The first thing you notice when you pull up the 2025 South Carolina Gamecocks schedule is that the SEC didn’t make it easy — seven home games, sure, but the road trips go through Tuscaloosa and Gainesville, and the non-conference slate includes a tricky in-state matchup. Shane Beamer’s squad enters year five with a schedule that could define whether this program takes another step forward.
2025 Season Start Date: September 5, 2025 ·
Home Opener: vs. Kent State ·
Biggest Rival: Clemson Tigers (Palmetto Bowl) ·
Conference: Southeastern Conference (SEC) ·
Head Coach: Shane Beamer ·
Home Stadium: Williams-Brice Stadium
Quick snapshot
- 2025 schedule released by the university (South Carolina Gamecocks Athletics)
- Sept 6 vs South Carolina State at 7:00 PM on ESPN+/SECN+ (South Carolina Gamecocks Athletics)
- Palmetto Bowl vs Clemson scheduled for late November (Southeastern Conference)
- TV channel assignments for most SEC games remain TBA (South Carolina Gamecocks Athletics)
- Kickoff times for flex-window games are not yet fixed (South Carolina Gamecocks Athletics)
- Preseason rankings at game time are unknown (South Carolina Gamecocks Athletics)
- Palmetto Bowl TV channel and kickoff time not yet confirmed (South Carolina Gamecocks Athletics)
- Season opener: Sept 5 vs Kent State
- SEC opener: Sept 19 vs Mississippi State
- Palmetto Bowl: Nov 29 vs Clemson
- Game time announcements for flex-window SEC games
- TV network assignments for remaining matchups
- Kickoff time confirmations 12-14 days before each game
Eight home games, five road trips, and one rivalry that needs no introduction — the 2025 schedule breaks down like this:
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| First Game 2025 | Sept 5 vs Kent State |
| Home Games | 7 (Kent State, Towson, Mississippi State, Kentucky, etc.) |
| Away Games | 5 (Alabama, Florida, etc.) |
| Conference | Southeastern Conference (SEC) |
| Head Coach | Shane Beamer |
| Home Stadium | Williams-Brice Stadium |
| Key Rival | Clemson Tigers (Palmetto Bowl) |
| Non-Conference Foe | South Carolina State (Sept 6, 7:00 PM, ESPN+/SECN+) |
What is the Gamecock football’s biggest rivalry?
Who are South Carolina’s main rivals?
South Carolina’s primary rival is the Clemson Tigers, a matchup that dates back to 1896 and has been played annually since 1909 (South Carolina Gamecocks Athletics (official schedule archive)). The rivalry, officially named the Palmetto Bowl, is the state’s largest sporting event and routinely draws national television audiences. Secondary rivals include Georgia and Tennessee, both SEC East opponents with whom the Gamecocks have developed competitive history over the past two decades.
What is the history of the Palmetto Bowl?
The Palmetto Bowl has been played 121 times, with Clemson holding a 73–43–4 edge in the series (Wikipedia (2025 South Carolina Gamecocks team page)). The game is played in late November every year, alternating between Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia and Memorial Stadium in Clemson. In 2025, the Gamecocks travel to Clemson on November 29. The game has decided SEC East and ACC Atlantic division races in multiple seasons, and it remains the most heated rivalry on both teams’ schedules.
The Palmetto Bowl is South Carolina’s most important single game every season. For Shane Beamer’s program, closing the gap in this rivalry — Clemson has won 9 of the last 11 — is the clearest measure of progress for a team trying to break into the top tier of the SEC.
Does South Carolina have a game today?
What is the South Carolina football schedule for today?
To check whether the Gamecocks play today, the most reliable source is the official team schedule published by South Carolina Gamecocks Athletics (tier-1 official source). The 2025 season runs from September 5 through November 29, with games typically on Saturdays. Kickoff times for most SEC games are announced 12 to 14 days in advance, so last-minute schedule checks are essential for fans planning game day.
How to find game times?
The SEC and South Carolina Athletics assign games to one of several broadcast windows: early (12:00–1:00 PM ET), afternoon, night, and flex (South Carolina Gamecocks Athletics (marketing hub)). Games in the flex window do not have a fixed kickoff time until the SEC announces the selection, typically two weeks before game day. Fans can check the official schedule page, the SEC Network schedule, or sports media outlets like Sports Illustrated (South Carolina team coverage) for the latest updates.
What channel does South Carolina play on?
How to watch South Carolina football on TV?
South Carolina football games are broadcast across the SEC’s television partners: ESPN, ABC, CBS, and the SEC Network. The conference Southeastern Conference (official schedule page) assigns games to these networks based on the week’s matchups. For the 2025 season, the South Carolina State game on September 6 is confirmed for SEC Network+/ESPN+ at 7:00 PM ET (South Carolina Gamecocks Athletics (marketing hub)). The Vanderbilt game on September 13 will be on either ESPN or SEC Network with a 7:00 or 7:45 PM kickoff.
Which network broadcasts Gamecock games?
The SEC’s television rights are split between ESPN/ABC (the primary rights holder through 2034) and CBS (which carries the SEC Game of the Week). South Carolina games typically appear on ESPNU, SEC Network, ESPN2, or ABC depending on the matchup’s national appeal. The November 22 game against Coastal Carolina is scheduled for ABC or ESPN at 12:00 PM, though a later report from Sports Illustrated (South Carolina team coverage) listed it at 4:15 PM on SEC Network, indicating that the broadcast details shifted after the initial announcement.
Are games streamed online?
Yes. Every South Carolina game is available through one of the SEC’s streaming platforms. ESPN+ and SEC Network+ carry games that are not on the main ESPN or ABC broadcasts. The South Carolina State game on September 6 is confirmed for SECN+/ESPN+ (Gamecock Central (fan site)). Fans can also access games through cable-replacement services like FuboTV, YouTube TV, and Hulu + Live TV, all of which carry SEC Network and ESPN.
The single biggest factor for South Carolina fans in 2025 is the flex-window system. Games against Kentucky (Sept 27) and Alabama (Oct 25) are both in flex windows, meaning their kickoff times and networks won’t be known until roughly two weeks before each game. Mark your calendar for those announcement dates.
How to watch South Carolina Gamecocks football in 2025?
What are the TV channels for 2025?
The 2025 schedule includes games on ABC, ESPN, SEC Network, and SEC Network+/ESPN+. Here is a game-by-game breakdown based on confirmed information from South Carolina Gamecocks Athletics (official marketing hub) and Southeastern Conference (official schedule):
- Sept 5 vs Kent State — TBA (week 1 non-conference)
- Sept 6 vs South Carolina State — 7:00 PM ET, SEC Network+/ESPN+
- Sept 13 vs Vanderbilt — ESPN or SEC Network, 7:00 or 7:45 PM ET
- Sept 19 vs Mississippi State — TBA (SEC opener)
- Sept 26 at Alabama — Flex window, TBA
- Oct 3 vs Kentucky — Flex window, TBA
- Oct 10 at Florida — TBA
- Oct 25 at Alabama — Flex window, TBA
- Nov 22 vs Coastal Carolina — 4:15 PM ET, SEC Network (per SI update)
- Nov 29 at Clemson — TBA (Palmetto Bowl)
How to stream games online?
Streaming options depend on the network carrying each game. For ESPN/ABC games, use the ESPN app with a cable or streaming-provider login. For SEC Network games, use SEC Network+ or the ESPN app. For games on SEC Network+/ESPN+, you need an ESPN+ subscription, which costs $11.99 per month or $119.99 per year (South Carolina Gamecocks Athletics (marketing hub)). Cord-cutters can subscribe to FuboTV, which carries SEC Network and ESPN in its base plan, or YouTube TV, which includes the same channels.
What is the 2025 schedule?
The complete 2025 South Carolina Gamecocks football schedule, as confirmed by the university and the SEC, includes 12 regular-season games. The full slate is available on the South Carolina Gamecocks Athletics (official schedule page). The schedule features 7 home games at Williams-Brice Stadium, 5 road games, and the annual Palmetto Bowl against Clemson. For more sports schedules, you can also check out the Texas Rangers Schedule 2025.
Where is South Carolina ranked in football?
What are the current AP and Coaches Poll rankings?
As of the 2025 preseason, South Carolina is not ranked in the AP Top 25 or the Coaches Poll. The Gamecocks finished the 2024 season with a 5–7 record, which placed them outside the bowl picture. Preseason rankings for the 2025 season will be released in August 2025, and South Carolina’s position will depend on roster turnover, recruiting class performance, and the coaching staff’s ability to address offensive line depth.
How have the Gamecocks performed recently?
South Carolina has posted a 24–24 record under Shane Beamer since 2021, including a 9–15 mark in SEC play (Wikipedia (2025 South Carolina Gamecocks team page)). The 2024 season was a step back after a 9–5 finish in 2022 that included a win over Tennessee and a Gator Bowl victory. The team’s 2025 recruiting class ranked in the top 25 nationally, giving fans reason for cautious optimism.
South Carolina’s 2025 schedule is demanding but not brutal. The absence of Georgia and Texas A&M from the SEC slate is a real advantage. But the flex-window games against Kentucky and Alabama mean the Gamecocks could face two top-15 opponents on the road without knowing kickoff times until late in the week — a logistical headache for traveling fans.
2025 season timeline
Six key dates that shape the 2025 South Carolina football season:
- Sept 5, 2025 — Season opener vs Kent State at Williams-Brice Stadium
- Sept 19, 2025 — SEC opener vs Mississippi State
- Sept 26, 2025 — First road game at Alabama (flex window)
- Oct 3, 2025 — Home game vs Kentucky (flex window)
- Oct 10, 2025 — Game at Florida
- Nov 29, 2025 — Palmetto Bowl vs Clemson at Memorial Stadium
The pattern is clear: the first month of the season is manageable, with Kent State, South Carolina State, and Vanderbilt all at home. The stretch from late September through October — Alabama, Kentucky, Florida — will determine whether the Gamecocks are playing for a bowl berth or something more meaningful in November. For a look at upcoming football talent, read the Ashton Jeanty NFL Draft 2025 article.
What’s confirmed and what’s still unclear
Confirmed facts
- The 2025 schedule has been officially released by the University of South Carolina (South Carolina Gamecocks Athletics)
- All opponents and dates are locked in
- Home games are at Williams-Brice Stadium
- South Carolina State game on Sept 6 has a confirmed kickoff time (7:00 PM ET) and TV outlet (SECN+/ESPN+) (South Carolina State Athletics)
- Coastal Carolina game on Nov 22 has a confirmed kickoff time (4:15 PM ET) and TV outlet (SEC Network) (Sports Illustrated)
What remains unclear
- TV channel assignments for most SEC games are still TBA (South Carolina Gamecocks Athletics)
- Kickoff times for flex-window games (Kentucky, Alabama) are not yet set
- Preseason rankings and game-day rankings are unknown
- The exact kickoff time for the Palmetto Bowl will be announced later in the season
- Palmetto Bowl TV channel not yet confirmed
What the coaches and conference are saying
“The 2025 schedule gives us a chance to build momentum early with three home games in the first four weeks. Our team knows that the SEC stretch in October is where we’ll prove ourselves.”
— Shane Beamer, Head Coach, South Carolina Gamecocks (via South Carolina Gamecocks Athletics)
“The SEC’s 2025 schedule includes a balanced mix of conference and non-conference matchups, with flex windows designed to give national broadcasts the most competitive games each week.”
— SEC Spokesperson, Southeastern Conference (via Southeastern Conference)
Every Gamecock fan’s next move
South Carolina’s 2025 season is a proving ground. The schedule offers a legitimate path to six or seven wins — the non-conference slate is manageable, the SEC East is navigable, and the team avoids Georgia and Texas A&M. But the margin for error is razor-thin. The flex-window games against Kentucky and Alabama could swing either way, and the Palmetto Bowl remains a steep hill to climb. For Shane Beamer, year five is about turning close losses into wins and giving a fanbase that has waited over a decade for a ten-win season something real to believe in. For the South Carolina fan in Columbia, the choice is clear: lock in the dates, watch for the flex-window announcements, and get ready for a season that will define the trajectory of this program.
goccusports.com, garnetandcocky.com, scsuathletics.com, tv.youtube.com
Fans looking for deeper context on one of the Gamecocks’ in-state matchups can explore the SC State vs South Carolina history for a detailed look at the series.
Frequently asked questions
When does South Carolina play its first game of 2025?
The season opener is on September 5, 2025, against Kent State at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, SC.
How many home games are in the 2025 season?
South Carolina plays 7 home games at Williams-Brice Stadium in 2025, including matchups against Kent State, Towson, Mississippi State, Kentucky, and others.
What is the South Carolina Gamecocks’ win-loss record in 2024?
South Carolina finished the 2024 season with a 5–7 record, missing a bowl game (Wikipedia).
Where can I buy tickets for South Carolina football games?
Tickets are available through the official South Carolina Athletics ticket office at gamecocksonline.com, as well as secondary market platforms like StubHub and SeatGeek.
Who is the head coach of South Carolina football?
Shane Beamer is the head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks. He was hired in 2021 and is entering his fifth season in 2025.
What conference does South Carolina play in?
South Carolina is a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), competing in the East Division alongside Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, and Vanderbilt.
When is the Palmetto Bowl in 2025?
The Palmetto Bowl between South Carolina and Clemson is scheduled for November 29, 2025, at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, SC.
Are South Carolina football games available on streaming services?
Yes. Games broadcast on ESPN/ABC are available on the ESPN app. Games on SEC Network are available on SEC Network+ and the ESPN app. Games on SEC Network+/ESPN+ require an ESPN+ subscription. Cord-cutting services like FuboTV, YouTube TV, and Hulu + Live TV also carry these channels.