South Carolina-LSU Basketball Game Time Moved Up Due to Snow

The SEC matchup will now tip off at 1 p.m. EST on Saturday instead of the originally scheduled 6 p.m.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 11:31pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Due to a forecast of snow in the Columbia, South Carolina area, officials from the University of South Carolina and Louisiana State University have agreed to move up the start time of their scheduled men's basketball game on Saturday. The game will now tip off at 1:00 p.m. EST instead of the original 6:00 p.m. start time.

Why it matters

The change in game time is intended to allow fans and students to safely arrive and depart the arena before potential winter weather hits the region. South Carolina officials want to ensure normal game day operations can proceed without disruption from the expected snowfall.

The details

The game between the South Carolina Gamecocks and LSU Tigers will now begin at 1:00 p.m. EST on Saturday, January 31st at the Colonial Life Arena in Columbia. All normal game day operations, including arena entry and parking lot access, will be adjusted to accommodate the new earlier start time.

  • The game was originally scheduled for a 6:00 p.m. EST tipoff on Saturday, January 31st.
  • The game time has been moved up to a 1:00 p.m. EST start on Saturday, January 31st.

The players

University of South Carolina

The host school for the basketball game, located in Columbia, South Carolina.

Louisiana State University

The visiting team, traveling to Columbia to play the Gamecocks.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

Fans and students are advised to arrive early and plan for potential winter weather conditions when attending the rescheduled 1 p.m. game on Saturday.

The takeaway

This game time change demonstrates the flexibility and responsiveness of college athletic departments to adjust schedules and logistics in the face of unexpected weather events, prioritizing the safety of players, staff, and spectators.