Penalty = 6 points 🐓 South Carolina entered its season opener against Virginia Tech ranked No. 13 in the country, with plenty of expectations surrounding the Gamecocks after a breakout 2024 season. Shane Beamer’s team had a chance to start the year with a statement win under the lights in Atlanta. But the Hokies weren’t going down quietly. Virginia Tech kept the game within striking distance throughout the afternoon, repeatedly making things difficult for South Carolina’s offense and keeping the Gamecocks from pulling away. Then came one of the strangest turning points of the game. Early in the fourth quarter, Virginia Tech was flagged for an illegal formation on a punt that had already gone out of bounds. Instead of accepting the penalty and taking the ball, South Carolina elected to have the Hokies re-kick. That decision immediately paid off. Vicari Swain fielded the second punt at the 20-yard line, cut across the field and somehow broke through a wave of Virginia Tech defende...