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Know Before You Go: Towson 2026
Football  . 

Know Before You Go: Towson 2026

Back at home for our annual Salute the Troops game

After a 57–0 season-opening win over Kent State, we’re back at home on Saturday night to face Towson in the annual Salute the Troops game. Kickoff against the Tigers is set for 7:02 p.m.

Thank you to everyone who came out to Williams-Brice Stadium to support the Gamecocks last weekend. We have taken several steps to make entry into Williams-Brice Stadium more efficient for Saturday’s game against Towson. We understand the game day experience for many last Saturday against Kent State did not meet our standard of what fans should expect when entering Williams-Brice. Please know that as we prepare for this weekend’s game, our team is continuing to review and refine the game day experience.

Some of the important updates fans can expect to see this Saturday night include:

  • Gates will be clearly marked with more, highly visible, overhead, and updated way finding signage (e.g., pole banners, roller base signs, etc.) around the outside of the stadium.
  • Additional gates will be open.
  • Additional staff at entry points.
  • Additional metal detectors and expanded ticket-scanning options for fans entering through the south end zone.

For those who have tickets in the South:

  • Gates 51 and 52 will now be open.
  • Your tickets will scan in any East gate entry point.
  • More staff will be in place to assist.
  • 18 additional gates will be available for you to enter between the South and East gate entry points.

USC students will also have access to:

  • Additional water stations.
  • Additional EMT on location.
  • Additional security and screening.
  • Additional lines to enter and a more streamlined entry process for the student club.
  • Improved wristband distribution.

Additional game day tips and reminders:

  • Please remember to use our new, interactive map (map.gamecocksonline.com).
  • Arrive early.
  • We encourage guests to come prepared for changing conditions and know our staff is ready to adjust as needed to keep the event running smoothly.
  • Clear bag policy is in place, and please remember to review the list of prohibited items.
  • Clear disposable water bottles are allowed.

Finally, be sure to opt-in to our game day text messaging to receive important updates.

  • Text the word GAMECOCKS to 57937.

The support of Gamecock Nation means everything to our student-athletes and Athletics program. We are sincerely grateful for the unmatched passion and unwavering support of our fans, and our staff is committed to providing a safe, welcoming, and positive game-day experience for everyone at Williams-Brice Stadium.

Keep reading for everything you need to know ahead of Saturday’s game.

Salute the Troops

Be sure to stay in your seats at halftime for our annual Salute the Troops show, where we’ll honor all active-duty soldiers, veterans and those who made the ultimate sacrifice. We’ll also have military displays in Gamecock Village, so be sure to swing by prior to heading into the stadium.

Forever Garnet Memories

There’s still time to enhance your game day with Forever Garnet Memories.

Our auction closes Tuesday night, so bid now for the chance to win:

  • Pregame sideline passes
  • Riding the Cockyboose onto the field
  • Walking with Cocky during Gamecock Walk

Place your bid today

Be sure to also check out our Game Day Experiences where you can take pregame sideline photos on the field or pictures with Cocky or Sir Big Spur!

Purchase your Game Day Experiences

YETI Drop Wednesday

Each home game this season, we’re releasing a limited-edition YETI Rambler Tumbler. With the purchase of a YETI, you will receive two bottled Coca-Cola products. YETIs can only be purchased on the Forever Garnet App and MUST be picked up on game days. YETIS cannot be brought back to future games.

On Wednesday, we will announce this week’s design and will make them available for purchase on the Forever Garnet App. To ensure you receive the announcement when it’s first released, be sure to enable push notifications for the app. If you are a Gamecock Club member and are logging into the Forever Garnet App for the first time, an account has already been created for you. Just click the log in button and then click reset password and utilize the email tied to your Gamecock Club account.

There will be a purchase limit of 4 tumblers per person and you MUST pick up your tumbler inside the gates of Williams-Brice Stadium on game day. You will not be able to bring these tumblers back into the stadium at future games.

Download the Forever Garnet App on iPhone

Download the Forever Garnet App on Android

Stop by Gamecock Village

Gamecock Village presented by Farm Bureau Insurance will open at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. The Donovan Twins will take the stage starting around 2:45 p.m. Gamecock Village will also feature food trucks, inflatable activities for kids, activations from our sponsors and a new team store presented by Rally House so fans can stock up on the latest Gamecock gear.

With it being our Salute the Troops game, we’ll also have special military activations.

Gamecock Walk

The team will arrive around 4:55 p.m. and head into the stadium led by Cocky, the drumline and our spirit teams. Get a spot early along the Tommy Suggs Garnet Way to cheer on the team.

After Gamecock Walk, head over to the Gamecock Park Amphitheater for the Pregame Pep Rally featuring the Mighty Sound of the Southeast and our spirit teams, which begins around 5:20 p.m.

Need Friday plans?

Whether you’re coming to town for the weekend or live in the area and want to get ready for game day a day early, we’ve got you covered with things you can do on Friday!

  • Take a tour of Williams-Brice Stadium: Go behind the scenes with a tour of Williams-Brice Stadium. Multiple time slots are available. Book your tour
  • Get the latest Gamecock Gear: Stop by the Gameday Store located inside the Bignon Gameday Center on the corner of George Rogers Blvd. and Key Rd. from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

As a reminder, for the 2026 season, the Gastro Pub in the Meredith Family 2001 Club will be back on Fridays prior to SEC games only.

Get Ready for Game Day Resources

Click the images below to learn more

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