South Carolina will open its SEC schedule on Saturday at 4:20 p.m. EST, hosting Mississippi State on the SEC Network but the game will be delayed.
GamecockCentral.com wrote on X at 3:09 p.m. EST that a weather delay is in place in Columbia due to lightning in the area.
“A weather delay is in place in Columbia due to lightning in the area. More information will be released regarding the start time for South Carolina vs. Mississippi State when the weather clears,” GamecockCentral wrote.
South Carolina has had bad weather, including a lightning delay at the start of the fourth quarter during the North Carolina game at Clemson. Clemson is only about 130 miles from Columbia so that a storm could be passing through the state.
South Carolina Might Have to Wait a While to Take the Field
College football teams aren’t allowed to be on the field if there is a lightning strike within an eight-mile radius of the stadium. They can’t return to the field until 30 minutes after the last lightning strike.
It seemed like the game would start at 4:20 p.m. EST because the players took the field to warm up around 3:40 p.m. EST after they called off the delay, but the delay quickly returned at 3:43 p.m. EST.
Since the players haven’t even warmed up yet, and an additional 30 minutes has been added to the start time due to the latest lightning strike, this game likely won’t start at 4:20 p.m.
The SEC Network reported at 5:00 p.m. EST that the game’s start time is now set for 5:35 p.m. EST.
Mississippi State Pulled Off a Nice Win
The game did start at 5:35 p.m. EST, and the Bulldogs won 41-34. One of the biggest stories was Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor, who went 18/26 for 251 yards and four scores.
Taylor has been outstanding this season. In the two games before the South Carolina matchup, he threw for 581 yards and seven touchdowns. As a true sophomore, he will need to wait a season before entering the NFL, but he could be in the running to be the first quarterback selected in the 2028 NFL Draft.
The other quarterback in this matchup is LaNorris Sellers from South Carolina, who should have his name called in the first round of the 2027 NFL Draft. He didn’t have the best afternoon, going 25 for 40 with 282 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions.
South Carolina heads to Alabama in Week 4, while Mississippi State hosts Missouri.
Mississippi State vs. South Carolina: Why Was the Game Delayed? When Will It Start