Clemson University fell from No. 3 to No. 9 in the Associated Press Top 25 – and from No. 4 to No. 10 in the USA Today/ Coaches’ poll – following Saturday’s blowout loss at the hands of Florida State. The Tigers (6-1, 4-1 ACC) were manhandled by the Seminoles – who won for the first time in a dozen years at Death Valley.
FSU climbed from No. 5 to No. 3 in both polls on the strength of its big win – coming in just behind top-ranked Alabama and No. 2 Oregon.
Meanwhile the University of South Carolina dropped from No. 11 to No. 20 in the AP poll and from No. 9 to No. 20 in the USA Today/ Coaches’ poll after losing on the road Saturday in humiliating fashion to unranked Tennessee.
Head coach Steve Spurrier’s squad blew a pair of timeouts before deciding to punt the football with three minutes left – clinging to a one point lead over the Volunteers, who converted a big third down play en route to a game-winning field goal as time expired.
The Gamecocks (5-2, 3-2 SEC) have their work out for them next week when they travel to Columbia, Missouri to play the undefeated Mizzou Tigers (7-0, 3-0 SEC). After back-to-back wins over SEC East rivals Georgia and Florida, Missouri is ranked No. 5 in the nation in the AP poll and No. 7 in the USA Today/ Coaches’ poll. That’s the team’s highest ranking since 2008, when the Tigers climbed to No. 3 nationally only to drop back-to-back games to Oklahoma State and Texas.
South Carolina and Missouri face off at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday Night at Faurot Field – with ESPN2 televising the game nationally. Clemson looks to get its season back on track on the road against Maryland.
Here are both the AP and USA Today rankings …
ASSOCIATED PRESS TOP 25 (October 20)
1. Alabama (55) 7-0, 1495
2. Oregon (3) 7-0, 1427
3. Florida State (2) 6-0, 1395
4. Ohio State 7-0, 1309
5. Missouri 7-0, 1197
6. Baylor 6-0, 1189
7. Miami (FL) 6-0, 1130
8. Stanford 6-1, 1118
9. Clemson 6-1, 927
10. Texas Tech 7-0, 904
11. Auburn 6-1, 867
12. UCLA 5-1, 832
13. LSU 6-2, 739
14. Texas A&M 5-2, 683
15. Fresno State 6-0, 550
16. Virginia Tech 6-1, 509
17. Oklahoma 6-1, 501
18. Louisville 6-1, 428
19. Oklahoma State 5-1, 382
20. South Carolina 5-2, 381
21. UCF 5-1, 345
22. Wisconsin 5-2, 258
23. Northern Illinois 7-0, 220
24. Michigan 6-1, 169
25. Nebraska 5-1, 117
Dropped from rankings: Georgia 15, Washington 20, Florida 22
Others receiving votes: Arizona State 108, Notre Dame 82, Oregon State 79, Michigan State 73, Georgia 30, Ole Miss 27, Florida 17, Utah 4, Washington 4, Texas 2, Ball State 1, Brigham Young 1.
USA TODAY/ COACHES’ POLL (October 20)
1. Alabama (57) 7-0, 1544
2. Oregon (4) 7-0, 1482
3. Florida State (1) 6-0, 1410
4. Ohio State 7-0, 1382
5. Baylor 6-0, 1255
6. Miami (FL) 6-0, 1186
7. Missouri 7-0, 1184
8. Stanford 6-1, 1117
9. Texas Tech 7-0, 981
10. Clemson 6-1, 913
11. UCLA 5-1, 710
12. Oklahoma 6-1, 695
13. Oklahoma State 5-1, 688
13. LSU 6-2, 688
15. Texas A&M 5-2, 622
16. Louisville 6-1, 571
17. Auburn 6-1, 537
18. Fresno State 6-0, 532
19. Virginia Tech 6-1, 499
20. South Carolina 5-2, 468
21. Nebraska 5-1, 385
22. Northern Illinois 7-0, 298
23. Michigan 6-1, 268
24. Wisconsin 5-2, 195
25. UCF 5-1, 151
Dropped from rankings: Georgia 16, Florida 22, Washington 25
Others receiving votes: Michigan State 102, Oregon State 91, Notre Dame 62, Arizona State 51, Georgia 37, Ole Miss 17, Texas 11, Houston 6, Florida 4, Brigham Young 3, Ball State 1, Boise State 1, Louisiana-Lafayette 1, Rutgers 1, Tennessee 1.
17 comments
Not offense to Tiger fans, but Clemson is not a top-10 football team. No team ranked in the top 10 has its ass handed to it in front of a home crowd of 80,000 people. USC is possibly over-ranked as well.
No offense to Gamecock fans, but USC is not a top-25 football team.
I doubt the score would have been any different had FSU played USC instead of Clemson last night.
You have to admit, the buildup to the game was pretty humorous. The pre game analysis by itself is priceless. Throw in Boyd’s Heisman hype and Dabo’s “this is our time” sales pitch to the fans, and you have raised “eating crow” to a professional level. I’m sure you have the entire thing recorded in HD for future viewing of the Tiger’s decimation of FSU on their march to the national title. Maybe might think about the delete button.
Maybe might think about the delete button.
Waaaay ahead of you there, Hoss.
Hell it sounds like any given week after USC wins. One week after beating South Aiken High School it’s national championship talk, the next week after a loss to Vanderbilt Tech it’s 6-6 and fire Spurrier.
Tadj Boyd has told the USC police he is still hoping to locate the earring he lost two years ago at Williams Brice. He’s almost certain it was dislodged around the 34 yard line (north side). Although he has since replaced it, the sentimental value of the stud is considerable. It matches a tie pin and cuff link set that was presented to him by the widow of a Clemson hall of fame member after the Virginia victory during his sophomore year. He has offered a reward, but holds out hope one of his offensive linemen may come up with it during the Carolina game later this year. Anyone with any information will be pleased to contact Tadj directly.
4-bomb.
Math lesson for Sic Willie. Clemson drops from 3 to 9 after a “blowout loss” as compared to dropping from USC dropping from 11 to 20. Which team dropped the most? I assume you have the requisite number of fingers and toes to do the math.
Talk about grasping at straws. Congratulations on your new ranking. Clemson is certainly the best 6-1 team with a 37 point loss at home (mercy touchdown with seconds to go, included). USC, with two losses, is ranked about right, I think.
News Flash for you. Rankings are determined by national media (AP) and coaches (USA). So where either school is ranked is what others outside the state of SC think.
Hell, neither one of them is worth a damn
Damn, my favorite team for a day lost, Notre Dame won :(
I am sorry that both teams lost and that both teams dropped in the rankings – sad that it has to be such a partisan thing here
True. Bad day for college football teams in SC. Only 3 teams managed a win: Benedict, Furman and Coastal.
Old Back Sack should have left at the end of last season. Mizz beats the crap out of the Gamecocks next week. Gamecocks drop out of the top 25.
#9 and #21 in BCS.
Bama & FSU, #1 & #2.
#9 in the BCS. More of that oblivion for Clemson that Sic Willie talked about.