South Carolina drops fresh garnet end zones for sold-out home opener

South Carolina Football debuts new garnet end zones for SC State showdown

Saturday night will mark more than just a Gamecock Football home opener, it will be a fresh look for Williams-Brice Stadium. South Carolina will host in-state foe SC State under the lights, and fans will notice something different the moment they look towards the end zones.

On Thursday, South Carolina revealed an image of both end zones at Williams-Brice Stadium painted garnet, with bold white lettering stretched across the field. One side will read "CAROLINA" and the other "GAMECOCKS." That design is familiar to fans, but the design will now include palmetto trees placed at the start of each word. It is a subtle nod to South Carolina state pride as well as reimagining the field's classic look.

In recent years, the palmettos sat at the 25-yard lines. That space now belongs to Blanchard Machinery, the Gamecocks' on-field sponsor whose logo was unveiled earlier this summer as part of a major partnership. In addition to the field, Williams-Brice Stadium will undergo major renovations over the next few years to improve fan experience, student seating, and premium seating.

Athletics Director Jeremiah Donati gave fans a first glimpse of the end zone changes on social media.

The energy inside the stadium is expected to be electric on Saturday night, with a sold-out crowd. South Carolina announced earlier in the week that students shattered demand records by requesting over 21,000 tickets for the game against SC State. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. Saturday.