South Carolina Returns to AP Top 25 Rankings After Dominating Oklahoma
For the first time in nearly 14 months, the South Carolina football team earned a spot in the Associated Press Top 25, landing at No. 23 on Sunday morning following a 42-25 victory over the Oklahoma Sooners. The win inside Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium marked the Gamecocks’ third-straight SEC victory, improving their record to 5-3 overall and 3-3 in conference play.
The ranking contrasts sharply with the team’s standing just a week prior. Following a field-storming victory over then-No. 11 Tennessee, South Carolina sat unranked at No. 30 in the AP Poll and No. 35 in the USA Today Coaches Poll. Voters had previously kept three-loss teams out of both major polls entirely, reflecting lingering skepticism over early-season conference losses to Mississippi State, Alabama, and Kentucky.
Coaches Poll Standing and Upcoming SEC Schedule
While the AP poll placed the Gamecocks inside the Top 25 at No. 23, the USA Today Coaches poll placed them just outside the threshold. South Carolina led all teams receiving votes with 91 points, effectively occupying the No. 26 spot nationally.
The path forward features only one currently ranked opponent among the Gamecocks’ remaining five regular-season games. Georgia holds the No. 2 position in the AP Top 25, serving as the lone ranked hurdle left on the schedule for South Carolina.
Associated Press Top 25 Rankings
| Rank | Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | Miami (Fla.) |
| 2 | Georgia |
| 3 | Utah |
| 4 | Notre Dame |
| 5 | UCLA |
| 6 | Indiana |
| 7 | BYU |
| 8 | Kentucky |
| 9 | Alabama |
| 10 | Texas |
| 11 | Ohio State |
| 12 | Ole Miss |
| 13 | Texas Tech |
| 14 | Wake Forest |
| 15 | LSU |
| 16 | Tennessee |
| 17 | Houston |
| 18 | USC |
| 19 | Missouri |
| 20 | Boise State |
| 21 | Iowa |
| 22 | New Mexico |
| 23 | South Carolina |
| 24 | Arizona |
| 25 | Florida |
Frequently Asked Questions About the Gamecocks Ranking
How many consecutive SEC wins do the Gamecocks carry into November?
South Carolina holds a three-straight SEC victory streak.
Which early-season opponents handed South Carolina its conference losses?
The Gamecocks accumulated three early-season SEC losses against Mississippi State, Alabama, and Kentucky before reversing their trajectory in the poll standings.
How many points did South Carolina miss the Coaches Poll by?
South Carolina finished at the top of the others receiving votes category with 91 points in the USA Today Coaches poll, effectively ranking as the 26th team nationally.
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