South Carolina had the week off but now faces a crucial challenge as it returns from its bye next weekend. Late Saturday night, after much of the day’s college football action had concluded, the Gamecocks’ upcoming matchup with LSU was officially assigned a kickoff time and TV network.
The Gamecocks (3-2, 1-2 SEC) will travel to Baton Rouge on Saturday, Oct. 11, to face No. 13 LSU. The game is scheduled for a 7:45 p.m. ET kickoff and will be broadcast nationally on the SEC Network, adding extra spotlight to this key conference showdown.
This trip to Death Valley will mark South Carolina’s fifth consecutive night game of the season, continuing a unique streak that has defined their 2025 campaign so far. Playing under the lights has brought energy and challenges, and the Gamecocks will again face a raucous atmosphere.
The LSU contest also kicks off a grueling five-game stretch against ranked SEC opponents. Following the Tigers, South Carolina will take on No. 5 Oklahoma, No. 10 Alabama, No. 4 Ole Miss, enjoy a bye week, and then meet No. 6 Texas A&M. Three of these matchups will be on the road, making this stretch a pivotal test for the Gamecocks’ season.
This upcoming matchup will also serve as a chance for South Carolina to seek redemption. The Gamecocks endured a heartbreaking 36-33 loss to LSU at home in Week 3 last season, a game marred by controversy and frustration for the team and its fans.
The pivotal moment came in the fourth quarter when Nick Emmanwori intercepted a pass and returned it 100 yards for what appeared to be a game-changing touchdown. However, the play was nullified by an unnecessary roughness penalty against Kyle Kennard, flagged for shoving LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier during the return.
Without the penalty, Emmanwori’s touchdown would have given South Carolina a crucial 10-point lead with under six minutes remaining, likely sealing the victory. Instead, the flag swung momentum back in LSU’s favor at a critical point in the game.
Capitalizing on the opportunity, LSU marched down the field to score the go-ahead touchdown with just 72 seconds left. South Carolina’s hopes of tying the game were dashed when kicker Alex Herrera missed a potential game-tying field goal as time expired, sealing the narrow and contentious loss.
South Carolina will make its first visit to Tiger Stadium since 2020, a trip that didn’t end well for the Gamecocks as LSU claimed a decisive 52-24 victory. The venue’s intimidating atmosphere has historically posed a significant challenge for visiting teams.
The Gamecocks will be looking to end a decades-long drought against the Tigers. Their last victory over LSU came back in 1994, highlighting the uphill battle they’ve faced in this SEC rivalry.
In fact, South Carolina has only managed to defeat LSU twice in program history, underscoring the dominance the Tigers have maintained in this series. This context adds extra weight to Saturday’s matchup.
For the Gamecocks, a win in Baton Rouge would not only break a 31-year losing streak but also serve as a significant confidence boost during a demanding stretch of ranked opponents.
The Tigers will also be coming off their bye week, entering the matchup with a 4-1 overall record and 1-1 in SEC play. Their season started strong with four consecutive victories, highlighted by an impressive season-opening road win against then-No. 4 Clemson.
LSU followed that triumph with wins over Louisiana Tech, Florida, and Southeastern Louisiana, showcasing both depth and balance on both sides of the ball. However, their momentum was halted in their most recent outing, as they fell 24-19 at Ole Miss. The loss exposed some offensive inconsistencies, particularly in the second half.
Meanwhile, South Carolina heads into Baton Rouge riding a wave of confidence after picking up its first SEC win of the season. The Gamecocks defeated Kentucky 35-13 this past Saturday, snapping a two-game skid and regaining some momentum.
South Carolina opened the season at 2-0 before back-to-back conference losses to Vanderbilt and Missouri briefly stalled its progress. The victory over Kentucky came at a crucial time, giving the Gamecocks a spark as they enter a challenging stretch of SEC play.
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