This week the South Carolina Gamecocks and Clemson Tigers released their 2021 season schedules including dates and games for the upcoming season. Both Gamecocks and Tigers having easier schedules than last year but still some roadblocks along the way. For South Carolina it’s the yearly quadruple threat of Georgia, Texas A&M, Florida, and Clemson, while the Tigers travel to Charlotte in game one against the Bulldogs of Georgia, a likely top four matchup. Both schedules have a lot of interesting things about them.  

South Carolina Gamecocks 2021 Schedule:
Sep. 4 – Eastern Illinois (Home Opener) 

Sep. 11 – at East Carolina  

Sep. 18 – at Georgia 

Sep. 25 – Kentucky 

Oct. 2 – Troy 

Oct. 9 – at Tennessee  

Oct. 16 – Vanderbilt 

Oct. 23 – at Texas A&M 

Oct. 30 – BYE 

Nov. 6 – Florida 

Nov. 13 – at Missouri 

Nov. 20 – Auburn 

Nov. 27 – Clemson 

South Carolina continues to have one of the toughest schedules in the Southeastern conference, but it is far easier than the past three years for the Gamecocks, and a very favorable layout is set for Shane Beamer’s first squad in Columbia. Many national and SEC pundits pointing out South Carolina’s soft schedule start, and that the Gamecocks could start 6-1 and be bowl eligible but then lose out its remaining games in a brutal end of the season. While potentially losing five straight would be tough, it would get South Carolina to a bowl game for the first time since 2018. For the first time in a long time the Gamecocks’ schedule is flexible, and there are many ways to get to six wins or more. Shane Beamer’s first season in Columbia will be an interesting one for sure. 

Clemson Tigers 2021 Schedule: 

Sep. 4 – vs Georgia (Bank of America Stadium, Dukes Mayo Classic) 

Sep. 11 – South Carolina State 

Sep. 18 – Georgia Tech 

Sep. 25 – at NC State 

Oct. 2 – Boston College 

Oct. 15 – at Syracuse (Friday) 

Oct. 23 – at Pittsburgh  

Oct. 30 – Florida St 

Nov. 6 – at Louisville 

Nov. 13 – UConn 

Nov. 20 – Wake Forest 

Nov. 27 – at South Carolina  

The Clemson Tigers have a very favorable schedule in the 2021 season and will likely be favored in every game by double digits besides the opener vs Georgia, which could be a toss–up. The schedule sets well for Tigers, as if they lose to Georgia in the opening week, they don’t play any more major threats the rest of the season and will be able to win out. A few notable things are that the Tigers will play Syracuse on the road on Friday, which is interesting as the Tigers lost to Syracuse four years ago on a Friday night in Syracuse, NY, and this is the first Friday night game in the series since then. The Tigers will also have to travel to Columbia, South Carolina again after being the away team the last time the two teams played in 2019. Tigers and Gamecocks were unable to play last year but the schedule is as if they did, and they cannot alter it. Clemson is set to have another dominating season in 2021.