The University of South Carolina will open the 2028 football campaign on August 26, when the Gamecocks host the Bowling Green Falcons at Williams‑Brice Stadium in Columbia. The matchup, a first‑ever meeting between the two programs, is slated to be the earliest home game by day in the venue’s history, setting a new benchmark for the school’s season kickoff.
Historic early start
Williams‑Brice Stadium, long known for its thunderous crowd, has never witnessed a home opener this early in the calendar. The game will mark the first time the stadium’s schedule begins with a home contest before the traditional late‑August window, a shift that reflects the athletic department’s effort to diversify its non‑conference slate.
The Gamecocks have a tradition of opening at home in 2008 and 2014, both on August 28 against N.C. State and Texas A&M respectively. Those previous openings occurred later in the month, making the 2028 date a notable departure from the program’s recent pattern.
Beyond the Bowling Green showdown, South Carolina’s 2028 non‑conference schedule also includes contests against Wofford and Clemson, while the SEC slate features home games versus Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky and Oklahoma. The road portion of the schedule will take the team to Florida, Mississippi State, Tennessee and Texas A&M.
The 2026 season opener, a September 5 meeting with Kent State of the Mid‑American Conference, is set for a noon kickoff and will be carried live on the SEC Network, underscoring the growing visibility of the program’s early‑season fixtures.