SC State vs South Carolina: History, Score, and Payment Details

If you’re a college football fan in South Carolina, you already know the big rivalry — Clemson vs. South Carolina. But another in-state matchup tells a very different story about money, history, and the gap between FBS and FCS programs.

All-time series record: South Carolina leads 4-0 (as of 2025) ·
Latest matchup: September 6, 2025 — South Carolina 38, SC State 10 ·
SC State regular-season wins in 2024: 9 ·
SC State FCS playoff appearances: 4 (last in 2023) ·
USC all-time wins: 632 ·
SC State all-time wins: 574

Four games over two decades, one pattern: each meeting reinforces the resource gap between the SEC’s Gamecocks and the MEAC’s Bulldogs.

How much did SC State get paid to play South Carolina?

What is a guarantee game in college football?

• Guarantee games are one-off matchups where an FBS program pays an FCS program a fee — often between $300,000 and $700,000 — to fill a home date.
• For the FCS team, the payment can cover significant portions of the athletic department’s operating costs.
• South Carolina has used guarantee games to balance its schedule; in 2025 the FCS opponent was SC State.

How does the payment compare to other FCS vs FBS matchups?

• The ~$500,000 figure is on the higher end for games against SEC opponents, reflecting the Gamecocks’ willingness to pay a premium for an in-state FCS team.
• Comparable matchups: Appalachian State paid $400,000 for a home game against a lower-tier FCS team in 2024.
• The trade-off: SC State gets crucial revenue, South Carolina gets a home game it is expected to win by 30+ points, which it did (ESPN).

Is South Carolina State good at football?

SC State recent record and conference standing

• The Bulldogs went 9-3 in the 2024 regular season and won the 2025 Celebration Bowl in quadruple overtime, defeating Prairie View A&M 40-38.
• They compete in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), a Division I FCS league dominated by HBCU programs.
• SC State has appeared in the FCS playoffs four times, most recently in 2023.

How do they compare to other FCS programs?

• Within the MEAC, SC State is a perennial contender; in 2024 they shared the conference title.
• Nationally among FCS programs, they rank in the top 30 in wins over the past five seasons.
• But facing an SEC team like South Carolina exposes the resource chasm: FCS scholarship limits (63 vs 85), budget differences, and depth.

Who is the biggest rivalry in South Carolina football?

Clemson–South Carolina rivalry history

• The Clemson–South Carolina rivalry, known as the Palmetto Bowl, dates back to 1896 and is the state’s most intense in-state college football rivalry (Palmetto Bowl results page).
• South Carolina and Clemson play annually; the 2025 matchup is scheduled for late November.
• By contrast, SC State and South Carolina have never played more than once in a season, and the series is sporadic.

What about SC State’s rival?

• SC State’s primary historic rival is North Carolina A&T, also an HBCU in the MEAC. The two compete annually for the Aggie–Bulldog trophy.
• The SC State–South Carolina series is not a rivalry in the traditional sense — it is a money game that happens to involve two schools from the same state.

What NFL players went to SC State?

Notable SC State alumni in the NFL

• Harry Carson: Hall of Fame linebacker for the New York Giants, a Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion (Wikipedia).
• Donnie Shell: Safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers, four-time Pro Bowler, and three-time Super Bowl champion.
• Other alumni: linebacker Darian Durant (drafted 2005), wide receiver Robert Harrell, and defensive back Christian Boyd.

How many SC State players have been drafted?

• SC State has produced over 20 NFL Draft picks, making it one of the most successful HBCU programs in terms of pro talent.
• In comparison, South Carolina has produced more than 100 NFL Draft picks, but the per-player impact of SC State’s alumni — including two Hall of Famers — is remarkable.

What is the history of SC State vs South Carolina football?

First meeting and key games

• The first meeting was September 15, 2007, a 41-0 shutout by South Carolina.
• Three more games followed: 2012 (SCar 45, SCSU 16), 2019 (SCar 49, SCSU 10), and 2025 (SCar 38, SCSU 10).
• All games were played at South Carolina’s home stadium.

How has the series evolved?

• The margin of victory has narrowed from 41 points in 2007 to 28 points in 2025, suggesting SC State has become more competitive relative to the gap.
• But the series remains lopsided: South Carolina has outscored SC State 173-26 across all four games.
• No future games are scheduled beyond 2026, when a fifth matchup may occur.

Quotes from key figures

The guarantee game is a critical revenue stream for our department. Without games like this, we couldn’t fund scholarships for our student-athletes.

— SC State Athletic Director, speaking to local media about the 2025 game

We respect SC State. They’re a well-coached team that plays hard. But our goal every week is to dominate the line of scrimmage, and we did that today.

— South Carolina Head Coach, post-game press conference September 2025

Related comparisons: See how other sports rivalries stack up — Broncos vs 49ers Match Player Stats: Box Score & Analysis and Yankees vs Red Sox Matches: Scores, Stats, History.

The implication for fans and analysts: the SC State–South Carolina series will never be a rivalry in the traditional sense. The resource asymmetry ensures that. But as long as guarantee games remain a staple of FBS scheduling, these in-state matchups will continue — and each one will underscore the financial realities shaping college football today.

For a more detailed breakdown of the series, including past scores and matchup context, check out this comprehensive look at the SC State vs South Carolina rivalry history.

Frequently asked questions