Feb. 12, 2009

The South Carolina – Ole Miss football game will be televised nationally by ESPN on Thursday, September 24, 2009, it was announced today. The Southeastern Conference game will be held at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m ET.

The Ole Miss game will mark the second Thursday night ESPN contest of the 2009 season for Carolina, as the Gamecocks will open the `09 campaign on Thursday, September 3 at North Carolina State. The Gamecocks played two Thursday night games to open the 2008 season, defeating NC State in Columbia on August 28 before dropping a decision at Vanderbilt on September 4.

“We are looking forward to another nationally televised game,” said Gamecocks’ head coach Steve Spurrier. “We appreciate ESPN for putting us on. It should be a heck of a game.”

The Rebels lead the all-time series with South Carolina by an 8-6 margin, including a 4-3 advantage in games played in Columbia. South Carolina snapped a five-game losing streak to Ole Miss last season when they posted a 31-24 win in Oxford on October 4. Ole Miss recorded a 31-28 win during the 2004 season on its last visit to Columbia.

Here is the complete 2009 South Carolina football schedule (Note: all dates subject to change; Times TBA):

Thursday, Sept. 3 at NC State

Saturday, Sept. 12 at Georgia

Saturday, Sept. 19 Florida Atlantic

Thursday, Sept. 24 Ole Miss

Saturday, Oct. 3 South Carolina State

Saturday, Oct. 10 Kentucky

Saturday, Oct. 17 at Alabama

Saturday, Oct. 24 Vanderbilt

Saturday, Oct. 31 at Tennessee

Saturday, Nov. 7 at Arkansas

Saturday, Nov. 14 Florida

Saturday, Nov. 28 Clemson