the 2026 South Carolina football team.
Heck, talking about the Gamecocks’ future roster is pretty much all speculation at this point — especially considering the transfer portal doesn’t officially open until Jan. 2. It might be February before fans truly know all the pieces head coach Shane Beamer and his staff have assembled.
You know what’s not in flux? The 2026 schedule.
South Carolina’s entire 12-game slate is known and, for the first time, it includes nine SEC opponents. So, yeah, it looks daunting — but that was the case before the SEC added an extra conference game.
Last year around this time, we offered a full-season prediction and said the Gamecocks were gonna be 10-2 and make the College Football Playoff. Ha. Not making that mistake again after a 4-8 USC finish.
In looking at every game for 2026, and without offering a formal prediction just yet, at least six or seven wins look like the floor for the new season. Let’s get into it.
Sept. 5 vs. Kent State
Kent State’s 2025 record: 5-7
Thoughts: Time for new offensive coordinator Kendal Briles to introduce himself to the South Carolina faithful. Doubt he’ll show too much, South Carolina should roll to an easier season-opening victory than in 2025 — when it needed a punt return touchdown to put away a very-bad Virginia Tech team.
Sept. 12 vs. Towson
Towson’s 2025 record: 6-6
Thoughts: It’s not a good sign when you have to look up what division (FCS) and state (Maryland) a team plays in. South Carolina should win easily and Briles shouldn’t have to call more than three different plays.
Sept. 19 vs. Mississippi State
Mississippi State’s 2025 record: 5-7 (playing Wake Forest in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl)
Thoughts: There’d be some worry about South Carolina’s chances if this game were in Starkville ... but it’s not. The Bulldogs were feisty in 2025 — nearly beating Florida and Texas — and could return QB Kamario Taylor and tailback Fluff Bothwell, so there’s that. But the Gamecocks should be able to come out with a home victory against a less-talented team.
Sept. 26 at Alabama
Alabama’s 2025 record: 11-3 (playing Indiana in the Rose Bowl — a College Football Playoff Quarterfinals matchup)
Thoughts: After watching South Carolina blow fourth-quarter leads to the Crimson Tide in each of the past two years, it’s impossible to pick the Gamecocks here. Alabama is going to be stacked again and will have a great quarterback — whether Ty Simpson returns or five-star Keelon Russell starts. Perhaps this is the 2026 breakthrough, but history would suggest otherwise.
Oct. 3 vs. Kentucky
Kentucky’s 2025 record: 5-7
Thoughts: South Carolina got such a fortunate break by having Kentucky as one of its three “permanent” SEC opponents (Georgia and Florida are the other two). The Wildcats are awful and, while new head coach Will Stein is a great offensive mind, it’s unlikely he’ll be able to completely flip the roster in Year One. The Gamecocks should get their second SEC win of the year.
Oct. 10 at Florida
Florida’s 2025 record: 4-8
Thoughts: Who knows what Florida is going to look like next year? They’re going to have a new head coach in Jon Sumrall, a new quarterback (DJ Lagway is transferring) and, well, new players at just about every position. This is one of those make-or-break games for the Gamecocks.
Oct. 24 vs. Tennessee
Tennessee’s 2025 record: 8-4 (playing Illinois in the Music City Bowl)
Thoughts: This is another toss-up on the basis that, well, we have no clue who’s playing quarterback for Tennessee. Granted, the Volunteers will have plenty of talent, highlighted by SEC Freshman of the Year in Braylon Staley (an Aiken product) and stud freshman DB Ty Redmond. After going winless in October last season, this is one of those home games South Carolina shouldn’t lose.
Oct. 31 at Oklahoma
Oklahoma’s 2025 record: 10-3 (lost to Alabama in the CFB Playoff)
Thoughts: It would be tough to pick the Gamecocks after Oklahoma outclassed them in 2025, cruising to a 27-7 inside Williams-Brice Stadium. OU coach Brent Venables ran circles around South Carolina’s coaching staff that night. If the Sooners bring back quarterback John Mateer, they’ll be rightful favorites in for this Halloween clash.
Nov. 7 vs. Texas A&M
Texas A&M’s 2025 record: 11-2 (lost to Miami in the CFB Playoff)
Thoughts: The lead-up to this game is going to a painful revisionist history about the Gamecocks blowing a 27-point lead in 2025 where the first half was more of an anomaly than the second. If the Aggies bring back QB Marcel Reed and some of their stud wide receivers, it’s hard to see South Carolina stopping that attack for four quarters.
Nov. 14 at Arkansas
Arkansas’ 2025 record: 2-10
Thoughts: Arkansas is another team going through immense change. It brought in new head coach Ryan Silverfield from Memphis and will have to replace graduating QB Taylen Green. In other words: Who knows what the Razorbacks will look like? But this is another mediocre SEC team that the Gamecocks should beat — or at least should be expected to beat.
Nov. 21 vs. Georgia
Georgia’s 2025 record: 12-1 (playing Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl — a College Football Playoff quarterfinals matchup)
Thoughts: Finally, after the rivalry halted for two years, the Gamecocks and Bulldogs get to meet again. That may be where the fun ends for South Carolina. Georgia is going to again be one of the best teams in the nation and will likely return quarterback Gunner Stockton. Eleven months out, there’s not much hope for the Gamecocks, though things can certainly change.
Nov. 28 at Clemson
Clemson’s 2025 record: 7-5 (playing Penn State in the Pinstripe Bowl)
Thoughts: South Carolina should have the advantage for no other reason than the road team has won the last six Palmetto Bowls. Realistically, though, this game is always a toss-up. And it’s even more so given that we don’t know who will be playing quarterback for the Tigers. Once that becomes clear, let the predictions flow.
This story was originally published December 22, 2025 at 7:00 AM.
