Gamecocks Crack AP Top 25

Call it delayed gratification … or partial gratification, anyway.

A week after being snubbed by the pollsters in the wake of a historic upset win over Mississippi, the University of South Carolina football team found favor in the eyes of the voters with a win over a Division I-AA squad.

USC has cracked one of the nation’s two main Top 25 polls – the Associated Press poll – and is two spots away from cracking the other – the USA Today-Coaches’ poll.

South Carolina ranked No. 25 in the AP poll (which is compiled by sportswriters) and No. 27 in the USA Today-Coaches’ poll (which is compiled by – duh – coaches).

It’s the first time the Gamecocks have been ranked in either poll since last November, when they defeated the University of Arkansas to move to 7-3 on the season.  South Carolina went on to lose its final three games of the year to Florida, Clemson and Iowa, however, finishing the year at 7-6.

South Carolina has been ranked as high as No. 6 in the nation under fifth-year head coach Steve Spurrier – achieving that mark after a win over North Carolina in October of 2007.  Once again, though, USC collapsed down the stretch – losing consecutive games to Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Arkansas, Florida and Clemson to finish the season at 6-6.

Carolina will host Kentucky this coming Saturday at Williams-Brice stadium – another home game for which tickets are still available.

You can take a look at both polls below …

ASSOCIATED PRESS TOP 25 POLL (Oct. 4)

1. Florida (54) 4-0
2. Texas (1) 4-0
3. Alabama (5) 5-0
4. LSU 5-0
5. Virginia Tech 4-1
6. Boise State 5-0
7. USC 4-1
8. Cincinnati 5-0
9. Ohio State 4-1
10. TCU 4-0
11. Miami (FL) 3-1
12. Iowa 5-0
13. Oregon 4-1
14. Penn State 4-1
15. Oklahoma State 3-1
16. Kansas 4-0
17. Auburn 5-0
18. Brigham Young 4-1
19. Oklahoma 2-2
20. Mississippi 3-1
21. Nebraska 3-1
22. Georgia Tech 4-1
23. South Florida 5-0
24. Missouri 4-0
25. South Carolina 4-1

Dropped from rankings: Houston 12, Georgia 18, Michigan 22, California 24

Others receiving votes: Wisconsin 157, Houston 142, Georgia 115, Stanford 50, Utah 31, Michigan 25, Boston College 12, Notre Dame 9, Pittsburgh 3, Arizona 2, West Virginia 2.

USA TODAY-COACHES’ POLL (Oct. 4)

1. Florida (57) 4-0
2. Texas (1) 4-0
3. Alabama (1) 5-0
4. LSU 5-0
5. Virginia Tech 4-1
6. Boise State 5-0
7. USC 4-1
8. Ohio State 4-1
9. TCU 4-0
10. Cincinnati 5-0
11. Miami (FL) 3-1
12. Penn State 4-1
13. Oklahoma State 3-1
14. Iowa 5-0
15. Kansas 4-0
16. Mississippi 3-1
17. Oregon 4-1
18. Missouri 4-0
19. Auburn 5-0
20. Brigham Young 4-1
21. Oklahoma 2-2
22. Nebraska 3-1
23. Georgia Tech 4-1
24. South Florida 5-0
25. Wisconsin 5-0

Dropped from rankings: Georgia 14, Houston 15, California 19, Michigan 20

Others receiving votes: Georgia 148, South Carolina 128, Notre Dame 57, Houston 52, Stanford 43, Michigan 33, Utah 31, Boston College 15, Pittsburgh 6, Arizona 2, Arkansas 1, West Virginia 1, Central Michigan 1.

Pics: Travis Bell, Sideline Carolina

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