South Carolina is knocking on the door of the Top 25 after its third straight SEC win, and the Gamecocks are already inside the AP rankings.
Following the road victory over Oklahoma in Week 9, South Carolina moved to 5-3 overall and 3-3 in the SEC. In the Nov.
1 US LBM Coaches Poll, the Gamecocks landed at No. 26 with 91 points, just behind No. 25 New Mexico, which checked in with 119 points.
The AP Poll was a little kinder to South Carolina, placing the Gamecocks at No. 23.
LaNorris Sellers was the engine behind the win against Oklahoma, piling up five total touchdowns. He threw for 301 yards and three scores, then added 96 rushing yards and two more touchdowns on the ground.
South Carolina’s next chance to keep climbing comes Nov. 7 at home against Texas A&M. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. on ESPN.
In the US LBM Coaches Poll, Miami (FL) held the top spot, followed by Georgia, Indiana, Utah and UCLA. Notre Dame, Kentucky, BYU, Alabama and Ohio State rounded out the top 10.
The rest of the Coaches Poll included Texas, Ole Miss, Texas Tech, Wake Forest, LSU, Tennessee, USC, Houston, Missouri, Iowa, Boise State, Arizona, Northwestern, SMU and New Mexico.
Florida dropped out after being No. 20.
South Carolina was among the schools receiving votes, along with Florida, UTSA, Duke, Virginia Tech, Oregon, Minnesota, Oklahoma State, Liberty, North Texas, Wisconsin, Memphis, North Dakota State, Nebraska and Cincinnati.
The AP Top 25 listed Miami (FL) first, then Georgia, Utah, Notre Dame, UCLA, Indiana, BYU, Kentucky, Alabama, Texas, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Texas Tech, Wake Forest, LSU, Tennessee, Houston, USC, Missouri, Boise State, Iowa, New Mexico, South Carolina, Arizona and Florida.
Among the teams receiving AP votes were Northwestern, Oregon, UTSA, SMU, Virginia Tech, Duke, Minnesota, Liberty, Oklahoma State and Louisville.
In Other News...
Dabo Swinney Blasts Fan Stunt He Says Crossed The Line
Clemsons win over Florida State ended with an ugly aftertaste, as Dabo Swinney took aim at a banner that flew over the stadium calling for the firing of coach Mike Norvell and trustee Peter Collins. The message, which was reportedly crowdfunded by a fan and cost $3,550, even misspelled Norvells name, and Swinney made clear he was disappointed by what he saw as a step too far.
For a program that already lives under a microscope in the ACC, the episode was another reminder of how quickly frustration can spill past the normal bounds of fan criticism. Swinneys point was simple enough: support the players, not public calls for people to lose their jobs after a loss, and he drew a firm line between passion and something he believed crossed it. [Read more 🡒]
Nitro Tuggles South Carolina Absence Says Plenty About His Standing
Nitro Tuggles absence from South Carolinas trip to Oklahoma stood out because it was his first missed game of the season, and it came at a time when the Gamecocks were making clear choices about who could help them most on the road. Shane Beamer said the receivers who traveled were the ones who gave the team the best chance to win, with away-game roster limits also shaping the decision.
For Tuggle, the message was hard to miss. He has seen limited playing time this season and has not been a major factor on special teams, so being left behind suggests his place on the depth chart is still very much in flux as South Carolina continues sorting out its receiver rotation. [Read more 🡒]
South Carolina Is Starting To Look Like The Team Fans Wanted
South Carolinas latest win over Oklahoma gave Shane Beamer another reason to feel encouraged about where his team is headed. The Gamecocks have now strung together three straight victories, and the performance carried the kind of edge and resilience fans have been waiting to see. Beamer pointed to the teams overall progress while also noting the injury situation, including Matt Fullers surgery and the absence that comes with it.
Nyck Harbors return after battling illness added another positive note, and LaNorris Sellers continued to show why the ceiling here still feels high even when the execution is uneven. Sellers had his share of mixed moments, but he also made enough impressive plays to keep the offense moving and the conversation around South Carolina pointed in the right direction. For a team trying to turn promise into something more dependable, the signs are starting to add up. [Read more 🡒]