COLUMBIA — The margin for error for South Carolina football in the 2026 season is very slim.
Coach Shane Beamer went from a career-best 9-4 in 2024 to a career-worst 4-8 in 2025, marking the second time in his career he's failed to make a bowl game.
Quarterback LaNorris Sellers has been Beamer's starter the last two seasons and returns once again, hoping to find himself in a better position for the NFL draft than he was after last year.
The Gamecocks schedule does not give them any extra help as they'll face six teams that are ranked in the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll. The SEC also moved to a nine-game schedule.
Here's a prediction for the Gamecocks' 2026 schedule, game-by-game:
Sept. 5: South Carolina vs. Kent State
- Location, time: Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, SC | 12:45 p.m. ET
- About the game: Kent State finished 5-7 last year. Quarterback Dru DeShields threw 18 touchdowns and only three interceptions, so the Gamecocks' defense has to rattle him from the jump. It'll be a good, early test for the secondary, which lost some key leaders after last season.
- Score prediction: South Carolina 27, Kent State 14
Sept. 12: South Carolina vs. Towson
- Location, time: Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, SC | 7 p.m. ET
- About the game: South Carolina has won the last three Week 2 games by at least 25 points and that trend should continue. It's the first night game of the season.
- Score prediction: South Carolina 34, Towson 7
Sept. 19: South Carolina vs. Mississippi State
- Location, time: Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, SC | 4:15 p.m. ET
- About the game: Beamer is 1-0 vs MSU but hasn't faced the Bulldogs since 2023. These are two teams with a lot to prove this year, which likely means it'll be a close game.
- Score prediction: South Carolina 27, Mississippi State 21
Sept. 26: South Carolina vs. Alabama
- Location, time: Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, AL | Between 6-8 p.m. ET
- About the game: LaNorris Sellers is 0-2 against Alabama but lost by two points in 2024 and by seven last year. In both games, he had a chance to win it but overthrew a pass the first year and fumbled late in the fourth quarter in 2025. This is not only a massive road game but a redemption game for Sellers. Alabama will still be working out an offense with a new quarterback.
- Score prediction: South Carolina 28, Alabama 24
Oct. 3: South Carolina vs Kentucky
- Location, time: Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, SC | Between 3:30-4:30 p.m. ET
- About the game: Beamer knows Kentucky well, as he is 4-1 against the Wildcats in his career. The Gamecocks should sustain success this year in the matchup, especially with a stronger offensive core than they had last year.
- Score prediction: South Carolina 42, Kentucky 28
Oct. 10: South Carolina at Florida
- Location, time: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Florida | Between noon-1 p.m. ET
- About the game: Jon Sumrall is in his first season with the Gators but Beamer is 1-2 against them. Beamer is 5-11 in October so far and the past two seasons, he's lost that first game of the month. There could be a celebration hangover from beating Alabama the week before.
- Score prediction: Florida 21, South Carolina 17
Oct. 24: South Carolina vs. Tennessee
- Location, time: Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, SC | Between 3:30-4:30 p.m. ET
- About the game: Somewhat of a must-win as it's after an open date and sandwiched between two road games. Sellers will have more experience than whichever Vols quarterback wins the job, which is an area he can exploit, especially with three Tennessee defenders out for the season with injuries.
- Score prediction: South Carolina 28, Tennessee 21
Oct. 31: South Carolina at Oklahoma
- Location, time: Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium | Between 3:30-4:30 p.m. ET or 6-8 p.m. ET
- About the game: Oklahoma embarrassed South Carolina in Columbia last year, a year after the Gamecocks did the same to the Sooners in Norman. Though this could be a revenge game, Oklahoma QB John Mateer will be difficult to beat at home. And the Sooners return key parts of what made their defense No. 1 in the SEC last year.
- Score prediction: Oklahoma 28, South Carolina 17
Nov. 7: South Carolina vs. Texas A&M
- Location, time: Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, SC | Between 3:30-4:30 p.m. ET
- About the game: Everyone remembers the historic comeback last November, where the Gamecocks blew a 30-3 halftime lead. Marcel Reed is one of the most experienced quarterbacks South Carolina will face and has playoff experience from last year.
- Score prediction: Texas A&M 31, South Carolina 28
Nov. 14: South Carolina at Arkansas
- Location, time: Donald W Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, AR | Between 3:30-4:30 p.m. ET
- About the game: Beamer is 0-1 against Arkansas (2022) but the Razorbacks have a new coach in Ryan Silverfield. While this could be somewhat of a trap game considering Arkansas was voted to finish last in the SEC, Beamer is 14-7 all time in November. With Georgia on the horizon, a road win here is a must.
- Score prediction: South Carolina 38, Arkansas 24
Nov. 21: South Carolina vs. Georgia
- Location, time: Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, SC | Between 3:30-4:30 p.m. ET
- About the game: Home field advantage might not give the Gamecocks much when it comes to a powerhouse like Georgia, and senior quarterback Gunner Stockton is among the best South Carolina's defense will see all year.
- Score prediction: Georgia 31, South Carolina 20
Nov. 28: South Carolina at Clemson
- Location, time: Memorial Stadium in Clemson, SC | Time TBD
- About the game: The only time Beamer has beaten Clemson has been on the road. That's a key trend he's trying to continue. Last year, the Palmetto Bowl was personal for former Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik and it showed in his performance, avenging the late interception he had in 2024. Now Sellers has the chance to do the same.
- Score prediction: South Carolina 27, Clemson 20
Predicted South Carolina football record in 2026
The Gamecocks go 8-4, 5-4 in the SEC and make a bowl game.
Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at LKesin@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X@Lulukesin and Bluesky @bylulukesin.bsky.social
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Predicting every South Carolina football score in 2026, including Clemson