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Paul Mainieri to Become Head Coach at South Carolina

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Paul Mainieri to Become Head Coach at South Carolina


Here’s something I never thought I’d write: Paul Mainieri is back in the coaching game.

Monday afternoon it was reported that the former Tiger skipper has been lured out of retirement to take the head coaching position at South Carolina. Teddy Cahill of Baseball America and Kendall Rogers at D1 Baseball were among the first to have the scoop.

If we’re looking at this from just purely a credentials standpoint, this is a home run hire by South Carolina. Mainieri has amassed over 1,500 wins in his 39-year career. He’ll be the active leader in wins (1,505) when the 2025 season begins. At LSU he led LSU to the 2009 national championship and took the Tigers to Omaha on four other occasions, including a runner up finish in 2017. LSU won the SEC West six times, the SEC regular season title four times, and the SEC Tournament six times in the Mainieri era.

Mainieri posted a 641-285-3 record in his 15 seasons at LSU and his .692 winning percentage is the third best in league history behind only Skip Bertman and, fittingly enough, former South Carolina head coach Ray Tanner. Tanner is now Mainieri’s AD at South Carolina. The Tigers earned a national seed for the NCAA Tournament nine times, including a run of six consecutive seasons from 2012-2017. Stanford is the only other program to accomplish a similar feat, doing so between 1999-2004.

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There is no doubt in the world that Mainieri is qualified to be a head coach of an SEC program. But Carolina tapping Mainieri now, heading into the 2025 season, is…interesting to say the least.

Mainieri will be 67 years old by the time first pitch rolls around next February. He also of course retired following the 2021 season and has been out of the game in each of the past three seasons. His 2009 national championship is going on 16 years ago and his last Omaha trip will have been eight years ago.

Mainieri also got out of college athletics before NIL became a thing and the transfer portal has turned into what it is now. And for a man who by his own omission retired because of health issues, is this really something he wants to do?

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Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel via Imagn Content Services, LLC

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Who knows, maybe the three years away has recharged Mainieri’s batteries. Remember, a year ago his name was being floated for the head coaching job at Miami, and the year before that he was being linked to Notre Dame, where he spent 11 years at before coming to Baton Rouge. Maybe he truly misses coaching and getting to return to the SEC was too good an opportunity to pass up.

Mainieri will replace Mark Kingston, who was fired after the Gamecocks were knocked out of the NCAA Tournament. And if you’re wondering, yes LSU will play the Gamecocks in Columbia next season. Sorry Coach, but you’ll be Tiger Bait when that weekend comes around.



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LIVE: SC AG Alan Wilson, state, national leaders hold press conference on statewide drug busts

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LIVE: SC AG Alan Wilson, state, national leaders hold press conference on statewide drug busts


Statehouse Reporter Mary Green will have more on this tonight.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – South Carolina Attorney General and other officials will be holding a press conference Friday at 9:30 a.m. to talk about statewide drug busts.

Wilson is set to be joined by South Carolina Law Enforcement Division Chief Mark Keel, representatives from the Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security, as well as several local sheriffs and other law enforcement partners.

Watch the full press conference in the video above.

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2026 Football Schedule Unveiled

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2026 Football Schedule Unveiled


The University of South Carolina’s 2026 football schedule has been unveiled, it was announced tonight on the SEC Network.

The Gamecocks’ 2026 schedule features nine regular-season SEC contests, with five games at home and four on the road. The schedule also includes non-conference games versus Kent State and Towson as part of the seven-game home slate, and a non-conference road contest at Clemson.

After opening the season with three-consecutive home games for the first time since 2014, the Gamecocks will alternate home and road contests throughout the remainder of the schedule. The 2026 schedule features just one open date which will come on week 7 (October 17).

As announced on Monday, the Gamecocks will open the season on Sept. 5 by hosting Kent State. Carolina drubbed the Golden Flashes in its only previous encounter, a 77-14 decision in 1995. Kent State finished the 2025 season with a 5-7 mark overall and a 4-4 record in the Mid-American Conference.

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Week 2 will see the Towson Tigers make their first trip to Williams-Brice Stadium. The Tigers compete in the FCS Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) and posted a 6-6 record in 2025 under head coach Pete Shinnick.

The Gamecocks begin their nine-game SEC gauntlet on Sept. 19 when Mississippi State visits Columbia. Carolina has won eight of the last nine meeting with the Bulldogs including a 37-30 win in 2023, the only contest played between the two schools since 2016. The Gamecocks lead the all-time series by a 10-7 margin. Mississippi State is one of seven teams on Carolina’s 2026 schedule that is playing in a post-season game this year.

The Gamecocks first road trip of the 2026 season takes them to Tuscaloosa on Sept. 26 for a date with the Alabama Crimson Tide, one of four teams on South Carolina’s 2026 slate that will appear in this year’s College Football Playoffs. It will mark the third-consecutive season that Carolina and Alabama have squared off, with the Tide narrowly winning the previous two – 27-25 in Tuscaloosa in 2024 and 29-22 in Columbia in 2025.

The Gamecocks and Kentucky Wildcats will meet in Columbia on Oct. 3. The teams met in Williams-Brice Stadium on Sept. 27, 2025, with Carolina prevailing by a 35-13 score, its fourth-straight win in a series they lead 22-14-1.

Carolina wraps up the first half of the season at Florida on Oct. 10. The Gamecocks and Gators met every year on the gridiron from 1992-2023 but have not played in either of the last two seasons. Florida holds a commanding 31-10-3 lead in the all-time series including a 17-2 advantage when playing in The Swamp. Carolina’s last win in Gainesville came in overtime the 2014 season.

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After an open date on Oct. 17, the Gamecocks will return to action at home on Oct. 24 against the Tennessee Volunteers. Like Florida, the Gamecocks and Vols met every year from 1992-2023 but have not played in either of the last two seasons. Tennessee leads the all-time series by a 29-13-2 count including a narrow 10-8-2 advantage when the game has been played in Columbia.

The Gamecocks will spend Halloween in Norman playing the Oklahoma Sooners. The teams had never met prior to OU joining the SEC but have played each of the past two seasons with each team winning on the others’ home field.

The Bonham Trophy will be at stake on Nov. 7 when Texas A&M visits Williams-Brice Stadium. The Gamecocks and Aggies have met every year since A&M joined the SEC in 2014. The Aggies hold a 10-2 advantage in the all-time series, but the Gamecocks have won each of the last two meetings in Columbia.

The Gamecocks will travel to Fayetteville, Ark. for just the second time since 2013 when they tangle with the Arkansas Razorbacks on Nov. 14. South Carolina has won three of the last four games with the Hogs, but Arkansas clings to a 14-10 advantage in the all-time series.

The second-longest running series in school history behind only Carolina-Clemson, the Carolina-Georgia rivalry gets renewed on Nov. 21 when the Bulldogs make their way to Columbia from Athens. Georgia has won 55 of the previous 76 meetings between the flagship schools from neighboring states, with the Gamecocks last win coming in 2019.

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The 2026 regular season comes to an end on Nov. 28 when the Gamecocks and Clemson Tigers meet in the annual Palmetto Bowl. The 2026 meeting will take place in the Upstate, where the Gamecocks have won each of their last two visits.

SEASON TICKETS
Whether you’ve been attending games for years or want to experience the magic for the first time, it’s not too early to secure your season tickets for the 2026 season. Season tickets are available for as low as $65 per game with a 10-month payment plan option available. Fans interested in purchasing season tickets for the first time, can place a season ticket deposit today for only $50 plus fees or fill out our season ticket interest form to receive more information. Current season ticket holders will receive information soon on how to renew their tickets for the 2026 season and can contact their Gamecock Club Account Representative today to enroll in the 10-month payment plan. For more information on ticket options for the 2026 season, visit 2026 Football Hub.

2026 SOUTH CAROLINA FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Sept. 5                  vs Kent State
Sept. 12                 vs Towson
Sept. 19                 vs Mississippi State*
Sept. 26                at Alabama*
Oct. 3                    vs Kentucky*
Oct. 10                  at Florida*
Oct. 17                  OPEN DATE
Oct. 24                 vs Tennessee*
Oct. 31                  at Oklahoma*
Nov. 7                   vs Texas A&M*
Nov. 14                 at Arkansas*
Nov. 21                 vs Georgia*
Nov. 28                at Clemson

*-SEC game





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Nebraska targeting former South Carolina coach Lonnie Teasley

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Nebraska targeting former South Carolina coach Lonnie Teasley


Nebraska is targeting ex-South Carolina offensive line coach Lonnie Teasley for an offensive staff role, according to the Omaha World-Herald’s Sam McKewon. The role itself is still to be determined.

Teasley spent three seasons as the Gamecocks’ offensive line coach. He had been with the program since 2021, serving as an offensive analyst. He assumed on-field coaching duties for the program in 2022.

Teasley was let go by South Carolina in October, ending his time with the program.

In addition to his coaching role, he was a strong recruiter for the Gamecocks. He most recently landed Darius Gray, the top interior offensive line recruit in the 2026 class. He was also able to land four-star offensive tackle Kamari Blair for the class as well.

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Nebraska football has undergone several changes on offense over the last couple of days. They hired former Georgia Tech offensive line coach Geep Wade for the same position on Saturday, following the firing of Donovan Raiola.

The program is making sweeping changes on both sides of the football. Adding Teasley to the staff would be important for the program, which needs to be better prepared across all areas.

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes and opinions.





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