Where South Carolina ranks in the way-too-early Top 25 polls
Jan. 11, 2023
Coach Beamer's team could be flirting with their first preseason Associated Press Top 25 ranking in nine years come next August. That’s according to a survey of 11 “way too early” Top 25 college football rankings published after Georgia routed TCU 65-7 in Monday night’s national championship game. Gamecocks appeared on six of 11 rankings and were as high as No. 19 in Sports Illustrated’s 2023 rankings after a memorable second season under Beamer last fall.
The Gamecocks went 8-5, scoring back-to-back wins against Top 10 Tennessee and Clemson teams to close the regular season as well as their first finish in the final College Football Playoff Top 25 rankings (No. 19). South Carolina closed its season with a 45-38 loss to Notre Dame in the Gator Bowl and logged its first finish in the final Associated Press Top 25 rankings since 2013 (No. 23).
2023 WAY TOO EARLY TOP 25 RANKINGS USA
USA Today: South Carolina unranked
The Action Network: South Carolina unranked
Bleacher Report: South Carolina No. 21
Fox Sports: South Carolina unranked
247Sports: South Carolina No. 21
Pro Football Focus: South Carolina No. 22
Athlon Sports: South Carolina No. 25
The Sporting News: South Carolina No. 25
Sports Illustrated: South Carolina No. 19
ESPN: South Carolina “just missed the Top 25”
The Athletic: South Carolina “just outside the Top 25”
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA
Pat Forde, Sports Illustrated: “Shane Beamer has pretty emphatically refuted the notion that he was hired for only his last name, winning 15 games his first two seasons on the job and scoring some landmark upsets (Tennessee, Clemson, North Carolina). And his recruiting heightens the likelihood that South Carolina will remain on the ascent.”
Brad Crawford, 247Sports: “Can Shane Beamer and South Carolina build on their 8-5 finish in 2022? The Gamecocks are hoping to do so with a top-20 signing class and transfer help. Much of the positivity surrounding South Carolina’s spot in our preseason rankings especially now with the return of both Spencer Rattler and Juice Wells.” (Wells, who was in the SEC in receiving yards last year, announced Monday he’s returning in 2023.) Max Chadwick, Pro Football Focus: “South Carolina played the role of spoiler in 2022 … The big question now has been answered whether quarterback Spencer Rattler returns to Columbia next season. Big yes has propelled new momentum for 2023. He wasn’t always pretty, but the Oklahoma transfer showed off his talented arm with 21 big-time throws, a top-15 mark in the Power Five.”
Jan. 11, 2023
Coach Beamer's team could be flirting with their first preseason Associated Press Top 25 ranking in nine years come next August. That’s according to a survey of 11 “way too early” Top 25 college football rankings published after Georgia routed TCU 65-7 in Monday night’s national championship game. Gamecocks appeared on six of 11 rankings and were as high as No. 19 in Sports Illustrated’s 2023 rankings after a memorable second season under Beamer last fall.
The Gamecocks went 8-5, scoring back-to-back wins against Top 10 Tennessee and Clemson teams to close the regular season as well as their first finish in the final College Football Playoff Top 25 rankings (No. 19). South Carolina closed its season with a 45-38 loss to Notre Dame in the Gator Bowl and logged its first finish in the final Associated Press Top 25 rankings since 2013 (No. 23).
2023 WAY TOO EARLY TOP 25 RANKINGS USA
USA Today: South Carolina unranked
The Action Network: South Carolina unranked
Bleacher Report: South Carolina No. 21
Fox Sports: South Carolina unranked
247Sports: South Carolina No. 21
Pro Football Focus: South Carolina No. 22
Athlon Sports: South Carolina No. 25
The Sporting News: South Carolina No. 25
Sports Illustrated: South Carolina No. 19
ESPN: South Carolina “just missed the Top 25”
The Athletic: South Carolina “just outside the Top 25”
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA
Pat Forde, Sports Illustrated: “Shane Beamer has pretty emphatically refuted the notion that he was hired for only his last name, winning 15 games his first two seasons on the job and scoring some landmark upsets (Tennessee, Clemson, North Carolina). And his recruiting heightens the likelihood that South Carolina will remain on the ascent.”
Brad Crawford, 247Sports: “Can Shane Beamer and South Carolina build on their 8-5 finish in 2022? The Gamecocks are hoping to do so with a top-20 signing class and transfer help. Much of the positivity surrounding South Carolina’s spot in our preseason rankings especially now with the return of both Spencer Rattler and Juice Wells.” (Wells, who was in the SEC in receiving yards last year, announced Monday he’s returning in 2023.) Max Chadwick, Pro Football Focus: “South Carolina played the role of spoiler in 2022 … The big question now has been answered whether quarterback Spencer Rattler returns to Columbia next season. Big yes has propelled new momentum for 2023. He wasn’t always pretty, but the Oklahoma transfer showed off his talented arm with 21 big-time throws, a top-15 mark in the Power Five.”
