May 17, 2016

The 2016 college football season will open on Thursday, September 1, when the South Carolina Gamecocks travel to Nashville to take on the Vanderbilt Commodores. ESPN will televise the contest nationally beginning at 8 pm ET (7 pm CT), it was announced today.

The Gamecocks lead the all-time series against Vanderbilt by a 21-4 margin, including an 11-2 record when the games have been played in Nashville. Carolina has won each of the last seven meetings between the two SEC Eastern Division rivals, including a 19-10 win in Columbia last season. This will mark the third time the two squads have faced each other to open the season. South Carolina won the previous two meetings, both in Nashville, by a 31-6 score in 2004 and by a 17-13 margin in 2012.

The Gamecocks will play two SEC road games, at Vanderbilt and at Mississippi State on September 10, before hosting East Carolina in the home opener on Saturday, September 17.

All other game times will be announced at a later date.