South Carolina men’s basketball finalizes 2025-26 game schedule. Take a look

With just over two months until the men’s basketball season begins for South Carolina, the full 2025-26 season is schedule is now finalized with Tuesday’s release of the Gamecocks’ non-conference slate.

USC will tip off the season Nov. 4 against North Carolina A&T. Southeastern Conference play will begin for the Gamecocks at home Jan. 3 against Vanderbilt.

South Carolina will play 10 of its 13 non-conference games at Colonial Life Arena, with the only three road appearances being a trip to the Greenbrier Tip-off Classic Nov. 21-23 in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia; and at Clemson on Dec. 16. USC will also take on N.C. State in an exhibition game Oct. 26 in Greensboro, North Carolina.

South Carolina will look to replicate its 10-4 non-conference record in Lamont Paris’ fourth season with the team, while improving on a 2-16 record in SEC play from 2024-25.

Key games on the schedule

Dec. 12 at Clemson: Regardless of either team’s prowess in the men’s basketball space, South Carolina-Clemson will always draw an audience. The Gamecocks head up to Littlejohn Coliseum to take on the Tigers, led by coach Brad Brownwell in his 15th season. Clemson is coming off its best regular season in school history and will look to make a third-straight NCAA Tournament appearance.

Jan. 13 or 14 at Arkansas: One of South Carolina’s two conference wins last season, the Gamecocks routed the John Calipari-led Razorbacks 72-53 in Colonial Life Arena. This season, USC heads to Fayetteville to take on an Arkansas team ranked 11th in ESPN’s “way-too-early” top-25. The Razorbacks retained D.J. Wagner, the leading scorer among Arkansas returners, while losing out on 13.5 points per game from Boogie Fland, who transferred to Florida. Calipari also signed guard Darius Acuff, the No. 7-ranked player in the ESPN 100.

Jan. 27 or 28 vs. Florida: The Gamecocks are set to host reigning national champion Florida Gators in the first of two matchups between the programs in the 2025 season. Led by head coach Todd Golden, UF is expected to remain competitive this season and are ranked No. 2 in the nation by ESPN. But it’s not the same team from last year. The Gators lost three starters — Walter Clayton Jr., Will Richard and Alijah Martin — to the 2025 NBA Draft. Much of Florida’s success will depend on the development of forward Alex Condon as well as the impact of Fland and Princeton transfer guard Xavian Lee.

Full 2025 South Carolina men’s basketball schedule

Tip times and TV channels will be released at a later date.

• Oct. 26 Exhibition vs. NC State (Greensboro, North Carolina)
• Nov. 4 vs. North Carolina A&T
• Nov. 9 vs. Southern Miss
• Nov. 12 vs. Presbyterian College
• Nov. 18 vs. Radford
• Nov. 21 vs. Butler (Greenbrier Tip-off Classic - White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia)
• Nov. 23 vs. Northwestern (Greenbrier Tip-off Classic)
• Nov. 28 vs. Charleston Southern
• Dec. 2 vs. Virginia Tech
• Dec. 6 vs. Stetson
• Dec. 13 vs. The Citadel
• Dec. 16 at Clemson
• Dec. 22 vs. South Carolina State
• Dec. 30 vs. Albany
• Jan. 3 vs. Vanderbilt
• Jan. 6 or 7 at Louisiana State
• Jan. 10 vs. Georgia
• Jan. 13 or 14 at Arkansas
• Jan. 17 at Auburn
• Jan. 20 or 21 vs. Oklahoma
• Jan. 24 at Texas A&M
• Jan. 27 or 28 vs. Florida
• Jan. 31 vs. LSU
• Feb. 3 or 4 at Texas
• Feb. 7 vs. Missouri
• Feb. 14 at Alabama
• Feb. 17 or 18 at Florida
• Feb. 21 vs. Mississippi State
• Feb. 24 or 25 vs. Kentucky
• Feb. 28 at Georgia
• March 3 or 4 at Tennessee
• March 7 at Ole Miss
• March 11 - 15 at SEC Tournament

This story was originally published August 26, 2025 at 10:31 AM.