South Carolina football: SEC announces start times for first two weeks of season

The South Carolina football season is set to begin with a home game on September 26th.

ESPN has selected the SEC games that it plans to air on its network of television stations over the first two weeks of the 2020 season, as well as a few other select matchups scheduled later in the fall. These games include four contests involving the South Carolina football team, including its season opener versus Tennessee.

The network’s platforms include ESPN, the SEC Network, and the SEC Network alternative channels. The conference explained the selection process in a statement Tuesday afternoon.

"The SEC on Tuesday announced the start times and networks that will televise its games the first two weeks of the 2020 SEC football season, and other selected games later in the fall, on ESPN Networks, including the SEC Network.In July, the SEC established September 26 as the new kickoff for its 2020 football season to allow its universities to focus on the healthy return of their campus communities and the gradual re-introduction of athletics, as the 14 members of the SEC continue to monitor developments related to COVID-19.Kickoff times and networks were announced for the first two weeks of the SEC football season and selected games were announced for three other Saturdays later in the year.  Given the unique circumstances of this season, the SEC requested that its television partners make advanced game selections where possible prior to the start of the season to assist the Conference and schools with planning and logistics.For any games not chosen before the start of the season, the normal 12- or six-day selection process will be used during the season."

Here are the four South Carolina contests selected to be aired by ESPN.

9/26 – vs. Tennessee (7:30pm on SECN)

South Carolina starts the season in primetime, with a 7:30pm matchup versus the Volunteers. The game will take place on the SEC Network. Other conference matchups include Auburn vs. Kentucky, Alabama vs. Missouri, and Florida vs. Ole Miss.

10/3 – @ Florida (noon on ESPN)

The Gamecocks’ second game of the year will kick off a packed day of college football as South Carolina takes on the Gators in the Swamp at noon. The game will be aired on ESPN. Other SEC matchups include Auburn vs. Georgia and LSU vs. Vanderbilt.

10/17 – vs. Auburn (either noon, 3:30pm, or 4:00pm on either ESPN, SECN, or SECN alternative)

The only times set in stone for this week are LSU vs. Florida and Vanderbilt vs. Missouri. The Gamecocks will compete with Ole Miss vs. Arkansas, Texas A&M vs. Mississippi State, and Kentucky vs. Tennessee for the remaining time slots.

11/7 – vs. Texas A&M (7:30pm on either ESPN or SECN)

South Carolina knows when they’ll be playing but not yet on which network. ESPN will choose between the Gamecocks’ matchup versus the Aggies and a Tennessee vs. Arkansas contest.