The South Carolina football team is gearing up for one of its most highly anticipated seasons since the Steve Spurrier era.

After just missing out on the College Football Playoff last season, the Gamecocks are looking to find some of the same magic they caught at the end of the year and run the table in 2025.

Head coach Shane Beamer is entering his fifth year as the leader of the program. The team has played above its preseason expectations every year but one. This year, South Carolina is facing its highest expectations under the coach, as it enters the season ranked No. 13 in the AP poll.

The anticipation is fueled by the returning talent on both sides of the ball.

Offensively, the team will be led by redshirt sophomore LaNorris Sellers. The dual-threat quarterback took the nation by storm last season when he showcased his ability to make plays with his legs and arm.

Sellers finished 2024 with 2,534 passing yards, 674 rushing yards and 25 total touchdowns. He enters this year with a lot of buzz as a potential Heisman candidate and first-round NFL draft pick.

Other returning starters on offense include wide receiver Nyck Harbor, tight end Michael Smith, right tackle Cason Henry and left tackle Josiah Thompson.

On defense, edge rusher Dylan Stewart has the attention of the national media after a stellar true freshman season. The former five-star recruit drew interest from a lot of other schools in the offseason, but he chose to stay loyal to Beamer and the Gamecocks.

Stewart is joined by three other starters from last season on defense. These players are defensive backs Judge Collier, Jalon Kilgore and DQ Smith.

The rest of this year’s team features returning players who didn’t start last season, incoming freshmen and newly acquired transfers.

Some notable new faces include former Irmo wide receiver Donovan Murph, Sellers’ brother and receiver Jayden Sellers, Rock Hill receiver Malik Clark, defensive lineman Zavion Hardy from Georgia and edge Donovan Darden from North Carolina.

South Carolina opens its 2025 season with a neutral-site game in Atlanta against Virginia Tech. It will be a full-circle moment for Beamer, who played his college ball for the Hokies under his father and legendary Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer.

2025 South Carolina Schedule

Week 1 - vs. Virginia Tech (in Atl) - Aug. 31

Week 2 - vs. South Carolina State - Sept. 6

Week 3 - vs. Vanderbilt - Sept. 13

Week 4 - at Missouri - Sept. 20

Week 5 - vs. Kentucky - Sept. 27

Week 6 - BYE

Week 7 - at LSU - Oct. 11

Week 8 - vs. Oklahoma - Oct. 18

Week 9 - vs. Alabama - Oct. 25

Week 10 - at Ole Miss - Nov. 1

Week 11 - BYE

Week 12 - at Texas A&M - Nov. 15

Week 13 - vs. Coastal Carolina - Nov. 22

Week 14 - vs. Clemson - Nov. 29