The Southeastern Conference unveiled its full slate of men's basketball opponents for the 2026 SEC schedule on Wednesday, and fans are buzzing. South Carolina and Gamecock Nation are in for a thrilling, and quite challenging season. Eight of the nine SEC home games are against opponents that played in the 2025 NCAA Tournament. South Carolina's permanent home and away matchups will remain the same, with Georgia and Florida. The Gamecocks will also play the LSU Tigers twice during the season, making those three programs (UGA, UF, and LSU) their repeat opponents.
Other SEC matchups will be played only once, either ar home or away. Home games include Kentucky, Mississippi State, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt. The Gamecocks will be on the road against Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Ole Miss, Texas, and Texas A&M.
Home Games That Pack a Punch
The 2026 home SEC schedule includes:
- Georgia (permanent opponent)
- Florida (permanent opponent)
- LSU
- Kentucky
- Mississippi State
- Missouri
- Oklahoma (first meeting in Colonial Life Arena history)
- Tennessee
- Vanderbilt
Eight of the above listed teams appeared int he NCAA Tournament in 2025 and will be visiting Columbia, creating a challenging schedule for South Carolina.
Tough Tests on the Road
On the road, the Gamecocks will travel to:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Auburn
- Florida
- Georgia
- LSU
- Ole Miss
- Texas (first trip to Austin, TX since 1982)
- Texas A&M
South Carolina will visit the Texas Longhorns this season, marking only the second road game against them in program history.
Conference Timeline and Postseason Details:
Conference play for the SEC begins on Saturday, January 3, and will run through March 7. The 2026 SEC Tournament also returns to Nashville's Bridgestone Arena and will take place from March 11-15. Dates, times, and television information will be announced as the season gets closer to tip off. And the non-conference schedule will be announced soon.