Thrilling Season of Sports Action Kicks Off at The Beach

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.—This winter, the Myrtle Beach area is packed with exciting sports action for fans of every age. From basketball and football to the uniquely American game of cornhole, teams and fans can experience the season’s top events while enjoying the mild coastal climate of The Beach.

The action-packed lineup includes the Myrtle Beach Bowl presented by Engine college football game and the American Cornhole League (ACL) Collegiate & High School Cornhole Championship, both of which hit the national airways on ESPN networks, showcasing the destination throughout the United States.

Additionally, at the high school level, The Beach will roll out the red carpet to host its 45th annual Beach Ball Classic, a girls’ and boys’ basketball tournament, and the 78th annual Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl, a statewide football challenge formally known as the North-South Game.

“Sports events bring high energy to the Myrtle Beach area year-round, especially in our winter months when we welcome holiday excitement and competitions at the highest level,” said Stuart Butler, President, Visit Myrtle Beach. “Our local community eagerly gears up to welcome these teams, athletes, families and fans as they experience all our destination has to offer.” 

From high-stakes basketball and the thrill of bowl season to the uniquely American game of cornhole, these are some of the highlight sporting events happening in the coming months. Here are the highlight events:

• Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl (Dec. 13): South Carolina’s top high school seniors clash at Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium in Myrtle Beach for this North-South postseason football game. A tradition since 1948, the all-star game is now in its 78th year.
   
• Myrtle Beach Bowl presented by Engine (Dec. 19): Returning for its sixth year, this college bowl game is a festive time held right before Christmas. The teams participating in this college football showdown are the Kennesaw (Ga.) State Owls (No. 1 in Conference USA) vs. the Western Michigan Broncos of Kalamazoo, Mich. (No. 1 in Mid-American Conference). Kickoff is at 11 a.m. Tickets are on sale.
   
• Beach Ball Classic (Dec. 19-22, Dec. 27-30): This high school girls’ and boys’ basketball showdown celebrating its 45th year features some of the nation’s top young talent revving up the Myrtle Beach Convention Center and Myrtle Beach Sports Center, with HTC cable channel airing many of the games. The men’s dunk contest is a must-see segment of the event. Tickets are available at the door.
   
• ACL Collegiate & High School Cornhole Championships (Jan. 1-4, 2026): Taking place at the Myrtle Beach Sports Center, this annual showdown attracts highly skilled college and high school athletes from across the country to compete for national titles in singles and doubles events. Additional divisions include the pro league, high school and open play.

Find additional events and start planning your adventure at VisitMyrtleBeach.com.