The Virginia Tech Hokies opened the 2025 college football season on Sunday, falling 24-11 to the No. 13 South Carolina Gamecocks at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Despite the final score, this was a close game throughout, and the Gamecocks finally broke it open early in the fourth quarter when sophomore defensive back Vicari Swain returned a punt 80 yards to the house to extend SC’s lead from 10-8 to 17-8. Making matters worse, the Hokies were penalized on the play before and South Carolina head
coach Shane Beamer made Tech re-kick it in an effort to gain better field position.
The Hokies had a chance to answer, but managed only a field goal, trimming the lead to 17-11. The Gamecocks responded again as quarterback LaNorris Sellers found wide receiver Nyck Harbor for a 64-yard touchdown. Virginia Tech quarterback Kyron Drones had another chance to respond, but multiple dropped passes stalled the next drive and Drones was intercepted on fourth down, essentially ending the game.
We’ll have more on this game later. But what did everyone else think? We gauged the temperature of Hokie Nation of X by compiling these reactions to Sunday’s loss.
