South Carolina football will match up with the Virginia Tech Hokies in Atlanta on Sunday. Here's what you need to know.
At long last, college football season is here. Week zero has come and gone, and this weekend presents a loaded schedule on the gridiron. As one of the best games of week one, South Carolina will take on Virginia Tech on Sunday.
Gamecock fans will make the drive west on I-20 for the neutral-site contest in Atlanta.
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Here’s what you need to know heading into the season opener. (GamecockCentral will release a Virginia Tech preview later in the week.)
The resumes
- South Carolina is ranked No. 13 in both the preseason AP poll and the USA Today coaches top 25. Contrastingly, Virginia Tech is unranked in both polls and did not receive any votes.
- According to ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI), South Carolina is the No. 11 team in college football. Virginia Tech is No. 32.
- Last season, South Carolina went 9-4 and 5-3 in the SEC. Virginia Tech went 6-7 and 4-4 in ACC play.
- The Gamecocks put quarterback LaNorris Sellers, EDGE Dylan Stewart, and DB Jalon Kilgore on the preseason All-SEC squad. The Hokies did not put any players on the preseason All-ACC team.
The odds
- BetMGM lists South Carolina as a 7.5-point favorite.
- The over/under is 52.5.
- The Gamecocks are favored with -300 odds on the moneyline, while Virginia Tech sits at +240.
- ESPN’s SP+ analytics model has predicted a 31-20 win for Shane Beamer’s team.
Recent news
- At the top of the list as it relates to the on-field product, running back Rahsul Faison is eligible. The four-star transfer portal addition will play against Virginia Tech on Sunday.
- The University of South Carolina has been outfitted by Under Armour since 2007. That will change in 2026. The Gamecocks recently announced a new 10-year deal with Nike.
- The long-awaited “Stadium Project” that will include many updates to Williams-Brice Stadium and the surrounding areas has been approved. The full renovation plan is valued at around $350 million. Further details about those updates will come at a later date.
Updates from the coaches
- South Carolina football coach Shane Beamer spoke to the media this week.
- During Beamer’s press conference, he revealed a few things:
- The Gamecocks will not post a depth chart this week, but Beamer did not commit one way or the other regarding the rest of the season.
- Defensive line coach Travian Robertson is not with the team following a car accident over the weekend.
- George Rogers will be an honorary captain for South Carolina this weekend.
- You can see everything that Beamer said here.
- During Beamer’s press conference, he revealed a few things:
- The Gamecock coordinators will speak to the media on Thursday. This story will update with their quotes.
- Virginia Tech head coach Brent Pry also held a game week press conference this week. You can check out what he said here.
- Last weekend, South Carolina defensive line coach Travian Robertson was involved in a car accident. In a section of this week’s official University-issued game notes titled “Prayers to Travian,” USC said, “Defensive line coach Travian Robertson was injured in a serious car accident on Aug. 22. He is recovering but is not currently with the team.” Head coach Shane Beamer said this week that Robertson would return “soon.”
- Jordan Dove will step into Robertson’s place in the interim. The Gamecocks also have Kevin Hubbard listed as a defensive line assistant, and former Georgia Tech head coach and long-time defensive coordinator Geoff Collins is on staff, too.
- South Carolina has a new offensive coordinator this season. Mike Shula, who was an analyst and assistant quarterbacks coach in 2024, has taken over for Dowell Loggains, who is now the head coach at Appalachian State.
- Virginia Tech is breaking in two new coordinators in 2025. Offensive coordinator Phillip Montgomery comes over from the UFL’s Birmingham Stallions, where he held the same position. At defensive coordinator, former Arizona Cardinals linebackers coach Sam Siefkes takes over.
Notes on Aflac Kickoff
- The Aflac Kickoff previously held the name of the Chick-fil-A Kickoff.
- The winning coach on Sunday will receive the “Old Leather Helmet Trophy” following the game.
- South Carolina last played in Atlanta in the 2010 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. That game was not in Mercedes-Benz Stadium but in the old Georgia Dome. USC played in the Georgia Dome twice that year, also matching up with Auburn in the SEC Championship Game.
- Sunday’s game will be South Carolina’s first non-bowl neutral-site matchup since the 2023 season opener against North Carolina in Charlotte.
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History
- South Carolina owns the all-time series over Virginia Tech by a margin of 11-7-2.
- The two teams have not played since 1991, a 28-21 victory for the Gamecocks. South Carolina hasn’t lost to VT since 1974, a span of six meetings.
- South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer is a graduate of Virginia Tech and also a former Hokies player. His father, Frank Beamer, is the greatest head coach in VT history and a College Football Hall of Fame member.
Injuries
- Senior EDGE George Wilson suffered the most recent Gamecock injury. The transfer addition will be out “for a while,” according to head coach Shane Beamer. If the injury is deemed to be season-ending, South Carolina plans to apply for another year of eligibility for Wilson.
- Freshman EDGE Kobby Sakyi-Prah is another recent injury. Beamer described him as having a “somewhat long-term” lower body issue.
- Sophomore EDGE Jaylen Brown, junior offensive lineman Ryan Brubaker, sophomore defensive back Zahbari Sandy, and freshman defensive lineman Caleb Williams are also out with long-term ailments. Brown, Williams, and Brubaker were out for all or parts of the spring, too.
- Senior running back Rahsul Faison had gotten a little banged up early during fall camp. However, the newly-eligible ballcarrier is good to go for this weekend.
- Defensive back Jalon Kilgore and EDGE Desmond Umeozulu dealt with minor soft tissue issues during fall camp. Both have returned to full strength since then.
- Tight end Michael Smith and offensive lineman Nick Sharpe missed spring practice but have been practicing this fall; they will be fine for Sunday.
Depth chart movement for the Gamecocks
- South Carolina declined to post a depth chart ahead of the season opener. Instead, the Gamecocks released a copy of the entire roster, broken down by position, that you can see here.
- Coach Beamer did not commit (one way or the other) to the idea of publishing a depth chart this season.
How to watch/listen
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Television/Streaming
The Gamecocks and Hokies will do battle at 3:00 p.m. ESPN will broadcast the contest, while the ESPN app makes it available via streaming.
The ESPN crew will include Bob Wischusen (play-by-play), Louis Riddick (analyst), and Kris Budden (sideline reporter).
Radio
Nationally, ESPN radio will carry the contest with Mark Kestecher (play-by-play), Kelly Stouffer (analyst), and Ian Fitzsimmons (sideline reporter) handling the broadcast. Sirius XM will also have the game available on channel 81.
Locally, Todd Ellis (play-by-play), Tommy Suggs (analyst), and Chet Tucker (sideline reporter) will be on the call on 107.5 The Game.
Fans can also stream the radio broadcast on the 107.5 The Game app.
Local radio affiliates include:
Aiken/Augusta, GA WYBO-FM 92.9
Allendale WDOG-FM 93.5
Asheville, N.C. WZGM-AM 1350
Asheville, N.C. WZGM-FM 96.1
Camden WCAM-AM 1590
Charleston WTMZ-FM 98.9
Chesterfield WVSZ-FM 107.3
Columbia WNKT-FM 107.5
Florence WFRK-FM 95.3
Gaffney WZZQ-AM 1500
Gaffney WZZQ-FM 104.3
Greenville WROO-FM 104.9
Greenwood WCZZ-AM 1090
Marion, N.C. WBRM-AM 1250
Marion, N.C. WBRM-FM 103.9
Myrtle Beach WSEA-FM 100.3
Newberry WKDK-AM 1240
Rock Hill/Lancaster WRHM-FM 107.1
Spartanburg WSPG-AM 1400
Spartanburg WSPG-FM 98.3
Sumter WIBZ-FM 95.5
Union WBCU-AM 1460
Union WBCU-FM 103.5
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Category: General Sports
