South Carolina faces off against Virginia Tech in the schools' season opener in Atlanta at 3 p.m. EST in Atlanta on Sunday.
After a nine-win season in 2024, South Carolina kicks off the 2025 season with big expectations. The Gamecocks are taking on ACC foe Virginia Tech in a neutral-site contest in Atlanta on Sunday. The matchup is set for an afternoon tilt at Mercedes-Benz Stadium with kickoff scheduled for 3 p.m.
Virginia Tech vs. South Carolina
When: Aug. 31, 2024 – 3:00 ET
Where: Atlanta, GA – Mercedes-Benz Stadium (70,390)
Broadcast: ESPN (Bob Wischusen, Louis Riddick)
Local Radio: Gamecock Sports Network (Todd Ellis, Tommy Suggs, Chet Tucker)
Satellite Radio: Sirius/XM Channel 81 or 84
Odds: South Carolina -7.5, over/under 51.5
Weather: 82°, Partly cloudy
ALSO SEE: What Mike Shula said previewing Virginia Tech
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South Carolina vs. Virginia Tech Preview Content
- Analytics Corner: Are Gamecocks playoff contenders?
- Three keys to the game for South Carolina against Virginia Tech
- Insider Report: A closer look at South Carolina/Virginia Tech
- Behind Enemy Bylines: Virginia Tech writer breaks down Hokies ahead of South Carolina game
- The Verdict: Going farther in 2025 starts with taking care of business in Atlanta
- Everything Clayton White said in his Thursday press conference previewing Virginia Tech
- Everything Virginia Tech head coach Brent Pry said previewing matchup with South Carolina
- Everything Shane Beamer said during his Tuesday press conference previewing Virginia Tech
How to watch today’s game
Sunday’s action will be broadcast live via ESPN at 3 p.m. for kickoff. ESPN is available nationwide from every major cable, satellite, and streaming provider.
GC LIVE: South Carolina vs. Virginia Tech Preview with Chris Clark and Wes Mitchell
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Quick Notes from South Carolina Athletics
BEAMER BALL: Sunday marks the first time Shane Beamer has coached against Virginia Tech in any capacity since his father Frank Beamer retired from the head coaching position in Blacksburg following the 2015 season. The elder Beamer had held the position since 1987, compiling a 238-121-2 record with the Hokies. Between 1993 and 2015, Beamer led Virginia Tech to 23 straight bowl games, including a national championship appearance against Florida State in 2000 while Shane was on the Virginia Tech roster. Shane Beamer served on the Hokies’ staff from 2011-2015 and was named the acting head coach for the team in the 2014 Military Bowl.
SERIES IN SHORT: Despite South Carolina and Virginia Tech meeting 20 times in program history, the two teams haven’t played each other since 1991. On Sept. 21, Sparky Woods’s Gamecocks took down Frank Beamer and Virginia Tech in front of 68,200 fans at Williams-Brice. The 28-21 victory was managed despite an apparent Hokies touchdown pass with 22 seconds left. Virginia Tech quarterback threw a 33-yard touchdown to wide receiver Bo Campbell, but the play was called back because of an illegal formation from the Hokies. Overall, South Carolina leads the series 11-7-2 all-time. Virginia Tech’s most recent victory over South Carolina came in 1974, prior to the birth of Shane Beamer.
STATE OF THE PROGRAM: Sunday marks the second straight season that South Carolina has opened the year with a matchup against an opponent from Virginia on Aug. 31. Last season, the Gamecocks defeated Old Dominion, located in Norfolk, 23-19 at home. For the past three seasons, South Carolina has opened the season against an opponent located north of Columbia. The last time the Gamecocks played a team south of Columbia in an opener was 2022. South Carolina defeated Georgia State 35-14 at Williams-Brice. Coincidentally, the Panthers are from Atlanta, located just a seven-minute drive from Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
AN AUGUST TO REMEMBER: The Gamecocks have a 4-1 record all-time on August 31. Including last season’s victory over Old Dominion, the Gamecocks have also defeated New Mexico State, Mississippi State, and The Citadel on the date. Frank Beamer spent seven years of his coaching career at The Citadel. Elsewhere in August, the Gamecocks are 1-1 on Aug. 28, 1-0 on Aug. 29, and 2-1 on Aug. 30. Overall, the program is 8-3 in the month of August. The Gamecocks play North Carolina State on August 30, 2031, to open the season six years from yesterday.
HEARD IT THROUGH THE RADIO: Current play-by-play commentator Todd Ellis holds the freshman single-game passing record for the program. The yardage mark of 394 was set in a 27-27 tie on Oct. 11, 1986, in Blacksburg. Ellis threw for more yards in that game than the Hokies’ total yardage (305) for the contest. NFL Hall of Famer Sterling Sharpe caught eight passes for 146 yards in the matchup.
TURNING BACK THE CLOCK: The first ever meeting between the two programs was in 1905 in Roanoke, Virginia. Virginia Tech won 34-0, and won the next matchup in 1925, 6-0, but the Gamecocks are 11-5-2 since those games against the Hokies.
THEY CALL IT A STREAK: The Gamecocks won six straight games to finish the 2024 regular season, the first four of which came against SEC opponents (Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt and Missouri), and the last of which came against ACC Champion Clemson.
LUCKY NO. 300: South Carolina’s 300th game as a program came on Oct. 28, 1933. Their opponent? Virginia Tech. The Gamecocks blanked Virginia Tech 12-0 in Blacksburg in front of 10,000 fans. At the time, Virginia Tech’s teams were known as the “Gobblers.” In the game, South Carolina’s Earl Clary, known as the “Gaffney Ghost,” scored two touchdowns.
ON THE OTHER SIDELINE: South Carolina’s defensive backs coach Torrian Gray played for Virginia Tech from 1992-96. While playing under Frank Beamer, Gray won two Big East championships. As a coach, Gray was the Hokies’ defensive backs coach from 2006-15. Gray has been in his current role with South Carolina since 2021.
LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON: While playing at Virginia Tech, Shane Beamer was a part of 47 victories in 60 games for the Hokies. In that same span, when coaching against Big East opponents, Frank Beamer was 29-6 while Shane was on the Hokies roster.
BEHIND ENEMY LINES: 2025 is Mike Shula’s first season as offensive coordinator for South Carolina. He was the head coach for Alabama from 2003-2006. During that span, Alabama faced off against South Carolina twice, once in 2004 and once more in 2005. The Crimson Tide won in 2005, 37-14, but South Carolina won in 2004, 20-3. In both instances, the road team emerged victorious. South Carolina is Shula’s first role in the college football world since his departure from Alabama in 2006.
FAMILIAR FACES: The Gamecocks have five players from the state of Virginia. Linebacker Fred Johnson and defensive back Kendall Daniels Jr. are both from Norfolk (Maury). Linebacker Shawn Murphy is from Manassas (Unity Reed). Edge rusher George Wilson Jr. is from Virginia Beach (Green Run), and defensive tackle Caleb Williams is from Ettrick (Matoaca). Defensive tackle Chase Kibble hails from Leesburg. Kibble’s father, Jimmy, was a teammate of Shane Beamer’s at Virginia Tech.
IN-STATE CONNECTION: Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Sam Siefkes held the same role at Wofford from 2018-2020. The Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, native led the Terriers to a top-20 defense at the FCS level in 2019. Siefkes is entering his first year leading the Virginia Tech defense after spending two years as the linebackers coach for the Arizona Cardinals.
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Category: General Sports
