It's finally here, it's game week for the South Carolina Gamecocks. After waiting all summer, the time has come for Gamecock Nation to be dialed in on Gamecock football for the next few months. As we stand now, there are only seven days left until their Week 1 showdown with the Virginia Tech Hokies at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. That being said, what three storylines/things should fans keep an eye on next Sunday?
1. Gamecocks Come in as -7.5 Point Favorties
Coming into Week 1 for the Gamecocks, FanDuel has them set as -7.5-point favorites against the Hokies. Shane Beamer and staff have been getting the Gamecocks ready since the end of the 2024 season and throughout the spring/fall camps. If there is one thing about this Gamecocks team, it is that they are always looking to get better and be better prepared every day. The culture that has been set in Columbia is something to behold.
It'll be interesting to see how the Gamecocks come out next Sunday against the Hokies, especially with how Week 1 went for them last season. While they did defeat Old Dominion 23-19, it was a game too close for comfort. If Carolina wants to put in a statement win to kick off the 2025 season, they will need to be sharp from the opening kick. There is no doubt the preperation has gone in for the whole tema in every facet of the game. It will come down to executing from start to finish. If they can do that, expect the Gamecocks to win by way more than eight points next week.
2. LaNorris Sellers Comes Out Firing
It comes as no surprise that all eyes will be on LaNorris Sellers as he starts his Heisman campaign next Sunday. After getting a ton of praise in the build-up to the start of the 2025 season, it is now time to witness Sellers prove why he should be an early Heisman candidate. After watching him be an improviser during his freshman season, fans will see the newest version of Sellers, who will be relied upon to use his arm, as well as his feet. As the 2024 season progressed, there were clear indications that Sellers improved his football IQ, and now he will take that and run with it in 2025 (pun intended).
It will come down to his offensive line to give him protection, and his teammates around him to give him looks to find passes. There is a ton of hype surrounding Sellers, and rightfully so, especially with some of the talent around, along with how he's progressed between his freshman and sophomore seasons. Now we are down to seven days left before fans can witness what hopes to be a phenomenal season from the Heisman hopeful in Sellers.
3. Defense Stepping Up
One of the question marks coming into the season was how the Gamecocks' defense would be in 2025. They saw a plethora of players leave due to either graduation or the draft. However, there are still some strong leaders on the defense who can help lead the way this upcoming season. Walter Camp hopeful, Dylan Stewart looks poised to build off of his freshman season and make a huge impact in his sophomore year for the Gamecocks.
Furthermore, with Jalon Kilgore and DQ Smith in the secondary, it'll make opposing offenses thing about throwing anywhere near them. It'll be interesting to see how the rest of the defensive line plays, along with the linebackers and other defensive backs. Either way, there is a sense that the defense has gotten stronger as the camps went along. The air around the defense feels like it could be the bread and butter once again for Beamer and the Gamecocks in 2025. If they can step up again, along with the offense clicking on all cylinders, this could be a huge Week 1 win to kick off the season.