Marty Gordon
Virginia Tech will start the 2025 football season as part of the “Beamer Bowl,” with a season opener against South Carolina in the Aflac Kickoff Game on Sunday, Aug. 31 in Atlanta, Ga.
Tech’s football schedule was fully released by the ACC this past week.
This marks the first meeting between South Carolina and Virginia Tech since 1991, and with the game taking place on Sunday, it’s a primetime opportunity for the Hokies in Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
A compelling storyline for Virginia Tech’s 2025 season opener against South Carolina will center on the Beamer family legacy. South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer will lead the Gamecocks against the program where his father, Frank Beamer, built a storied career as Virginia Tech’s legendary head coach. Shane, a 1999 Virginia Tech graduate, contributed to five bowl appearances and three Big East championships as a long snapper and wide receiver during his playing days. Beamer later joined his father’s coaching staff from 2011-15, serving as associate head coach and running backs coach, making this matchup a unique blend of personal and program history.
Now South Carolina, coming off a strong 9-4 season, is poised to be a nationally ranked team for 2025. Key returning players include quarterback LaNorris Sellers, who threw for 2,534 yards and 18 touchdowns, and defensive end Dylan Stewart, who tallied 6.5 sacks. The Gamecocks also had a successful early signing period, adding 25 recruits to their 2025 class, which ranks 19th nationally according to 247Sports.
Among the 25 signees are 11 players from in-state schools and several notable prospects, including wide receiver Malik Clark, ranked No. 125 nationally, and defensive lineman Zavion Hardy, the top JuCo prospect. South Carolina also bolstered its transfer class, currently ranked No. 13 from 247Sports, with key additions like four-star running back Rahsul Faison from Utah State.
Virginia Tech football will bring ACC play on the road at NC State on Saturday, Sept. 27.
This will mark the second time the Hokies have started ACC play in Raleigh, defeating the Wolfpack 20-16 in 2005. Tech is 15-6 in ACC openers and its first ACC road contest, while being 28-20-4 versus NC State all time. Out of their 22 seasons in the ACC, the Hokies have started conference play on the road just eight times.
On Thursday, the ACC announced Tech’s season opener against South Carolina in the Aflac Kickoff Game on Sunday, Aug. 31 in Atlanta
The Hokies will host a diverse group of schools at Lane Stadium in 2025, with programs representing the SEC, ACC, Sun Belt Conference and Southern Conference. Tech’s slate includes four ACC opponents (Louisville, Wake Forest, Miami and Cal), Vanderbilt representing the SEC, Old Dominion from the Sun Belt and Wofford as the lone FCS program.
Early scouting reports have some interesting matchups. Information provided by the Tech program:
Miami (Fla.)
Miami headlines the group as the only program to end the 2024 season in the AP Top 25 and provides an intriguing opportunity for the new-look Hokies. The Hurricanes will boast new schematic identities of their own with the departure of quarterback Cam Ward to the NFL Draft and a revamped defensive staff. Head coach Mario Cristobal named Corey Hetherman as their new defensive coordinator in mid-January after he spent last season in a similar role with Minnesota. Hetherman will have his hands full as he attempts to improve a defense that allowed 421.3 yards per game. Another significant move from Miami in the offseason includes the addition of former Georgia standout quarterback Carson Beck. Beck likely steps in as the starter to replace Ward and brings a 24-3 record over the last two seasons to the Sunshine State.
California
A traveling opponent that fans may have less familiarity with is the Cal Golden Bears. Following the major conference realignment in 2024, Tech’s matchup against Cal will be the first meeting with the Golden Bears as members of the ACC. Overall, Virginia Tech and Cal have a limited series history, with the lone matchup coming back in 2003 during a high-scoring affair in the Insight Bowl. The Golden Bears went through staff changes of their own following a 6-7 record last season that concluded in a 24-13 defeat to UNLV in the Art of Sport LA Bowl. Head coach Justin Wilcox will head to Blacksburg with higher expectations from his offense following a complete overhaul that includes new offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin, wide receivers coach Kyle Cefalo, offensive line coach Famika Anae and senior assistant Nick Rolovich.
Wofford
On the other hand, Wofford is a familiar name after making its first trip to Blacksburg in 2022 for Pry’s inaugural season. The Terriers return to Lane Stadium after Tech won the first-ever matchup between the programs 27-7. Led by head coach Shawn Watson, Wofford aims to improve on a 2024 campaign after finishing the regular season 5-7. Co-defensive coordinators Jonathan Saxson and Andrew Warwick boast a talented duo of Freshman All-Americans in DL Marion Smoke and safety C.J. Coombes to anchor their defense. Offensively, run game coordinator Corey Woods hopes Freshman All-American offensive lineman Luke Moise can open running lanes on the interior.
Louisville
After a break in their meetings in 2024, ACC foe Louisville returns to the conference slate. The Hokies last faced the previously nationally ranked program in 2023. The Cardinals present another quality litmus test for the Hokies’ young roster after the team received multiple votes for the AP Top 25 following the 2024 season. Louisville went on to finish the season with a 35-34 victory over Washington in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl and a 9-4 record. Head coach Jeff Brohm builds on a talented roster that placed 12 student-athletes on All-ACC teams and features the reigning ACC Offensive Player of the Year, running back Isaac Brown. Brohm also welcomed 15 signees on National Signing Day, boosted by four-star recruit defensive lineman C.J. May, who ranks as the No. 18 player in the state of Alabama.
Wake Forest
Wake Forest comes back to compete on Worsham Field after the Hokies earned a 30-13 victory during the Maroon Effect game in 2023. This time around, the program will look completely different following the hire of new head coach Jake Dickert. Dickert takes the helm after four seasons leading Washington State to three bowl game appearances. Joining the Demon Deacons’ new leader are defensive coordinator Scottie Hazelton (Texas), offensive coordinator Rob Ezell (South Alabama) and special teams coordinator Nick Whitworth (Washington State). The new-look staff will aim to turn around a program that finished each of the previous two seasons with a 4-8 record.
Vanderbilt
Led by head coach Clark Lea, 2024 SEC Coach of the Year, the Commodores offer another unique challenge, with their program appearing in the Top 25 rankings in late October. Vanderbilt capped off a winning season in 2024 after defeating Georgia Tech 35-27 in the Birmingham Bowl. Lea can lean on multiple returners, including the likes of SEC Newcomer of the Year quarterback Diego Pavia and three All-SEC first-teamers, tight end Eli Stowers, punter Jesse Mirco and return specialist Martel Hight. The special teams unit, instructed by coordinator Jeff LePak, will also receive a lift from kicker Brock Taylor, who was named to the SEC All-Freshman team in 2024.
Old Dominion
Old Dominion wraps up the list of home opponents with recent contests from the 2024 season. The Monarchs will compete against Tech in its fourth matchup in as many seasons, with the Hokies winning two of the last three contests. Entering his fifth season as head coach, Ricky Rahne can further develop his program that saw 10 student-athletes named to All-SBC teams. Rahne and staff also brought in 27 signees on National Signing Day to bolster its roster. Old Dominion is also hopeful that now-sophomore quarterback Quinn Henicle will build off his regular-season finale performance, which earned him Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Week. Looking at the Hokies, offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen aims to continue his success against the Monarchs, as the team has scored at least 36 points in the last two meetings.
Tech 2025 Spring Game is set for Saturday, April 12.