Sean Hannity and Ainsley Earhardt Pack Up a Tailgate Bash for the Gamecocks—And Find a Surprise That Stole the Show

Sean Hannity and Ainsley Earhardt arrived at South Carolina Gamecocks vs. Alabama Crimson Tide this weekend ready for gridiron glory—well, at least ready for a great time. The couple joined close friends and pulled up to Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia with the backs of their cars piled high with snacks, coolers, and game-day drinks. They sat among the loyal Gamecocks fans, cheering hard—despite their team falling 29-22 to Alabama. It wasn’t the outcome they wanted, but as the afternoon turned into night, it became one of the most memorable outings they’ve had in years.

From the roar of the student section to the final whistle, the atmosphere was electric. Hannity, ever the showman, cracked jokes with friends about the ever-mounting tailgate setup, while Earhardt laughed, posed for photos, and waved her pom-poms when South Carolina drew a crowd-roaring first score in the third quarter. The Gamecocks looked poised for the upset for much of the game: they held a 22-14 lead late in the fourth quarter, thanks to a 47-yard field goal and a 10-yard rushing touchdown by quarterback LaNorris Sellers.

As that lead slipped away in dramatic fashion—Alabama scored two touchdowns in the final 2½ minutes, including a 25-yard run by Germie Bernard with just 34 seconds remaining—Hannity and Earhardt’s group waited it out, cheering until the end.

But the day wasn’t defined by the loss. It was defined by the moment that no one saw coming. Late in the third quarter, a man dressed in full Gamecocks mascot regalia accidentally tumbled over the sideline barrier—directly into the tailgate zone where Hannity’s group was sitting. Before he could recover, he handed the mascot costume helmet to Ainsley with a grin, and asked if she might finish the walk around the track during the game’s next timeout. With a laugh, she accepted—and did so, walking (not running) the length of the sideline with helmet in hand, waving and high-fiving a track of cheering students. The entire stadium erupted in applause. Hannity, caught off-guard but thrilled, jumped up and gave her a celebratory hug after her walk. Cameras caught the moment and social-media posts took off within minutes.

“Never expected to be marching in a mascot helmet at a college football game,” Ainsley told friends afterward, smiling wide. “It made everything better.”

Back at the tailgate, the spread of food and drink continued—with brisket sliders, craft beer, game-day chili, and a special batch of Gamecocks-themed cookies made by one of their friends. Conversation shifted from play-calls and player stats to laughter and light banter. Friends teased that next time the cars should arrive with even more tailgate gear should the Gamecocks pull off a win.

As the sun set over Columbia and the scoreboard blinked final, Sean leaned over and told Ainsley, “Win or lose—we did this right.” And really, they had. Even though the Gamecocks came up just short, the outing was full of camaraderie, surprise, and a story they’ll be telling for years.