Report: South Carolina learns permanent conference opponents

Earlier this year, the Southeastern Conference announced that the league would be moving to a nine-game conference schedule starting in 2026. The new format will include three “permanent opponents” and six rotating ones.

On Monday, one day before the SEC’s official schedule reveal show, On3’s Chris Low reported that the league has determined those permanent opponents. For South Carolina football, the reported news also brings back some rivalries.

According to Low, the Gamecocks will have permanent meetings with the Georgia Bulldogs, Florida Gators, and Kentucky Wildcats.

South Carolina has not played Georgia or Florida since the conference expanded ahead of the 2024 season. Both teams, especially Georgia, represent an old Gamecock rival. In its history, South Carolina has played Georgia more times (76) than anyone other than Clemson. Florida (44) is the program’s sixth-most common foe and trails only Georgia in the SEC. This year’s Kentucky showdown will be the 37th all-time meeting between USC and UK.

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It is worth noting that the “permanent” part of the permanent opponents is such in name only. The current format is only locked in for four seasons but could change after conference evaluation. The SEC plans to consider historical rivalries, competitive fairness, and home-and-away balance while maintaining rotational integrity.

Tuesday’s reveal show will also provide the matchups and locations of each team’s schedule over the next four years. Later on in December, the conference will announce dates and times for the 2026 slate.

You can see the entire conference’s reported permanent opponents below.

Alabama – Auburn, Tennessee, Mississippi State

Arkansas – Missouri, Texas, LSU

Auburn – Georgia, Alabama, Vanderbilt

Florida – Georgia, South Carolina, Kentucky

Georgia – Auburn, Florida, South Carolina

Kentucky – South Carolina, Tennessee, Florida

LSU – Arkansas, Ole Miss, Texas A&M

Mississippi State – Ole Miss, Alabama, Vanderbilt

Missouri – Arkansas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma

Oklahoma – Texas, Ole Miss, Missouri

Ole Miss – Mississippi State, LSU, Oklahoma

South Carolina – Georgia, Kentucky, Florida

Tennessee – Alabama, Vanderbilt, Kentucky

Texas – Texas A&M, Arkansas, Oklahoma

Texas A&M – Texas, LSU, Missouri

Vanderbilt – Tennessee, Mississippi State, Auburn

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