COLUMBIA, S.C. – University of South Carolina equestrian coach Boo Major on Wednesday released the schedule for the upcoming 2014-2015 season, which marks the 19th season of varsity equestrian at Carolina. The reining back-to-back Southeastern Conference champions will compete in a 12-meet regular season slate that features six regular season meets against SEC opponents.

“We think this is a very competitive schedule and it’ll certainly be one that challenges us,” Major said. “As always, our SEC opponents are going to be tough, but we also compete against Kansas State, Oklahoma State, and Baylor, and all three of those teams along with Georgia and Auburn made it to the quarterfinals at nationals last year. And we go to Fresno State for the first time in a few years, so it’ll be a new experience for all of our riders that have never competed there before. This is a good schedule and I really think it’ll prepare us for what will be a very competitive postseason.”

For the second straight season, the Gamecocks will open the season against Kansas State. Last year, the two teams kicked off the 2013-2014 campaign in Blythewood, a meet that Carolina won, 15-5. The Gamecocks last competed at Kansas State on March 8, 2013.

The Gamecocks return to Blythewood two weeks later for their home opener, when South Carolina hosts SEC runner-up and national champion Georgia on Oct. 3. Three of the last four meetings between the two teams have gone to a tiebreaker. One week after facing the Bulldogs, Carolina travels to Auburn to face the Tigers on Oct. 10. The Gamecocks went 3-0 against the Tigers last season, outscoring Auburn, 34-19.

Carolina returns home three weeks later on Halloween to face Texas A&M. The Aggies are the only team that defeated the Gamecocks outright in a meet last season, edging South Carolina, 10-9, in College Station on Oct. 25, 2013.

The Gamecocks will compete twice during the month of November, both times on the road. South Carolina makes its first trip to Fresno State since the 2010-2011 season, as the Gamecocks and Bulldogs will face off on Nov. 7 at the Student Horse Center. Carolina closes out the fall portion of its schedule on Nov. 21 at Oklahoma State. The Cowgirls handed the Gamecocks their most recent non-conference loss, a 10-10 tiebreaker in Stillwater on March 9, 2013.

The Gamecocks open the spring with a rare January meet, when Carolina welcomes back former hunt seat coach Carol Gwin and SMU on Jan. 31. Earlier this month, Gwin was named head coach of the Mustangs after spending four years with the Gamecocks.

One week later, South Carolina travels to Bishop, Ga., for a doubleheader on Feb. 7. The Gamecocks will compete against Georgia and Delaware State at the UGA Equestrian Complex. Carolina closes out the three-meet road swing on Feb. 21 with a meet at Texas A&M.

The Gamecocks return home on Feb. 28 to host Auburn in the final SEC regular season meet of the year. Six days later, Carolina will host Baylor in the regular season finale. The last time South Carolina hosted Auburn and Baylor in back-to-back home meets (2011-2012 season), the Gamecocks beat the Tigers and Bears by a combined score of 27-10, winning 6-of-8 MVPs.

The SEC Championship will run March 27-28 in College Station, Texas. The National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) National Championship will take place April 16-18 in Waco, Texas.

Admission to all Gamecock equestrian meets is free. Live online scoring will be available for all home meets, along with selected away meets here on GamecocksOnline.