The South Carolina men's basketball team is set to host Viginia Tech in the third annual ACC/SEC Challenge, as ESPN announced on Thursday. This showdown will take place on Tuesday, December 2, at Colonial Life Arena. However, the Gamecocks and Hokies will actually clash twice in the 2025-26 season. Prior to the December matchup on the court, the teams will meet on the field in the season opener in Atlanta, where South Carolina is one of the most anticipated teams in the nation. Can the Gamecocks pull off a rare two-sport sweep?
The ACC/SEC Challenge marks the third straight year that South Carolina and Virginia Tech will meet on the hardwood. South Carolina currently leads the series 20-13, with VT losing the last three. The most recent game dates all the way back to January 16, 1991, but the Gamecocks have the history on their side. More recently, Lamont Paris and the Gamecock knocked off Viginia Tech 70-60 in the Fort Myers Tip-Off on November 27, one of just 12 wins for the team last season.
Recently, CBS Sports analyst David Cobb ranked every ACC/SEC Challenge matchup. He placed the South Carolina vs. Virginia Tech dead last in terms of intrigue and picked the Hokies as the winner: “South Carolina is heavy on transfers again and will need double‑boomerang guard Meechie Johnson Jr. to shoulder a heavy load. Pick: Virginia Tech.”
With home-court advantage, a strong roster, and of course, passionate Gamecock fans, this December's ACC/SEC Challenge is South Carolina's opportunity to reaffirm their dominance after the fall.