South Carolina will play S.C. State on Thursday night to avoid any inclement weather Hurricane Ian may cause, the Athletics Department announced Tuesday.
The week five matchup was initially scheduled for a noon kickoff on Saturday, Oct. 1. Kickoff will now be at 7 p.m. on Sept. 29.
“Due to the potential impact of the hurricane on Columbia and the surrounding area, it is in the best interest of safety to play the game on Thursday rather than Saturday afternoon,” South Carolina Athletics Director Ray Tanner said in a press release.
Hurricane Ian is expected to hit Columbia later in the week, according to the National Weather Service. Gusts of wind are can be expected Thursday and Friday while heavy rains are possible Friday through Saturday, it predicts.
“Based on the current forecast and expected weather conditions as well as information from our campus, state and local law enforcement agencies, at this time, the University is confident in our ability to host the game on Thursday at Williams-Brice Stadium," Tanner said.
All tickets that were issued for the SC State game will be available for Thursday night. The Athletics Department is encouraging fans to use their accounts on GamecocksOnline.com to resell tickets they won't be able to use because of the schedule change.
A reunion honoring the 2010 to 2013 football teams that was supposed to take place during the game has been postponed.
Information regarding the status of other South Carolina sporting events this weekend will be announced as it becomes available, the release said.
This is the first time since 2018 that a hurricane has changed the Gamecocks' schedule.
In 2018, Hurricane Florence cancelled South Carolina's matchup with Marshall.
The university does not currently plan to cancel classes, but will follow Richland County's lead if it closes offices.