Gamecocks to Open 2026 Football Slate Against Kent State

COLUMBIA, S.C. (December 8, 2025) – The South Carolina Gamecocks will open the 2026 football season against the Kent State Golden Flashes, the two schools announced today. The non-conference game will take place at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia on Saturday, Sept. 5.

Carolina and Kent State have met once previously on the gridiron with the Gamecocks rolling to a 77-14 win during the 1995 season. The Gamecocks were led by quarterback Steve Taneyhill, who completed 20-of-24 passes for 263 yards and four touchdowns. Carolina rolled up 544 yards of offense to just 167 for the Golden Flashes including minus-20 rushing yards on that October afternoon. The 77 points scored remains the modern school record.

South Carolina posted a 4-8 record in 2025 including a 1-7 mark in the Southeastern Conference. Kent State went 5-7 in 2025 with a 4-4 mark in the Mid-American Conference.

With the SEC moving to a nine-game conference schedule in 2026, the Gamecocks have just three non-conference games on the slate. They will host Towson on Saturday, Sept. 12, and travel to the Upstate for the annual regular season finale against Clemson. The 2026 Palmetto Bowl is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 28.

The Gamecocks will have 2026 conference home games against Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Tennessee and Texas A&M and will travel to Alabama, Arkansas, Florida and Oklahoma. Dates of those games will be announced on Thursday, Dec. 11 on SEC Network at 8 pm ET.