After knocking on the door of the program's first College Football Playoff appearance last season, No. 13 South Carolina opens 2025 in Atlanta with sizable national expectations under Shane Beamer, who has won 29 games in four years -- the most by any coach in school history.

The Gamecocks are led by preseason first-team All-SEC quarterback LaNorris Sellers and former five-star edge rusher Dylan Stewart , who is coming off a breakout freshman season. While South Carolina lost considerable defensive talent to the 2025 NFL Draft , the staff expects transfer additions and emerging starters to fill the gaps.

Virginia Tech enters with tempered optimism after three straight losing seasons. The Hokies are counting on a rebuilt offensive line to protect veteran quarterback Kyron Dron

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