Gamecocks Leap Into New Football Season | Columbia News

South Carolina’s football schedule is flipping upside down thanks to new NCAA rules — the season kicks off a week earlier in “Week Zero,” starting Thursday before Labor Day. The Gamecocks are already locking in early matchups, like moving their 2027 Furman game to August 28, and will get two bye weeks to strategically rest or face top SEC foes. With a standardized 14-week season ending after Thanksgiving, teams now have more control over non-conference games and crucial rest periods. South Carolina’s $550K payout to Furman — a longtime rival they last beat in 2023 — signals a bold new era. This shift is just the beginning as colleges nationwide scramble to optimize their calendars under the new rules. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/a47c7b517f454587