The University of South Carolina and the University of North Carolina announced that their scheduled home‑and‑home football series for the 2028 and 2029 seasons will be canceled. The Tar Heels were set to host the Gamecocks at Williams‑Brice Stadium in Columbia on September 2, 2028, while South Carolina was slated to travel to Chapel Hill for a September 1, 2029 showdown at Kenan Memorial Stadium.
A rivalry on pause
The Tar Heels have traditionally led the all‑time series, holding a 35‑20‑4 edge, but the Gamecocks have won seven of the last ten meetings since 1988, including a recent victory in Charlotte that opened the 2023 season.
With the series off the books, South Carolina has filled the 2028 slot with Bowling Green State University, marking the first ever meeting between the Gamecocks and the Falcons. The game will be played at Williams‑Brice Stadium in Columbia on a date to be determined.
Conference realignment reshapes schedules
Both the SEC and the ACC are moving to nine‑game conference schedules beginning in 2026. The shift adds pressure to non‑conference planning, prompting schools to seek new opponents to fill out their slates and to maintain competitive balance in an era driven by television contracts and revenue considerations.