Kickoff times come into focus for South Carolina games. When will Gamecocks play?
The complete slate of kickoff times for South Carolina’s 2026 football schedule was announced Wednesday night.
Shane Beamer and the Gamecocks could play six night games this coming season, three of which would be at home in Williams-Brice, but only two are guaranteed right now.
South Carolina already knew the kickoff time for its first three games. The Gamecocks will open with three straight home games vs. Kent State (12:45 p.m.), Towson (7 p.m.) and Mississippi State (4:15 p.m.).
The SEC unveiled the remainder of the kickoff time windows during a TV special Wednesday night. Here’s what we learned:
- The Gamecocks will play a game in the early window (noon to 1 p.m.) against Florida.
- USC will play two more games in the afternoon window (3:30 to 4:30 p.m. start) against Tennessee and Texas A&M.
- South Carolina has one guaranteed road SEC game in the night window (6 to 8 p.m. start) against Alabama.
- The number of afternoon and night games could increase. The Gamecocks have four games in the “Flex” window. USC’s matchup with Kentucky, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Georgia could be either afternoon or night kickoffs.
The time and TV details for USC’s rivalry matchup with Clemson this year wasn’t announced on Wednesday. The ACC controls that game’s kickoff time because it’s at Clemson.
The specific kickoff times within those windows, and TV channels, for the remainder of the schedule will be released throughout the season.
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, five of which came in the first six games.
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 (Night game, TV TBD)
- Oct. 3 vs. Kentucky (Flex game, TV TBD)
- Oct. 10 at Florida (Early game, TV TBD)
- Oct. 17 - BYE WEEK
- Oct. 24 vs. Tennessee (Afternoon, TV TBD)
- Oct. 31 at Oklahoma (Flex, TV TBD)
- Nov. 7 vs. Texas A&M (Afternoon, TV TBD)
- Nov. 14 at Arkansas (Flex, TV TBD)
- Nov. 21 vs. Georgia (Flex, TV TBD)
- Nov. 28 at Clemson (TIME, TV TBD)
This story was originally published June 10, 2026 at 7:52 PM with the headline "Kickoff times come into focus for South Carolina games. When will Gamecocks play?."
