COLUMBIA, SC – South Carolina swimming and diving head coach Jeff Poppell announced the Gamecocks’ 2026-27 schedule on Friday, highlighted by seven regular-season meets and the annual Gamecock Invitational. The Gamecock women are coming off a historic season, going undefeated during the regular season and finishing 19th at the 2026 NCAA Championships.
The season opens on Friday, Sept. 25, with a road dual meet against UNCW and Georgetown in Wilmington, N.C. The Gamecocks then head to Atlanta for the inaugural “The Dual Meet Tournament” on Oct. 16-17, where they will face Georgia Tech, Penn State, Auburn, Kentucky, Florida State, George Washington and Minnesota.
South Carolina returns to Columbia for three consecutive meets, beginning with hosting the 2026 men’s and women’s SEC Champions and the men’s NCAA Champion, Texas Longhorns, to the Carolina Natatorium on Oct. 30.
On Nov. 6, the program will kick off alumni weekend by facing off against Florida State.
The Gamecocks will then welcome teams from across the country to Columbia for the annual Gamecock Invitational from Nov. 17-20, while the diving squad competes at the Georgia Invitational in Athens during the same week.
Following the holiday break, Carolina resumes competition by hosting Queens on Jan. 2 before traveling to Tennessee on Jan. 16. The regular season concludes with a home dual meet against Georgia Tech on Jan. 29.
The postseason begins with the 2027 SEC Championships, set for Feb. 15-21 in Austin, Texas. Swimmers seeking NCAA qualification will have one final opportunity at the Auburn Last Chance Invitational on Feb. 26-27 before divers compete at the NCAA Zone B Diving Championships in Knoxville from March 6-10.
The 2027 NCAA Championships return to Austin, with the women’s championship scheduled for March 17-20 and the men’s championship taking place March 24-27.
The complete 2026-27 South Carolina swimming and diving schedule is available below. All home meets are held inside the Carolina Natatorium, and admission is free for all fans.
2026-27 Schedule
Sept. 25: at UNCW/Georgetown (Wilmington, N.C.) – 4 p.m.
Oct. 16-17: The Dual Meet Tournament (Atlanta, Ga.) – ALL DAY
Oct. 30: vs. Texas (Columbia, S.C.) – Noon
Nov. 6: vs. Florida State (Columbia, S.C.) – 10 a.m.
Nov. 17-20: Gamecock Invitational (Columbia, S.C. – swimmers) – ALL DAY
Nov. 17-20: Georgia Invitational (Athens, Ga. – divers) – ALL DAY
Jan. 2: vs. Queens University (Columbia, S.C.) – 11 a.m.
Jan. 16: at Tennessee (Knoxville, Tenn.) – Noon
Jan. 29: vs. Georgia Tech (Columbia, S.C.) – 2 p.m.
Feb. 15-21: SEC Championships (Austin, Texas) – ALL DAY
Feb. 26-27: Auburn Last Chance Invitational (Auburn, Ala.) – ALL DAY
March 6-10: NCAA Zone B Diving Championships (Knoxville, Tenn.) – ALL DAY
March 17-20: NCAA Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships (Austin, Texas) – ALL DAY
March 24-27: NCAA Men’s Swimming & Diving Championships (Austin, Texas) – ALL DAY
