Possessing its highest preseason ranking since 2014, South Carolina delivered in its neutral-site season opener last Sunday.The Gamecocks scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns to step away from Virginia Tech 24-11 in Atlanta.No. 10 South Carolina (1-0) carries its first top-10 ranking in 11 years into its home opener vs. in-state FCS foe South Carolina State (1-0) Saturday in Columbia, S.C.There were some serious questions about USC’s defense entering the 2025 season after the team lost SEC Defensive Player of the Year Kyle Kennard (11.5 sacks in 2024) and standout defensive tackle T.J. Sanders, one of their five top tacklers. That 2024 unit ranked in the top 20 nationally in scoring defense, rushing defense and total defense.The first test was passed with flying colors. While the Hokies gained narrowly more yards in the game (336) and moved the chains on 8 of 18 third downs (44.4 percent), the Gamecocks kept Va. Tech out of the end zone, allowing just three field goals in six drives which crossed midfield. They also came away with two interceptions.”Proud of our guys and the physicality they played with, the effort they played with,” South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer said. “It wasn’t always pretty, but you could never question the effort they were playing with.”After preseason first-team All-SEC defensive lineman Dylan Stewart had just two assisted tackles and a pair of offsides penalties in the first half, he ramped up in the second half with five tackles (two solo), a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss.Gamecocks quarterback LaNorris Sellers built off his 2024 buzz in his 2025 debut, throwing for and running in a touchdown while racking up 209 passing yards on just 12 completions.With his strong showing and a few contenders struggling, Sellers had the second-best odds to win the Heisman Trophy one week into the season at +700 on Tuesday, according to BetMGM.