This series takes an early look at the teams on Virginia Tech football’s 2025 schedule. It will run up to the ACC's media days in late July.

South Carolina

• When: Sunday, Aug. 31, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. (3 p.m. ET, ESPN)
• Last year’s record: 9-4, 5-3 SEC (t-4th), lost 21-17 against Illinois in the Camping World Bowl
• Coach: Shane Beamer, 29-22 in four years at South Carolina
• 2025 SP+ ranking: 17th

Last meeting

In an era when both programs were still playing as independents, South Carolina topped Virginia Tech 28-21 in a 1991 game in Columbia, concluding six meetings from 1986-91 during which the Gamecocks held a 4-0-2 record. Bo Campbell caught two touchdown passes from Will Furrer to tie the game up at 21 for the Hokies, but a Terry Wilburn touchdown run for South Carolina late in the third quarter proved to be the difference. Jerry Inman sealed it by picking off Furrer at the Gamecocks’ 3-yard line with 12 seconds left. 

The big picture

While Virginia Tech has questions abound as Brent Pry enters his fourth year, Hokies fans can only sit and wonder about what could have been, with the son of their Hall of Fame coach getting things rolling in Columbia.