South Carolina football kicked off the 2025 season in winning fashion on Sunday, as head coach Shane Beamer guided his Gamecocks to a 24-11 victory over his alma mater, the Virginia Tech Hokies. The neutral-site clash set the tone for USC’s season and quickly sparked reactions across the college football world.
The win drew plenty of “Beamer Ball” references on social media, with ESPN’s Ryan McGee, That SEC Podcast host Michael Bratton, and CBS Sports’ Tom Fornelli among those giving shoutouts.
Not all feedback was glowing, though. On his See Ball Get Ball show, former Georgia All-American David Pollock offered a critical assessment of the Gamecocks’ performance. “They were not clean or perfect by any stretch of the imagination,” Pollock said. “There were a lot of things to look at and go, ‘I didn’t like that.’”
Pollock singled out the offense, noting that it lacked consistency outside of quarterback LaNorris Sellers and wide receiver Nyck Harbor. Still, he and co-host Brent Rollins credited South Carolina’s defense and special teams, with Pollock ultimately calling USC a “good team.”
That perspective mirrored much of the national conversation: while the offense showed flaws, the other two phases dominated.
Several individual Gamecocks also earned praise. On3’s Ari Wasserman called Sellers, Harbor, and freshman edge rusher Dylan Stewart “aliens,” posting a close-up shot of Harbor with the caption:
“South Carolina has 3 aliens on its team. How many other teams have three 3 aliens?”
Sellers drew additional recognition for his strength and playmaking ability. Devin Jackson of the Philadelphia Enquirer tweeted, “South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers impossible to bring down man, just unreal strength. Plays like this consistently shows up on his film.”
Meanwhile, freshman Vicari Swain etched his name in Gamecock lore by returning a punt for a touchdown—the program’s first since Ace Sanders in the 2013 Outback Bowl. USC alum and Bussin’ with the Boys contributor JP Hovey said the moment would stick in fans’ minds for years. “Vicari Swain just gave us a punt return that will be in Gamecock football highlights for many years to come,” Hovey tweeted.
On the defensive side, newcomer Brandon Cisse turned heads with his coverage ability. NFL stars and former Gamecock greats Stephon Gilmore and Jaycee Horn both gave him props on social media, with Gilmore tweeting, “Hey Nice next one up.”
With the 1-0 start, South Carolina could climb in the polls as several teams ahead of them stumbled in Week 1. The new AP Top 25 and Coaches Poll will be released Tuesday.
Next up, the Gamecocks return to Williams-Brice Stadium for their home opener against South Carolina State. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., with the game streaming live on ESPN+.
