How to Watch Tennessee vs. South Carolina on DIRECTV: Kickoff Time, ESPN or SEC Network
Tennessee visits South Carolina on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at 3:30 p.m. ET at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia. Kickoff is locked. The TV network is still TBD between ESPN and SEC Network, per the SEC's Week 8 release and South Carolina Athletics. Final network designations were scheduled to post late Saturday night after Week 7 games.
On DIRECTV, plan for both options: ESPN is channel 206 (every Signature package from ENTERTAINMENT) and SEC Network is channel 611 (CHOICE and higher). Tennessee is 5-1 (2-1 SEC) and South Carolina is 3-3 (1-3 SEC) as of October 15, 2026. Refresh those records if you upload or republish after the October 17 games.
Tennessee vs. South Carolina: date, time and channel
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, October 24, 2026 (Week 8) |
| Kickoff | 3:30 p.m. ET / 2:30 p.m. CT / 12:30 p.m. PT |
| Stadium | Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, South Carolina |
| Conference | SEC |
| TV | ESPN or SEC Network (TBD as of October 15) |
| DIRECTV if ESPN | 206 |
| DIRECTV if SEC Network | 611 |
| Streaming | ESPN app with ESPN Unlimited (eligible DIRECTV customers); the DIRECTV app |
| Records | Tennessee 5-1 (2-1 SEC); South Carolina 3-3 (1-3 SEC), through October 15 |
What channel is Tennessee vs. South Carolina on DIRECTV?
The SEC has not locked the linear network yet. South Carolina Athletics said on October 12 that the game will air on either ESPN or SEC Network, with the final designation after Week 7. ESPN's scoreboard still shows no national TV assignment for October 24 as of October 15.
Have both channels ready:
| Network | DIRECTV channel | Starting package |
|---|---|---|
| ESPN | 206 | ENTERTAINMENT (every Signature package) |
| ESPN2 | 209 | ENTERTAINMENT |
| SEC Network | 611 | CHOICE, ULTIMATE, PREMIER; also MySports |
Our guide to what channel ESPN is on DIRECTV covers channel 206 and ESPN Unlimited. For channel 611, see what channel SEC Network is on DIRECTV. If you mostly watch sports, the MySports Genre Pack includes ESPN and SEC Network. Compare every tier in our DIRECTV package channel comparison, or call 1-855-690-9884.
How to stream Tennessee vs. South Carolina
- ESPN app: DIRECTV says eligible customers whose package includes ESPN can activate ESPN Unlimited at no extra cost. Sign in at directv.com, open your TV package, select Activate ESPN Unlimited, then sign in to the ESPN app. That covers ESPN linear games and SEC Network events that stream with an authenticated TV login.
- DIRECTV app: watch ESPN 206 or SEC Network 611 live on your phone, tablet or streaming device with your DIRECTV login once the network is set.
Activate ESPN Unlimited before Saturday so you are not setting up an account at kickoff. Search "Tennessee" or "South Carolina" in the guide after the network posts.
How Tennessee and South Carolina got here
Results below are from ESPN's team schedules as of October 15, 2026. Tennessee hosts Alabama on October 17 (ABC) before this trip; South Carolina is idle that week.
| Tennessee (5-1, 2-1 SEC) | South Carolina (3-3, 1-3 SEC) |
|---|---|
| W 56-9 vs. Furman | W 57-0 vs. Kent State |
| W 45-24 at Georgia Tech | W 45-9 vs. Towson |
| W 42-9 vs. Kennesaw State | L 34-41 vs. Mississippi State |
| L 17-20 vs. Texas | L 18-49 at Alabama |
| W 24-14 vs. Auburn | L 34-35 vs. Kentucky |
| W 24-17 at Arkansas | W 38-19 at Florida |
| Sat., Oct. 17: vs. Alabama (ABC) | Bye (idle Oct. 17) |
Tennessee vs. South Carolina storylines
- Last meeting at Williams-Brice: South Carolina beat No. 5 Tennessee 63-38 on November 19, 2022. The Volunteers lead the all-time series 29-11-2 and are 10-8-2 on the road in the series, per South Carolina Athletics.
- Ranked visitor: Tennessee entered the Week 8 window ranked No. 14 in the AP/Coaches polls cited in the Gamecocks' October 12 release.
- Tennessee's week: the Vols host Alabama on October 17 before traveling to Columbia. Our Alabama vs. Tennessee on DIRECTV guide covers that ABC game.
- South Carolina's rebound: after three straight SEC losses, the Gamecocks won 38-19 at Florida on October 10 and get a bye before Tennessee.
- What's next: Tennessee hosts Kentucky on November 7; South Carolina visits Oklahoma on October 31.
SEC games on DIRECTV, Saturday, October 24
| Game | Kickoff (ET) | Network (as of Oct. 15) | DIRECTV channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| LSU at Auburn | Noon | TBD | TBD |
| Texas A&M at Alabama | 3:30 p.m. | ABC | Local ABC station |
| Tennessee at South Carolina | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN or SEC Network (TBD) | 206 or 611 |
| Oklahoma at Mississippi State | 3:30 p.m. | TBD | TBD |
| Ole Miss at Texas | 7:30 p.m. | ABC | Local ABC station |
| Vanderbilt at Kentucky | 7:30 p.m. | SEC Network | 611 |
The Week 8 college football TV schedule on DIRECTV lists every conference window, and the Week 7 schedule covers October 17. Local channel help: DIRECTV channels for Tennessee and South Carolina. Want ESPN and SEC Network covered for the rest of SEC season? Check DIRECTV options at your address or call 1-855-690-9884.
Frequently asked questions
What channel is Tennessee vs. South Carolina on DIRECTV?
The network is still TBD between ESPN and SEC Network as of October 15, 2026. On DIRECTV, ESPN is channel 206 (ENTERTAINMENT and up) and SEC Network is channel 611 (CHOICE and up). Search the guide for Tennessee or South Carolina after the SEC posts the final designation.
What time does Tennessee vs. South Carolina start?
Kickoff is 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina.
Is the TV network locked yet?
No. South Carolina Athletics and the SEC said the game will be on ESPN or SEC Network, with the final assignment after Week 7 games. ESPN's scoreboard still shows no network as of October 15.
Can I stream Tennessee vs. South Carolina?
Yes. Eligible DIRECTV customers can activate ESPN Unlimited and watch in the ESPN app once the game is assigned. The DIRECTV app also streams ESPN 206 and SEC Network 611 with your login.
What are Tennessee's and South Carolina's records?
Through October 15, 2026, Tennessee is 5-1 (2-1 SEC) and South Carolina is 3-3 (1-3 SEC). Tennessee hosts Alabama on October 17 before this game; refresh records if you check back after that.
Which DIRECTV package has SEC Network?
SEC Network on channel 611 starts with CHOICE, and it is also in ULTIMATE, PREMIER and the MySports Genre Pack. ESPN on 206 starts with ENTERTAINMENT.
Need help confirming ESPN 206 or SEC Network 611 before kickoff? Call 1-855-690-9884.
Details reviewed October 15, 2026. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on October 24, 2026. The linear TV network (ESPN or SEC Network) was still TBD as of October 15 and is set by the SEC and ESPN. Records reflect games played through October 15, 2026; refresh after October 17 if republishing. Channel lineups, package contents, offers and prices vary by address and may change. Tennessee, South Carolina, SEC, ESPN, DIRECTV and related marks belong to their respective owners. American TV is an independent dealer and resource site.