Coming off a nine-win 2024 campaign, South Carolina football is set to open the 2025 season with sky-high expectations. The Gamecocks face off against ACC challenger Virginia Tech in a neutral-site showdown at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium this Sunday. Kickoff is slated for 3 p.m. ET, with the game broadcast nationally on ESPN.
Game Info
- Matchup: Virginia Tech vs. South Carolina
- Date/Time: Aug. 31, 2024 – 3:00 p.m. ET
- Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA (Capacity: 70,390)
- TV: ESPN (Bob Wischusen, Louis Riddick)
- Radio: Gamecock Sports Network (Todd Ellis, Tommy Suggs, Chet Tucker)
- Satellite: Sirius/XM Channel 81 or 84
- Odds: South Carolina -7.5 | O/U 51.5
- Weather: 82° and partly cloudy
Storylines to Watch
Beamer Bowl (Sort of):
For Shane Beamer, this opener is personal. It will be his first time coaching against Virginia Tech since his father, legendary head coach Frank Beamer, retired in 2015. Frank Beamer, who led the Hokies from 1987–2015, piled up 238 wins, 23 consecutive bowl appearances, and a trip to the 2000 BCS National Championship game (with Shane on the roster). Shane also coached on the Hokies’ staff from 2011–15, even serving as acting head coach in the 2014 Military Bowl.
Series History:
Though the two teams have squared off 20 times, they haven’t met since 1991. South Carolina took that game 28–21 in Columbia after a late Virginia Tech touchdown was wiped out by penalty. Overall, the Gamecocks lead the all-time series 11-7-2. The Hokies last beat South Carolina in 1974 — two years before Shane Beamer was born.
Season Opener Trends:
This marks the second straight year South Carolina opens against a Virginia opponent on Aug. 31. Last year, the Gamecocks defeated Old Dominion 23–19. In fact, USC has opened against northern opponents three years in a row. The last time they opened against a southern foe was 2022, when they beat Georgia State in Atlanta.
August Records:
South Carolina has been successful in early-season contests, carrying a 4–1 all-time record on August 31. They are 8–3 overall in games played in August.
Key Notes from South Carolina
- Hot Streak: The Gamecocks closed the 2024 season with six straight wins, including victories over SEC opponents Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt, and Missouri, and capped it with a rivalry win over ACC champion Clemson.
- Historic Matchup: The 300th game in program history was against Virginia Tech in 1933 — a 12-0 USC win led by Earl Clary, the “Gaffney Ghost.”
- Coaching Connections: Defensive backs coach Torrian Gray is a Hokie alum (1992–96) and later coached at Virginia Tech from 2006–15 before joining South Carolina in 2021.
- Family Legacy: While Shane Beamer helped Virginia Tech win 47 games as a player, his father compiled a 29–6 record against Big East opponents during that time.
- New Faces: Offensive coordinator Mike Shula enters his first season with the Gamecocks. The former Alabama head coach (2003–06) has history against USC — his Tide split two meetings with the Gamecocks.
- Virginia Ties: USC’s roster features six players from Virginia, including Fred Johnson, Kendall Daniels Jr., Shawn Murphy, George Wilson Jr., Caleb Williams, and Chase Kibble — whose father played with Shane Beamer at Virginia Tech.
Virginia Tech Connections
- Defensive Leadership: New defensive coordinator Sam Siefkes takes over the Hokie defense after two seasons coaching linebackers for the Arizona Cardinals. He previously led Wofford’s defense to a top-20 FCS ranking in 2019.
With history, family ties, and postseason hopes all on the line, Sunday’s clash promises to be more than just a season opener. For Shane Beamer and the Gamecocks, it’s a chance to start strong, honor legacy, and keep momentum rolling from last year’s late-season surge.
