Poppell Announces 2025-26 Swimming and Diving Schedule
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina swimming and diving head coach Jeff Poppell announced his team’s 2025-26 slate today, including four home meets in addition to the team’s annual intersquad scrimmage. The Gamecock women are coming off a fifth-place showing at last year’s SEC Championships and a top-25 finish at the NCAA Championships.
Following the Sept. 26 Garnet & Black Intersquad, South Carolina officially opens its season on Wed., Oct. 8, at 3 p.m. at Carolina Natatorium against Georgia, which finished saw both its teams finish fourth in the 2025 SEC Championships. The Gamecock women stay in SEC action with a trip to Arkansas on Oct. 11, and then the men’s and women’s teams come back together for a road meet at Florida State on Oct. 31.
Back at home, the Gamecocks welcome North Carolina to Columbia for a Fri., Nov. 7, meet. It marks the fourth-straight season the two programs will meet in the regular season.
The annual Gamecock Invitational is set for Nov. 19-21 with South Carolina welcoming a host of regional opponents to the natatorium for a swimming-only three-day meet. The Gamecock divers will head to the Tennessee Invitational for the weekend.
The Gamecock swimmers will compete at Queens on Sat., Jan. 3, before the final swimming and diving home meet of the season on Sat., Jan. 10, against Virginia Tech. That meet will be the third between the two teams in the last three seasons with the Gamecock women on a two-meet win streak against the Hokies.
A road trip to Georgia Tech, which also includes the women competing against Miami, on Jan. 24 will be the team’s final tune-up ahead of postseason action. Swimmers who will not compete at SEC will travel to Charlottesville, Va., for the UVA Cavalier Invitational Feb. 5-7.
The 2026 SEC Championships will be in Knoxville, Tenn., Feb. 16-21 with the Gamecock women looking to improve on last year’s fifth-place showing, the program’s best since 2004.
The UGA last Chance Invitational Feb. 28-Mar. 1 will give swimmers a final chance to qualify for NCAAs. Divers will qualify for NCAA Championships via the NCAA Zone B meet Mar. 8-11 in Athens, Ga.
The Gamecocks split up for NCAA Championships in Atlanta, Ga., with the women’s qualifiers competing Mar. 18-21 and the men’s group hitting the pool Mar. 25-28.
Continue to check GamecocksOnline.com and the team’s social media accounts (@GamecockSwmDive) for the most up-to-date information on the swimming and diving program.
South Carolina Swimming & Diving 2025-26 Schedule
Sept. 26 – Garnet & Black Intersquad (Exh) – 3 p.m.
Oct. 8 – Georgia – 3 p.m.
Oct. 11 – at Arkansas (W) – 11 a.m.
Oct. 31 – at Florida State – Noon
Nov. 7 – North Carolina – 3 p.m.
Nov. 19-21 – Gamecock Inv (swim only) – All Day
Nov. 19-21 – Tennessee Inv (dive only) – All Day
Jan. 3 – at Queens (swim only) – Noon
Jan. 10 – Virginia Tech – 10 a.m.
Jan. 24 – at Georgia Tech / vs. Miami (W) – 11 a.m.
Feb. 5-7 – at UVA Cavalier Inv – All Day
Feb. 16-21 – SEC Championships (Knoxville, TN) – All Day
Feb. 28-Mar 1 – at UGA Last Chance Inv – All Day
Mar 8-11 – NCAA Zone B Diving (Athens, GA) – All Day
Mar 18-21 – Women’s NCAA Championships (Atlanta, GA) – All Day)
Mar 25-28 – Men’s NCAA Championships (Atlanta, GA) – All Day
