Kickoff times set for first 3 South Carolina football games in 2026. Here are the details
South Carolina has learned the kickoff times and TV channels for the first three football games of the 2026 season.
South Carolina’s season will start against Kent State on Sept. 5. The game will kick off in Williams-Brice Stadium at 12:45 p.m. (SEC Network). The Gamecocks and Golden Flashes have crossed paths on the gridiron just once. USC won that lone matchup 77-14 in 1995.
The Gamecocks will welcome FCS-opponent Towson to Columbia in Week 2. That game will start at 7 p.m. Sept. 12 (SEC Network Plus). South Carolina and Towson have never played each other.
USC will then start SEC play in Week 3 at home. The Gamecocks are set to play Mississippi State on Sept. 19 at 4:15 p.m. (SEC Network). This will be just the third matchup in the last decade between the two teams. USC beat Mississippi State 37-30 last time the two teams played in 2023.
Shane Beamer and the Gamecocks are coming off a 4-8 (1-7 SEC) season in 2025. South Carolina played six nights games last year, two of which came in the first three games.
The SEC will announce the “television windows” for all remaining SEC-controlled games at 7 p.m. on June 10. Last year, those four windows were Early (Noon to 1 p.m. start), Afternoon (3:30 to 4:30 p.m. start), Night (6 to 8 p.m. start) and Flex (games flexed between Afternoon and Night).
The specific kickoff times within those windows, and TV channels, for the remainder of the schedule will be released throughout the season.
South Carolina 2026 football schedule
- Sept. 5 vs. Kent State (12:45 p.m. on SEC Network)
- Sept. 12 vs. Towson (7 p.m. on SEC Network Plus)
- Sept. 19 vs. Mississippi State (4:15 p.m. on SEC Network)
- Sept. 26 at Alabama (TIME, TV TBD)
- Oct. 3 vs. Kentucky (TIME, TV TBD)
- Oct. 10 at Florida (TIME, TV TBD)
- Oct. 17 - BYE WEEK
- Oct. 24 vs. Tennessee (TIME, TV TBD)
- Oct. 31 at Oklahoma (TIME, TV TBD)
- Nov. 7 vs. Texas A&M (TIME, TV TBD)
- Nov. 14 at Arkansas (TIME, TV TBD)
- Nov. 21 vs. Georgia (TIME, TV TBD)
- Nov. 28 at Clemson (TIME, TV TBD)
This story was originally published May 27, 2026 at 3:02 PM with the headline "Kickoff times set for first 3 South Carolina football games in 2026. Here are the details."
