SEC basketball rarely disappoints, and Thursday brings one of the heavyweight showdowns of the season: South Carolina vs. Texas. Both programs are chasing another Final Four run, and both look fully capable of getting there based on how they’ve started.

Both teams have dropped just one game this season, with Texas sitting at 18–1 and South Carolina at 17–1. Dawn Staley’s Gamecocks enter on a five-game winning streak, while Vic Schaefer’s Longhorns are looking to bounce back after suffering their first loss of the season to LSU.

This one has all the ingredients for an intense, end-to-end showdown with serious entertainment value. And we’ve got you covered with everything you need to know.

South Carolina vs Texas: Where to watch

Date: Thursday, January 15, 2026
Time: 7 p.m. ET.
Venue: Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, SC
Watch on: ESPN2
Streaming: Fubo

South Carolina vs Texas: Injury report

South Carolina Gamecocks

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• Ashlyn Watkins – OUT
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Texas Longhorns 

• No players are out injured

Probable Starting Lineups

South Carolina Gamecocks

• Joyce Edwards
• Madina Okot
• Tessa Johnson
• Ta’Niya Latson
• Raven Johnson

Texas Longhorns 

• Justice Carlton
• Breya Cunningham
• Madison Booker
• Jordan Lee
• Rori Harmon

Prediction: Can Texas get back to winning ways?

The last time these two teams met, it was pure cinema. Texas took home the inaugural Players Era Championship by beating the Gamecocks 66–64, thanks to a Rori Harmon floater in the final seconds. Expecting anything less than drama here would be foolish.

There’s barely anything separating these two programs. Over their last nine meetings, South Carolina holds only a slim 5–4 edge, which tells you just how evenly matched they’ve been.

Statistically, there’s almost nothing separating these two. Texas barely leads in scoring and defense, averaging 90.5 points per game while giving up 53.2. South Carolina, meanwhile, averages 89.7 points and allows 53.6. Even the NET rankings reflect how tight this matchup is. The Gamecocks sit at No. 3, with the Longhorns right behind them at No. 4.

However, the prospect of playing away from home at Colonial Life Arena could be a real test for Vic Schaefer and his side. How players like Madison and Rori Harmon handle that pressure will be key. According to ESPN’s prediction model, the Gamecocks are favored, with a 62.6% chance of winning.

Coach Vic Schaefer has already gone on record criticizing the SEC for Texas’ schedule, which forces the Longhorns to play LSU and South Carolina back-to-back on the road. The fatigue that comes with that is an obvious factor, and it’s one of the reasons Texas won’t enter this matchup as the favorite, despite already beating South Carolina earlier this season.

Who do you think comes out on top in this one? Let us know in the comments below!