South Carolina football: SEC unveils the Gamecocks’ 2021 schedule

South Carolina football’s ’21 slate is now set.

The latest edition of the college football season was one that was vastly different than what we’re used to, with the Gamecocks taking on an unprecedented 10-game, all-conference schedule, while also not participating in a rivalry game versus instate foe Clemson for the first time in 111 years.

The team limped to a 2-8 finish, losing each of its last six games, which led to the firing of then head coach Will Muschamp. Shane Beamer has been hired to lead the Gamecocks into 2021, bringing in a new vision and a change in the culture of a program that has been lost for a couple of years now.

That new life has fans excited about what lies ahead for South Carolina football. Now, those fans get their first peek into the future as the SEC has released the schedules for each conference member ahead of the ’21 season.

Check out how the Gamecocks’ slate shook out below.

• 09.04 – v. Eastern Illinois
• 09.11 – @ East Carolina
• 09.18 – @ Georgia
• 09.25 – v. Kentucky
• 10.02 – v. Troy
• 10.09 – @ Tennessee
• 10.16 – v. Vanderbilt
• 10.23 – @ Texas A&M
• 10.30 – BYE
• 11.06 – v. Florida
• 11.13 – @ Missouri
• 11.20 – v. Auburn
• 11.27 – v. Clemson

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey introduced the new schedules to the public on Wednesday.

"“We are proud to have completed the 2020 football season under unique circumstances and will now focus on playing the 2021 football season as scheduled. Circumstances around the COVID-19 virus will continue to guide our decision-making should any adjustments need to be made.”"

Hopefully, the pandemic will allow for the SEC to stay on track in this 12-game campaign. Let’s take a look at some interesting things to note about the Gamecocks’ newly released slate.

Georgia is back to being the SEC opener

The Bulldogs will host South Carolina in the third weekend of September as the Gamecocks try to avenge the 45-16 loss from 2020. It will be the first time that South Carolina and Georgia have faced each other to open conference play in three seasons. The two foes competed in early September every season between 1992 and 2011, but the game was moved to October or November in four of the past five seasons. Last year was the latest scheduled date in series history (Nov. 28).

Steve Spurrier famously quipped that he enjoyed playing the Bulldogs early in the year because they were sure to have a few guys suspended in the offseason. It’s good to see the tradition renewed for 2021. The Gamecocks upset Georgia its last trip to Sanford Stadium.

Auburn game circled

Auburn and South Carolina built a bit of an offseason rivalry with the Tigers poaching a number of coaches from the Gamecocks staff. Mike Bobo, Will Friend, and Tracy Rocker all bolted to the Plains shortly after signing contracts to remain in Columbia, which didn’t sit well with Shane Beamer.

The Tigers will come to Williams-Brice Stadium for a second straight season after the Gamecocks took down Auburn 30-22 in 2020. The game is scheduled for November 20th.

Clemson back on the schedule

Clemson is back on the slate after the series was put on hold for the 2020 season, the first break in the series in over a century. With the COVID pandemic, the SEC opted to shift to an all-conference schedule, which meant leaving the instate rival out.

The rivalry will now be back, sliding into its usual Thanksgiving week date. The Gamecocks will look to end a five-game skid to the Tigers in Columbia next year.

Bye week placement

The Gamecocks’ bye week is going to be on Halloween weekend, in between matchups with Texas A&M and Florida, both teams that project to begin the season in the top 15. The placement comes a little after the midway point, but it will be welcomed after eight straight weeks of action.

It will also give the Gamecocks a breather before heading into a brutal November slate that includes consecutive matchups with Florida, Missouri, Auburn, and Clemson.

Feline finish

In a rather interesting observation, the Gamecocks will end the season with three straight games against teams with Tigers as their mascot. South Carolina went 1-2 versus Tigers last year beating Auburn, and losing to LSU and Missouri.