For months the players have made the case for their teams on the field … while the fans (and occasionally coaches) have talked trash off of it. All of that energy culminated this week with the release of the final polls of the 2013 college football season – and if you’re a college football fan living in the State of South Carolina, the news was all good.
Head coach Steve Spurrier’s University of South Carolina Gamecocks (11-2, 6-2 SEC) finished the season ranked No. 4 in the nation in both the Associated Press Top 25 and USA Today/ Coaches’ polls. That’s the highest end-of-season ranking in school history – and the team’s third consecutive Top Ten finish (after the program failed to scratch the Top Ten in 117 previous years of competition).
“Being ranked No. 4 in both major polls is an honor for the University of South Carolina and for our football program,” Spurrier said in a statement. “Thanks to the players for achieving another 11-2 record. Thanks also to the coaches, the support staff and our fans for their contributions. Also thanks to the voters for thinking so highly of us. We are very appreciative and thankful for being the highest–ranked team in school history and hope to do better next year.”
Meanwhile Clemson University finished No. 7 in the USA Today/ Coaches’ poll and No. 8 in the AP Top 25 – the first time it has finished in the Top Ten in both polls under head coach Dabo Swinney. It’s also the school’s highest finish since winning the national championship in 1981.
Like we said before the season … “believe the hype.”
After defeating Michigan in the 2013 Outback Bowl, head coach Steve Spurrier’s Gamecocks finished last season ranked No. 8 nationally in the Associated Press and No. 7 in the coaches’ poll. Meanwhile Clemson cracked the USA/Today Top 10 (No. 9) and finished No. 11 in the AP Top 25 on the strength of its big Chick-fil-A Bowl win over LSU.
For the first time in eight years, a team not representing the Southeastern Conference is atop both postseason polls. That honor belongs to Florida State (14-0, 8-0 ACC) – which closed out the Bowl Championship Era with a thrilling 34-31 victory over Auburn.
The SEC won nine of the sixteen BCS-era national titles – including seven in a row from 2006-12. Next year college football will move to a four-team playoff format.
ASSOCIATED PRESS TOP 25 (2013 FINAL)
1. Florida State (60) 14-0, 1500
2. Auburn 12-2, 1428
3. Michigan State 13-1, 1385
4. South Carolina 11-2, 1247
5. Missouri 12-2, 1236
6. Oklahoma 11-2, 1205
7. Alabama 11-2, 1114
8. Clemson 11-2, 1078
9. Oregon 11-2, 974
10. UCF 12-1, 959
11. Stanford 11-3, 936
12. Ohio State 12-2, 816
13. Baylor 11-2, 778
14. LSU 10-3, 717
15. Louisville 12-1, 693
16. UCLA 10-3, 632
17. Oklahoma State 10-3, 598
18. Texas A&M 9-4, 459
19. USC 10-4, 299
20. Notre Dame 9-4, 256
21. Arizona State 10-4, 255
22. Wisconsin 9-4, 245
23. Duke 10-4, 190
24. Vanderbilt 9-4, 117
25. Washington 9-4, 109
Others receiving votes: Nebraska 107, Fresno State 57, Northern Illinois 22, North Dakota State 17, Texas Tech 14, Georgia 13, Iowa 13, Ole Miss 10, Kansas State 8, Arizona 5, Navy 3, Utah State 2, East Carolina 2, Mississippi State 1.
USA TODAY/ COACHES’ TOP 25 (2013 FINAL)
1. Florida State (59) 14-0 1475
2. Auburn 12-2 1388
3. Michigan State 13-1 1375
4. South Carolina 11-2 1219
5. Missouri 12-2 1200
6. Oklahoma 11-2 1189
7. Clemson 11-2 1091
8. Alabama 11-2 1086
9. Oregon 11-2 975
10. Ohio State 12-2 872
10. Stanford 11-3 872
12. UCF 12-1 865
13. Baylor 11-2 796
14. LSU 10-3 719
15. Louisville 12-1 703
16. UCLA 10-3 597
17. Oklahoma State 10-3 587
18. Texas A&M 9-4 443
19. USC 10-4 313
20. Arizona State 10-4 302
21. Wisconsin 9-4 266
22. Duke 10-4 202
23. Vanderbilt 9-4 180
24. Notre Dame 9-4 125
25. Nebraska 9-4 123
Others receiving votes: Washington 67, Fresno State 54, Northern Illinois 21, Marshall 17, Texas Tech 13, Kansas State 11, Ole Miss 7, Texas 4, Miami (FL) 4, Cincinnati 3, East Carolina 3, Arizona 2, North Texas 2, Utah State 2, Navy 1, Louisiana-Lafayette 1
42 comments
2014 BCS Bowl Record
ACC 2 – 0
SEC 0 – 2
ACC! ACC! ACC!
*smiles*
The real winners of the Championship game were the viewers. That was one heck of a game.
ACK! ACK! ACK!
ITBGHO, two of the three best (most entertaining) bowl games involved ACC/SEC matchups. The three best being: FSU/Auburn, Texas A&M/Duke and Clemson/OSU.
yep..!!!
Like comparing touch football to tackle Tonto! Like using bow and arrows against repeaters.
Like using bow and arrows against repeaters.
Mama didn’t like that description at all. Daddy thought it was pretty funny.
Tell Mama I am sorry!
Doesn’t matter; high five.
OK! OK! —- my SC teams won and my AL teams lost. All I can say is that Auburn (grits teeth) got a taste of the “1 minute flu” ………
How did Clemson end up beaten by USC, again? Doesn’t winning a BCS bowl game mean anything???
This gives South Carolina the highest final ranking for a team from South Carolina.
This gives South Carolina the highest final ranking for a team from South Carolina.
1982 begs to differ.
OT:
Pro Tip:
When the temperature is a bit above normal…… “It’s MANMADE GLOBAL WARMING!!!!!!! RISING SEA LEVELS! DEAD POLAR BEARS! WE’RE ALL GONNA DIE!!! AAAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!”
When it’s effing C-c-cold…….”Meh. It’s weather.“
I can’t believe Spurrior and Co. got a #4 ranking in both polls. Of course neither can the Clemtards. I guess we got style points for being both State and Bowl Season Champs……
So how did USC leapfrog Missouri? They lost to them and were ranked lower than them in the conference standings? Doesn’t really matter, 4th is still 3rd loser. CBS early pre-season rankings are out and USC is ranked 11th.
Reality-Challenged. Another Clemtard showing off that Top 30 Public University product…..
The holidays are over, Squishy. Time to sober up.
All these great responses and not one person answered my question. How does Missouri beat USC, finish above them in the conference standings, have their 2nd loss come in the conference championship and finish behind USC? Not that I really care, my team isn’t in the top 10 and I’m not one who lives and dies by USC or Clemson football.
Scar beat Missouri when they played this year…
Well there you go… I was thinking they lost to Missouri, maybe I’m thinking of Tennessee.
Well there you go… I was thinking they lost to Missouri, maybe I’m thinking of Tennessee
E for effort on that save.
You’re an idiot. South Carolina beat Mizzou.
Your mother’s a whore. Thanks for the correction.
the Old Ball Coach has plenty of friends that vote!
What you smoking there?
Dumb as a stump with Gamecock envy to boot. Stay warm in your orange sleeping bag, Squishy. Your team did great and you’re a loyal Tigers fan. Time to recharge the batteries, dude.
And that is the CBS “first guess” at the rankings…and Clemson is 16th. And now you know….the rest of the story. Prepare for the 6-peat.
I didn’t think South Carolina fans could count that high!
The either pull down their pants or count teeth.
They didn’t lose to Missouri retard. Maybe you should stick to giving dabo reach-arounds
Take a Midol, those cramps are a bitch I hear.
I think they got it about right. SC or Clemson COULD beat any of the teams below them – and probably could beat the teams ranked above them too. Funny thing about college football, there is some parity and winning, even games you should win, isn’t always easy. No way SC should have lost to Tenn this year, and if they hadn’t, they may have been playing last night….
Danny Ford will tell you, the National Championship team wasn’t his most talented team – they just had some breaks go their way. Hang around in top 10 long enough, and maybe those breaks will go SC’s or Clemson’s way (although I don’t think I can stand it if SC were to actually do it).
agreed
Will, you forgot to mention that the Gamecocks became the first team from the state to finish in the top 5 in the history of the BCS!
Coaches put UCF in the top 10 ahead of Ohio State and Stanford, but AP put UCF behind those schools. Regardless, great year for that team.
I didn’t read this before I posted on another story. I knew it was coming. I’ll say it again…
Also, before you try to spin last night’s National Championship loss
into some some sort of victory for your beloved SCUm coots, please note
that the rest of the SEC isn’t quite as enamored with SCUm as SCUm is
with the SEC. So save it. You didn’t, don’t and won’t have a dog in the
fight.
You cocks have little brother syndrome. Face it, you’re the weird
kid that plays D&D. We don’t need your “support” nor do we want
it. Y’all are just strange. I’ve never seen a fanbase so deluded.
*chuckles*
I didn’t even care about the game last night but now I’m glad that Auburn choked.
Well neener neener neener to you too, OGOB.
We absolutely choked. Still, it sure was nice to play in the National Championship. Again.
How many of those have y’all won anyway? None?
SEC? None?
ACC? One? Wait…***how***many years ago???
Are you an Eagle, a Wagle, or a Squishy123 (as I suspect)
Someone call?
Touchdown Carolina
Touchdown Connor Shaw