The University of South Carolina football team has cracked the national rankings, earning the No. 25 spot in the USA Today-Coaches poll, the No. 24 spot in the Associated Press poll and the No. 23 spot in the inaugural ESPN Power Rankings.
The Gamecocks – who were unranked heading into the 2010 season – gained a measure of respect with a nationally-televised 41-13 shellacking of Southern Mississippi last Thursday. Of course they’ll put that newly-found respect on the line Saturday in another nationally-televised tilt against SEC East rival Georgia (No. 22 AP/ 19 USA Today/ 18 ESPN).
Oddsmakers have installed USC as an early 2-point favorite over the Bulldogs, who have won seven of their last eight over the Gamecocks – and four straight at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia.
As it has been for years, the SEC is the class of college football. Including defending national champion Alabama (a unanimous No. 1), the SEC boasts seven teams in all three polls – easily outdistancing rival conferences like the Big Ten, Big 12 and ACC. That’s good news and bad news for South Carolina, which has four of those seven ranked teams on its 2010 schedule.
Given its inability to compete in the SEC, the polls have been unkind to USC as its recent seasons have progressed.
Last year, the Gamecocks peaked at No. 21 before embarking on yet another late season skid. In 2007, South Carolina was ranked No. 6 in the nation before losing its final five games of the year.
Here are all three “Week One” polls …
ASSOCIATED PRESS TOP 25 (Sept. 7)
1. Alabama (47) 1-0, 1484
2. Ohio State (4) 1-0, 1412
3. Boise State (8) 1-0, 1399
4. TCU 1-0, 1256
5. Texas (1) 1-0, 1192
6. Nebraska 1-0, 1105
7. Oregon 1-0, 1077
8. Florida 1-0, 1065
9. Iowa 1-0, 1044
10. Oklahoma 1-0, 917
11. Wisconsin 1-0, 881
12. Miami (FL) 1-0, 877
13. Virginia Tech 0-1, 782
14. Arkansas 1-0, 572
15. Georgia Tech 1-0, 555
16. USC 1-0, 520
17. Florida State 1-0, 504
18. Penn State 1-0, 418
19. LSU 1-0, 384
20. Utah 1-0, 365
21. Auburn 1-0, 362
22. Georgia 1-0, 353
23. West Virginia 1-0, 226
24. South Carolina 1-0, 164
25. Stanford 1-0, 96
* Dropped from rankings: Pittsburgh 15, North Carolina 18.
* Others receiving votes: Michigan 71, Houston 60, Pittsburgh 59, Oregon State 58, North Carolina 45, Notre Dame 38, Arizona 30, Brigham Young 30, Missouri 25, Fresno State 24, Kansas State 12, Clemson 11, Texas A&M 10, Oklahoma State 7, Cincinnati 4, Texas Tech 3, Michigan State 2, East Carolina 1.
USA TODAY-COACHES TOP 25 (Sept. 7)
1. Alabama (55) 1-0, 1470
2. Ohio State (4) 1-0, 1397
3. Boise State 1-0, 1304
4. Texas 1-0, 1264
5. TCU 1-0, 1144
6. Florida 1-0, 1130
7. Nebraska 1-0, 1085
8. Oregon 1-0, 1054
9. Iowa 1-0, 1027
10. Oklahoma 1-0, 969
11. Wisconsin 1-0, 821
12. Miami (FL) 1-0, 799
13. Virginia Tech 0-1, 698
14. Penn State 1-0, 655
15. Arkansas 1-0, 531
16. LSU 1-0, 527
17. Georgia Tech 1-0, 519
18. Florida State 1-0, 500
19. Georgia 1-0, 458
20. Auburn 1-0, 371
20. Utah 1-0, 371
22. West Virginia 1-0, 185
23. Arizona 1-0, 128
24. Brigham Young 1-0, 113
25. South Carolina 1-0, 90
* Dropped from rankings: Pittsburgh 15, North Carolina 18.
* Others receiving votes: Houston 87, Notre Dame 86, Stanford 55, Pittsburgh 53, Oregon State 40, Oklahoma State 36, North Carolina 36, Clemson 28, Missouri 27, Michigan 17, Michigan State 11, California 10, Cincinnati 9, Washington 9, Texas Tech 7, Arizona State 7, Boston College 7, Connecticut 6, Texas A&M 6, Fresno State 5, Mississippi State 5, South Florida 4, Northwestern 3, Maryland 3, North Carolina State 2, Kansas State 2, Nevada 1, Air Force 1, Temple 1, Tennessee 1.
ESPN POWER RANKINGS (Sept. 7)
1. Alabama 1-0, 495
2. Ohio State 1-0, 472
3. Boise State 1-0, 470
4. TCU 1-0, 393
5. Texas 1-0, 388
6. Iowa 1-0, 366
7. Oregon 1-0, 364
8. Miami (FL) 1-0, 349
9. Nebraska 1-0, 327
10. Oklahoma 1-0, 324
11. Florida 1-0, 321
12. Wisconsin 1-0, 281
13. Virginia Tech 0-1, 249
14. Florida State 1-0, 201
15. Georgia Tech 1-0, 171
16. USC 1-0, 162
17. Arkansas 1-0, 162
18. Georgia 1-0, 157
19. Utah 1-0, 134
20. Penn State 1-0, 134
21. Auburn 1-0, 105
22. LSU 1-0, 90
23. South Carolina 1-0, 85
24. Stanford 1-0, 56
25. Arizona 1-0, 39
* Others receiving votes: West Virginia, Oregon State, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Houston, Miami (OH), Brigham Young, North Carolina, Michigan, Iowa State, California, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, Missouri, Boston College, Arkansas State, Fresno State, Mississippi State.
By No Name September 7, 2010 at 2:37 pm
Bottom line….better than I thought.
Plus….multiple Rbs……Garcia Ok with himself…..very large WR’s. OL Coach has made a difference.
Can not comment on defence as Southern Miss came in touted better than they performed…so we might have a D….but I am going to hold until after UGA game.
Georgia has a new AD….and that is the most important recruit they could have gotten…..he is already turning many things around in a lot of sports……this is the year to get them because now that the douche of an old AD is gone and very soon the President will follow…..UGA will return as a power.
USC 24 14 with USC getting ten unanswered points in the 4th…..stadium sober but rocking.
By CNSYD September 7, 2010 at 2:41 pm
Clemson dropped in the AP and USAToday polls. LMAO!
By Catherine September 7, 2010 at 3:24 pm
And they will be UNranked anywhere after next Saturday’s drubbing at the paws of the Dawgs.
By Alphonse September 7, 2010 at 4:53 pm
Everyone knows the real game this week is between Clemson and high school powerhouse Presbyterian.
By Jeffy01 September 7, 2010 at 5:17 pm
CNSYD, after Moo U (34-17) beats Gaffney next week you should pick up some votes. Chill bro….you are a base ball school.
By Crooner September 7, 2010 at 5:42 pm
Ridiculous that UNC falls out of the polls after nearly beating LSU while missing half of their starters.
By The Associate September 8, 2010 at 10:28 am
If a Georgia fan and a Gamecock fan each fell off the top row of Williams-Brice at the same time, which would hit the ground first? The Georgia fan, of course. He’d have to stop mid-fall to spraypaint “How ’bout them Dawgs!” on the way down. What an annoying group of fans. I don’t think they’ll be very loud leaving the Brice this year.