The rest of the SEC better take notice... Shane Beamer and South Carolina are on the rise, and the climb to greatness is only getting started. The offseason may be quiet, but the energy around Gamecock football is LOUD. With the recent release of Athlon Sports' annual SEC head coach rankings, the South Carolina head coach just skyrocketed from No. 13 to No. 8.
Last year, Beamer was ranked just above the coaches at Arkansas, Vanderbilt, and Mississippi State at No. 13. Now ranked at No. 8 and heading upward, here is what Athlon Sports had to say about the Beamer Ball coach:
“The Gamecocks are coming off their best season under Beamer's watch. Thanks to a strong second-half surge led by quarterback LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina finished 9-4 and posted the program's first winning mark in SEC play (5-3) since '17. Beamer has guided the Gamecocks to three winning records in four years in charge and has two finishes in the Associated Press Top 25. Beamer is 29-22 overall in Columbia and has this program poised to contend for a playoff spot in '25.”
The Gamecocks will open their 2025 campaign in Atlanta at the Merecedes-Benz Stadium as part of the Aflac Kickoff Game, taking on Virginia Tech. The Gamecocks lead the all-time series 11-7-2 and will look to set the tone for a playoff push this year. The Hokies finished the 2024 season at 6-7 overall (4-4 ACC). But this isn't just about beating Virginia Tech. This is about showing the world of college football that Shane Beamer isn't just climbing the SEC coach rankings, he is building a program that is coming for it all.
With LaNorris Sellers under center, a rebuilt roster, and one of the SEC's top coaches at the helm, this fall could be one to remember in Columbia. Get ready, Gamecock Nation.