South Carolina will travel to Arkansas, host Mississippi State in 2013

COLUMBIA — The Southeastern Conference released its 2013 league football schedule Thursday.

The league is delaying the debut of its new scheduling format for its 14-team alignment until 2014.

That means South Carolina won’t start its pairing with permanent Western Division opponent Texas A&M until 2014. Texas A&M and Missouri joined the SEC this year.

The SEC’s athletic directors will meet next spring to determine the scheduling format for 2014 and beyond. So the 2013 schedule will not resemble any past or future formats. USC’s Western Division opponents in 2013 will be Arkansas (on the road) and Mississippi State (at home).

USC had non-conference games listed against North Carolina (Aug. 29, a Thursday night); South Carolina State (Sept. 7), at Central Florida (Sept. 28) and Clemson (Nov. 30).

But a USC spokesman said Thursday that none of the non-league game dates are officially set.

USC will have to move the S.C. State game to accommodate the Georgia game. The opener against North Carolina and the Clemson game seem very unlikely to change dates.

Presuming the North Carolina, Central Florida and Clemson games remain in their previously announced spots, USC’s current open spots on the schedule are Sept. 21, Nov. 9 and Nov. 23 (sandwiching the Florida game). All of the SEC’s teams will have two off weeks in 2013.