The University of South Carolina football team jumped two spots in the Associated Press Top 25 poll – from No. 10 to No. 8 – on the strength of Saturday’s 31-17 win over arch-rival Clemson.
In fact the Gamecocks (10-2, 6-2 SEC) missed the No. 7 spot by just one point – earning 1066 points to Stanford’s 1067.
USC did tie Baylor for the No. 7 spot in the USA Today/ Coaches’ poll – climbing three spots from last week.
South Carolina has now been ranked for 62 consecutive weeks – extending a school record.
Meanwhile Dabo Swinney’s Tigers (10-2, 6-2 ACC) moved in the opposite direction after dropping their fifth consecutive game to Steve Spurrier’s squad. Clemson fell from No. 6 to No. 13 in the AP poll and from No. 4 to No. 11 in the USA Today Coaches’ poll.
The news wasn’t all bad for the Atlantic Coast Conference, though, as Florida State assumed the No. 1 ranking in the nation for the first time since 2000 following Alabama’s last-second loss to Auburn in the Iron Bowl. The two-time defending national champion Crimson Tide slipped to No. 4 in both polls – just behind Auburn.
In fact if Florida State defeats No. 20 Duke in next week’s ACC championship game and No. 2 Ohio State beats No. 9/10 Michigan State in the Big 10 title game, then for the first time since 2005 a non-Southeastern Conference team will claim college football’s national championship.
Should one of those teams lose, though, the winner of the SEC championship game (between No. 3 Auburn and No. 5 Missouri) could conceivably stake a claim to the title game.
Next year college football will move to a four-team playoff system.
ASSOCIATED PRESS TOP 25 (December 1)
1. Florida State (58) 12-0, 1498
2. Ohio State 12-0, 1418
3. Auburn (2) 11-1, 1387
4. Alabama 11-1, 1294
5. Missouri 11-1, 1281
6. Oklahoma State 10-1, 1197
7. Stanford 10-2, 1067
8. South Carolina 10-2, 1066
9. Baylor 10-1, 1020
10. Michigan State 11-1, 1002
11. Arizona State 10-2, 843
12. Oregon 10-2, 815
13. Clemson 10-2, 813
14. LSU 9-3, 690
15. UCF 10-1, 621
16. Northern Illinois 12-0, 596
17. UCLA 9-3, 510
18. Oklahoma 9-2, 503
19. Louisville 10-1, 482
20. Duke 10-2, 348
21. Wisconsin 9-3, 299
22. Texas A&M 8-4, 186
23. Texas 8-3, 156
24. Fresno State 10-1, 124
25. Georgia 8-4, 111
Dropped from rankings: USC 23, Notre Dame 25
Others receiving votes: Cincinnati 45, USC 28, Notre Dame 26, Miami (FL) 26, Iowa 23, Vanderbilt 16, Washington 6, Minnesota 2, North Dakota State 1.
USA TODAY/ COACHES’ POLL (December 1)
1. Florida State (58) 12-0, 1546
2. Ohio State (4) 12-0, 1462
3. Auburn 11-1, 1437
4. Alabama 11-1, 1333
5. Missouri 11-1, 1315
6. Oklahoma State 10-1, 1248
7. Baylor 10-1, 1100
7. South Carolina 10-2, 1100
9. Michigan State 11-1, 1037
10. Stanford 10-2, 1034
11. Clemson 10-2, 853
12. Oregon 10-2, 843
13. Arizona State 10-2, 765
14. LSU 9-3, 720
15. Oklahoma 9-2, 660
16. Louisville 10-1, 625
17. UCF 10-1, 572
18. Northern Illinois 12-0, 547
19. UCLA 9-3, 473
20. Duke 10-2, 402
21. Wisconsin 9-3, 266
22. Fresno State 10-1, 215
23. Cincinnati 9-2, 167
24. Texas 8-3, 149
25. Texas A&M 8-4, 121
Dropped from rankings: USC 23
Others receiving votes: Miami (FL) 47, Georgia 41, Vanderbilt 18, Iowa 13, Marshall 13, USC 10, Washington 6, Virginia Tech 4, Minnesota 4, Notre Dame 3, Ball State 1.
19 comments
TBG predicts that Florida State will win it’s next two games by 14 or more points each.*
Also, Clemson and Sakerlina will both wind up in the final Top Ten.
*Unless they play Auburn. After the past 2 weeks, TGB would not bet against Auburn. *TBG’s eyes look like Tajh Boyd’s after the fumble*
The local solicitor’s office will wait until mid-January to file charges against Winston, so you are probably right about FSU running the table with ease.
TBG doubts he’ll be charged. It’s a he said/she said,and apparently she ain’t sayin’ anymore….
But, dayum, the ‘Noles are tough.
If Clemson hadn’t turned the ball over to Sakerlina*……..the game wouldn’t even have been close.
If Clemson hadn’t have turned the ball over to FSU the game still wouldn’t have been close.
*TBG knows all about bullfrogs and wings and is also aware that “they” still count turnovers…. : (
CINCO
Why would polls be set after conference championships and bowl games? If all teams play the same number of games in the regular season, wouldn’t that be it… not after certain teams play one or two more games.
It is ironic that a tiger escaped from the Greenville zoo at 4:30 this morning during his morning feed. The attendant, a Mexican, responded when asked which way it ran “datta vay” as he pointed west towards Travelers Rest. The tiger was recovered at a crackhouse on Cedar Lane Road. The owner of the house said the tiger was attempting to trade his own hide for a rock in an effort to disguise his identity and forget about the malaise that has overcome his species. The bengal tiger, nicknamed Five because he has five toes, has resided at the zoo for 5years. The zoo is rumored to be considering selling the Tiger for 500 dollars to a zoo in Tallahassie, Fla. to reduce their headaches. The funds will be used to provide a new habitat for JD a prized rooster said to be arriving in about Five weeks.
Small correction – Clemson cannot be 10-2 overall AND 6-2 in the ACC.
Deep down in his secret dark heart of hearts…where he tells no-one of his thoughts even (especially) himself…Will wishes Sakerlina was still in the ACC.
Truth! Well, I make no bones about the fact that Clem SHOULD be in the SEC. They are high quality!
Sad little kitties. A baseball wanna be school, playing in a basketball conference…..wishing they could play in a football conference. I’d be pissed too if I were a kitty.
You do realize that an ACC team is currently ranked #1 in the country.
Of course I realize that. The point, that you know is true, is that the ACC, despite FSU, isn’t a football powerhouse. It’s a traditional basketball conference. I’m pretty sure 99.99% of all sports fans would agree with that.
I agree, you’re on your own coming up with the other 99,999,998.
ESPN Stats & Information Conference Power Rankings (before last Sat, games)
1
SEC
2
Pac-12
3
Big 12
4
Big Ten
5
The Big Eacc
Maybe USC should join a conference where they have a shot at actually ranking at the top of their conference, instead of an always ran middle of the pack team.
No character nat’l championship game. Rapist won’t be charged until after game. Ohio St bird flippers certainly will play.
Won’t this be the third year in a row that Carolina has bested Clempson in the final polls?
What did the five fingers say to the face?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPr-xsQvhgw
I like the way his luxurious tresses manage to acquire a life of their own,while he takes care of business;great pic,but imagine all the trouble he puts his lovers through when running their fingers through those locks of dread:’Baby-boy,your hair has broken my index finger.What to do?’