Sept. 9, 2007

The University of South Carolina Gamecocks are ranked 17th in this week’s Associated Press poll and 23rd in the country in the USA Today/Coaches’ poll, both announced today.

The Gamecocks are 2-0 on the season, following a 28-14 win over Louisiana-Lafayette and a 16-12 victory at No. 11 Georgia. The Bulldogs slipped to 23rd in the AP poll and 25th in the Coaches’ poll.

This week’s national ranking marks the second time the Gamecocks have been ranked in the Steve Spurrier Era at South Carolina. They were ranked 19th in the country for one week following their win over Florida on Nov. 12, 2005, but fell out of the polls the following week after losing to Clemson. It’s the highest the Gamecocks have been ranked since the end of the 2001 season when they were 13th in the AP following an Outback Bowl win over Ohio State.

The Gamecocks, who have won their last five games dating back to last season, host South Carolina State on Saturday, Sept. 15. It will be the first meeting ever between the two schools. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m. at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia.