Shane Beamer’s massive contract extension, signed in January 2025 for a guaranteed $50.4 million through 2030, was supposed to usher in an era of stability for South Carolina. Instead, the 2025 season has been a disaster. The Gamecocks are struggling with a 3-6 record, a far cry from their 9-4 finish in 2024 that landed them in the Citrus Bowl.
Now, with pressure mounting in Columbia, rumors are swirling that the 48-year-old coach could be looking for an exit, with his old home at Virginia Tech emerging as a potential landing spot.
Why Is Shane Beamer Being Linked to the Virginia Tech Coaching Search?
In recent weeks, Shane Beamer’s name has increasingly surfaced in conversations about coaches who could be on the move next season. The strongest link is a potential return to Blacksburg, where he once coached running backs under his legendary father, Frank Beamer. He even served as acting head coach when his father underwent a medical procedure, deepening his ties to the program.
The speculation heated up on a recent episode of “That SEC Podcast,” where hosts Mike Bratton and Nick Roush discussed the possibility. The conversation started after Beamer fired his fifth offensive coordinator, Mike Shula, following a 30-14 loss to Ole Miss. While Bratton pointed out that Kentucky’s Mark Stoops was on track for a bowl game while Beamer floundered, Roush dove into the idea that a frustrated Beamer might leave Columbia for Virginia Tech.
“That’ll be written on the glass wall if it happens. I mean, that was Beamer getting tired of the criticism and running off to Virginia Tech, that’s on the table because he can’t he can’t hire offensive coordinators,” Roush said. “The other part too is as good as LaNorris Sellers is, the roster construction, the inability to consistently have a decent play in the trenches is just killing South Carolina.”
Roush acknowledged that South Carolina might retain Beamer based on the significant improvement from five wins in 2023 to nine wins in 2024. However, he cautioned that success will be difficult to sustain if Beamer cannot find the right person for one of the most critical roles on his coaching staff.
South Carolina has a bye this week before returning to action on Nov. 16 against No. 3 Texas A&M.
How Did James Franklin Emerge in the Virginia Tech Coaching Conversation?
Another high-profile name connected to the Virginia Tech coaching sweepstakes is former Penn State coach James Franklin. After being let go following a 0-3 start to the 2025 season, Franklin is now a top free agent in the coaching market. According to ESPN personalities Kirk Herbstreit and Joey Galloway, he is a favorite to land the coveted job in Blacksburg.
During their “Nonstop” podcast, Herbstreit and Galloway suggested Franklin is poised to become the next head coach of the Hokies. They believe he could replicate the kind of long-term success the program enjoyed under the legendary Frank Beamer.
“As we keep recycling coaches, you say, ‘You weren’t good enough to get Penn State over the hump with some pretty good players.’ Virginia Tech would have to be saying to themselves ‘We would love if you took us to (the promised land),” Galloway opined.
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Adding fuel to the fire is Shane Beamer’s own attempt to quiet the rumors about his potential departure from South Carolina. His comments, however, may only increase speculation that Franklin is a viable target for the Hokies.
“I have no idea where that story came from,” Beamer said. “I’ve conveyed how many times I want to be here. This is my dream job. I said that when I came here. Nothing has changed.”
Currently, Virginia Tech sits 10th in the ACC with a 3-6 record (2-3 in conference play). The Hokies’ next game is scheduled for Nov. 15 against Florida State, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. ET at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee.