Game Week Arrives: South Carolina vs. Virginia Tech Preview
The waiting is over — college football is officially back. After months of hype, projections, and preseason chatter, No. 13 South Carolina finally kicks off its 2025 season this Sunday against Virginia Tech in the Aflac Kickoff Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
The nationally televised matchup on ESPN sets the stage for what could be a defining season under Shane Beamer.
📺 How to Watch
- When: Sunday, Aug. 31 — 3 p.m.
- Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
- TV/Stream: ESPN, ESPN app
⚔️ Series History
South Carolina leads the all-time series 11-7-2 and enters with a two-game winning streak. The last meeting came in 1991, when the Gamecocks won 28-21.
📊 Betting Odds
According to FanDuel, South Carolina is a 7.5-point favorite (-300 money line). The over/under sits at 50.5 points.
🔴 About South Carolina
Shane Beamer enters his fifth season at the helm, compiling a 29-22 record with three bowl appearances. Fresh off a 9-4 (5-3 SEC) campaign that earned him SEC Coach of the Year honors in 2024, Beamer now leads a program ranked 13th in the AP preseason poll — its highest spot since 2014.
The Gamecocks were picked to finish fifth in the SEC but have their sights set much higher.
Players to Watch:
- LaNorris Sellers (QB): The redshirt sophomore is the centerpiece of USC’s offense. Last season, he threw for 2,534 yards, 18 TDs, 7 INTs while rushing for 674 yards and 7 scores. Named to the Manning Award and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award watch lists, Sellers is the key to South Carolina’s ceiling.
- Dylan Stewart (EDGE): A breakout freshman in 2024, Stewart posted 23 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and 3 forced fumbles. With the departure of SEC Defensive Player of the Year Kyle Kennard, Stewart will be tasked with leading the Gamecocks’ pass rush.
🟠 About Virginia Tech
Fourth-year head coach Brent Pry is still looking to turn the corner. The Hokies are 16-21 under Pry and stumbled to a 6-7 (4-4 ACC) finish last year, capped by a 24-10 loss to Minnesota in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. They enter 2025 unranked and picked 11th in the ACC preseason poll.
Players to Watch:
- Kyron Drones (QB): The former Baylor transfer enters year three in Blacksburg after a down season in 2024, throwing for 1,562 yards, 10 TDs, 6 INTs. Hokies fans are hoping he can bounce back and stabilize the offense.
- Ben Bell (EDGE): The veteran defender, now in his sixth season, transferred in after stops at Louisiana Tech and Texas State. In 2023, he recorded 32 tackles and 10 sacks before redshirting in 2024. Virginia Tech’s staff believes his veteran presence could be an X-factor.
🗓 South Carolina’s 2025 Schedule
- Aug. 31 — vs. Virginia Tech (Atlanta) | 3 p.m. (ESPN)
- Sept. 6 — vs. South Carolina State | 7 p.m. (ESPN+/SEC Network+)
- Sept. 13 — vs. Vanderbilt | 7/7:45 p.m. (ESPN/SEC Network)
- Sept. 20 — at Missouri | TBD
- Sept. 27 — vs. Kentucky | TBD
- Oct. 11 — at No. 9 LSU | TBD
- Oct. 18 — vs. No. 18 Oklahoma | TBD
- Oct. 25 — vs. No. 8 Alabama | TBD
- Nov. 1 — at No. 21 Ole Miss | TBD
- Nov. 15 — at No. 19 Texas A&M | TBD
- Nov. 22 — vs. Coastal Carolina | TBD
- Nov. 29 — vs. No. 4 Clemson | Noon (ABC/ESPN)
South Carolina begins 2025 with momentum and expectations higher than they’ve been in a decade. With LaNorris Sellers under center and a strong supporting cast, the Gamecocks are looking to make a statement right out of the gate against Virginia Tech.
