It’s game week. With Carolina’s season opener this weekend, it’s time to get excited about college football + prepare for a Saturday in South Carolina. Whether you’re a game day pro, or have no idea what to cock-a-doodle-doo, we’ve got your guide to game days.

Experience

Line up along Gamecock Walk around 2:15 p.m. for the pregame pep rally, where you can see the team, USC's spirit teams, and the drumline walk into the stadium before the game.

After cheering the team into the stadium, head to the Gamecock Park Amphitheater for the pep rally where you can practice your Gamecock songs + cheers with the Mighty Sound of the Southeast at 2:30 p.m.

Pro tip — buy tickets to a night game to enjoy Williams-Brice's stadium lights. | Photo by COLAtoday team

Tickets

Find game day tickets — either single-game or season — at Gamecocks Online. Check out a few home games you won't want to miss this season.

USC vs. Old Dominion | First game of the season | Saturday, Aug. 31 | 4:15 p.m.

USC vs. Akron | Family weekend | Saturday, Sept. 21 | Night

USC vs. Texas A&M | Homecoming | Saturday, Nov. 2 | Night

USC vs. Wofford | Salute the Troops | Saturday, Nov. 23 | 4 p.m.

Pro tip — download tickets to your phone for easy entry.

Get ready to wave those white towels, Gamecock fans. | Photo by @jacobreevescreative

Parking

Parking can be tricky, so we recommend leaving two to four hours before the game (or earlier) if you plan to tailgate.

Check out this full parking map showing where each parking lot is in relation to the stadium + interstate.

Gameday shuttle services are free to students with proof of a Carolina card.

We suggest bringing anywhere from $20 to $40 in cash if you're parking at nearby businesses, churches + residences around the stadium.

If you’d rather skip the hassle and have a guaranteed spot, season passes are available.

Post-game stadium traffic will have priority. Check out pre-game + post-game traffic flow patterns.