The University of South Carolina football team inched up a spot in the national rankings this week on the strength of Saturday’s 35-25 win over Vanderbilt.
The Gamecocks (2-1, 1-1 SEC) climbed from No. 13 to No. 12 in the Associated Press poll and from No. 14 to No. 13 in the USA Today/ Coaches’ poll. Of course it wasn’t so much South Carolina’s win as it was Michigan’s poor performance against lowly Akron which provided the upward momentum.
The Wolverines – who fell to the Gamecocks in the 2013 Outback Bowl – narrowly avoided being upset by the Zips at home in the Big House, prompting the sportswriters to drop them from No. 11 to No. 15 and the coaches to drop them from No. 12 to No. 14.
Clemson University – which had a bye week – remained at No. 3 in the Associated Press poll climbed from No. 5 to No. 4 in the coaches’ poll. Head coach Dabo Swinney’s Tigers will travel to Raleigh, North Carolina on Thursday night to take on unranked North Carolina State.
Two-time defending national champion Alabama continued its reign atop both polls after defeating No. 6 Texas A&M and defending Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel in College Station, Texas on Saturday.
The Aggies (2-1, 0-1 SEC) fell to No. 10 in the AP poll and No. 9 in the coaches’ poll as a result of the defeat.
ASSOCIATED PRESS TOP 25 (September 15)
1. Alabama (59) 2-0, 1499
2. Oregon (1) 3-0, 1413
3. Clemson 2-0, 1347
4. Ohio State 3-0, 1330
5. Stanford 2-0, 1241
6. LSU 3-0, 1134
7. Louisville 3-0, 1092
8. Florida State 2-0, 1058
9. Georgia 1-1, 1051
10. Texas A&M 2-1, 1001
11. Oklahoma State 3-0, 848
12. South Carolina 2-1, 821
13. UCLA 2-0, 757
14. Oklahoma 3-0, 692
15. Michigan 3-0, 672
16. Miami (FL) 2-0, 641
17. Washington 2-0, 496
18. Northwestern 3-0, 487
19. Florida 1-1, 412
20. Baylor 2-0, 355
21. Ole Miss 3-0, 300
22. Notre Dame 2-1, 277
23. Arizona State 2-0, 229
24. Wisconsin 2-1, 87
25. Texas Tech 3-0, 60
Dropped from rankings: Nebraska 23, TCU 24.
Others receiving votes: Michigan State 59, Fresno State 27, UCF 25, Northern Illinois 24, Georgia Tech 17, Nebraska 15, Arizona 11, Auburn 9, Boise State 4, TCU 3, Virginia Tech 3, Arkansas 2, Navy 1.
USA TODAY/ COACHES’ POLL (September 15)
1. Alabama (61) 2-0, 1549
2. Oregon (1) 3-0, 1477
3. Ohio State 3-0, 1398
4. Clemson 2-0, 1331
5. Stanford 2-0, 1314
6. Louisville 3-0, 1128
7. LSU 3-0, 1121
8. Florida State 2-0, 1113
9. Texas A&M 2-1, 1033
10. Georgia 1-1, 1022
11. Oklahoma State 3-0, 908
12. Oklahoma 3-0, 839
13. South Carolina 2-1, 811
14. Michigan 3-0, 743
15. UCLA 2-0, 699
16. Northwestern 3-0, 582
17. Miami (FL) 2-0, 559
18. Florida 1-1, 398
19. Baylor 2-0, 375
20. Washington 2-0, 361
21. Notre Dame 2-1, 331
22. Ole Miss 3-0, 303
23. Arizona State 2-0, 176
24. Michigan State 3-0, 131
25. Fresno State 2-0, 75
Dropped from rankings: Nebraska 15, Wisconsin 18, TCU 24.
Others receiving votes: Nebraska 55, Wisconsin 53, Texas Tech 49, Georgia Tech 37, Arkansas 34, UCF 33, Arizona 29, Northern Illinois 26, Auburn 15, Virginia Tech 9, Brigham Young 8, USC 7, Kansas State 6, Boise State 5, Utah State 5, Rutgers 2.
5 comments
Who else is annoyed at the stupid helmet penalties? In the Bama/A&M game, an Aggie defender got his helmet literally punched off, then his jersey grabbed. The OL didn’t get a penalty for either infraction, but the Aggie got a 15yd penalty for continuing to play without a helmet. WTF? Another reason I prefer NFL
Aggie player loses his helmet, ok. Then exactly when does the play end? Does the player throw up his hands and yells to the referee? Does the play continue until the referee blows his whistle? Most of the players on each team probably would not immediately see the helmet is gone . No, I don’t know all of the rules, but will someone clue me in? Thanks……
Don’t look at me.. I thought Vandy was holding half the game. And that was just the drugs!
Pretty good! A few times during the Bama game I expected an Aggie player to carry Manziel under his arm looking for the end zone…..
OFF SUBJECT—- but I just went insane! The link is to an article about the Jaguar Cheerleaders in London, but forget the article and view their lingerie video at the end. Outstanding!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2419977/Jacksonville-Jaguars-cheerleaders-perform-Fulham-v-West-Brom.html