Gamecocks Finish Fourth in Final National Polls

Jan. 7, 2014

The University of South Carolina football team finished fourth in the final Associated Press and USA Today/ESPN Coaches polls, it was announced today. It marked the highest postseason ranking in school history.

Florida State (14-0) received every first place vote in both polls, finishing just ahead of Auburn (12-2). Big Ten Champion Michigan State (13-1) placed third, with the Gamecocks (11-2) and Missouri (12-2) rounding out the top 5 in both polls.

“Being ranked No. 4 in both major polls is an honor for the University of South Carolina and for our football program,” said head coach Steve Spurrier. “Thanks to the players for achieving another 11-2 record. Thanks also to the coaches, the support staff and our fans for their contributions. Also thanks to the voters for thinking so highly of us. We are very appreciative and thankful for being the highest-ranked team in school history and hope to do better next year.”

This is the ninth time that Carolina has finished the season ranked in the final Associated Press poll and the third-straight top-10 finish. Here are Carolina’s postseason A.P. rankings: 1958 (13), 1984 (11), 1987 (15); 2000 (19); 2001 (13); 2010 (22); 2011 (9); 2012 (8); 2013 (4).

Here are a few highlights of the 2013 Carolina Football season:

• South Carolina is one of only three schools, joining Alabama and Oregon, to finish in the A.P. top 10 in each of the last three seasons.

• South Carolina defeated six teams that won its bowl game: Clemson (Orange), UCF (Fiesta), Missouri (Cotton), North Carolina (Belk), Mississippi State (Liberty) and Vanderbilt (BBVA Compass).

• South Carolina posted wins over five teams that finished in the top 25 (Missouri – 5/5; Clemson – 8/7; UCF – 10/12; Wisconsin – 22/21; and Vanderbilt – 24/23) with the UCF and Missouri games coming on the road and the Wisconsin win at a neutral site.

• South Carolina finished the season with six-consecutive wins, including three against ranked opponents (Missouri, Clemson and Wisconsin).

• South Carolina was the only team to have two wins over BCS teams (Clemson and UCF) prior to the bowl games.

• South Carolina has an 18-game home winning streak, the longest current streak in the nation.

• South Carolina has been ranked in the AP Top 25 for 64 consecutive weeks, tying Stanford for the fifth-longest active streak in the nation.

• South Carolina is one of only five schools, joining Alabama, Oregon, Stanford and Northern Illinois, to win 11 games in each of the last three seasons.

• South Carolina has won three-straight New Year’s Day bowl games, defeating Nebraska, Michigan and Wisconsin.

The Gamecocks will open the 2014 season on Thursday, August 28, when they host Texas A&M at Williams-Brice Stadium. Fans can place a deposit on 2014 Gamecock season football tickets for just $100. Go to gamecocksonline.com/tickets or call 803-777-4274.

AP Top 25

RK TEAM RECORD PTS

1 Florida State (60) 14-0 1500

2 Auburn 12-2 1428

3 Michigan State 13-1 1385

4 South Carolina 11-2 1247

5 Missouri 12-2 1236

6 Oklahoma 11-2 1205

7 Alabama 11-2 1114

8 Clemson 11-2 1078

9 Oregon 11-2 974

10 UCF 12-1 959

11 Stanford 11-3 936

12 Ohio State 12-2 816

13 Baylor 11-2 778

14 LSU 10-3 717

15 Louisville 12-1 693

16 UCLA 10-3 632

17 Oklahoma State 10-3 598

18 Texas A&M 9-4 459

19 Southern California 10-4 299

20 Notre Dame 9-4 256

21 Arizona State 10-4 255

22 Wisconsin 9-4 245

23 Duke 10-4 190

24 Vanderbilt 9-4 117

25 Washington 9-4 109

USA Today Poll

RK TEAM RECORD PTS

1 Florida State (59) 14-0 1475

2 Auburn 12-2 1388

3 Michigan State 13-1 1375

4 South Carolina 11-2 1219

5 Missouri 12-2 1200

6 Oklahoma 11-2 1189

7 Clemson 11-2 1091

8 Alabama 11-2 1086

9 Oregon 11-2 975

10 Ohio State 12-2 872

10 Stanford 11-3 872

12 UCF 12-1 865

13 Baylor 11-2 796

14 LSU 10-3 719

15 Louisville 12-1 703

16 UCLA 10-3 597

17 Oklahoma State 10-3 587

18 Texas A&M 9-4 443

19 Southern California 10-4 313

20 Arizona State 10-4 302

21 Wisconsin 9-4 266

22 Duke 10-4 202

23 Vanderbilt 9-4 180

24 Notre Dame 9-4 125

25 Nebraska 9-4 123