Aug. 4, 2011

The South Carolina Gamecocks are the 12th-best team in the nation, according to the USA Today Top 25 Coaches’ Poll, which was released today.

The Gamecocks picked up 779 points to rank between Nebraska (814) and Virginia Tech (767) in the preseason poll. Oklahoma is the preseason favorite with 1,454 points and 42 first-place votes. Alabama, Oregon, LSU and Florida State round out the top five.

The Gamecocks finished the 2010 season with a 9-5 record and ranked 22nd in the country in both the Associated Press and Coaches’ polls. It was the Gamecocks’ first top-25 finish since the 2001 season.

Final 2010 First-place

Rank School (2010 record) Points

1. Oklahoma (12-2) 1454

2. Alabama (10-3) 1414

3. Oregon (12-1) 1309

4. LSU (11-2) 1296

5. Florida State (10-4) 1116

6. Stanford (12-1) 1101

7. Boise State (12-1) 1065

8. Oklahoma State (11-2) 933

9. Texas A&M (9-4) 885

10. Wisconsin (11-2) 829

11. Nebraska (10-4) 814

12. South Carolina (9-5) 779

13. Virginia Tech (11-3) 767

14. Arkansas (10-3) 750

15. TCU (13-0) 687

16. Ohio State (12-1) 631

17. Michigan State (11-2) 536

18. Notre Dame (8-5) 440

19. Auburn (14-0) 329

20. Mississippi State (9-4) 301

21. Missouri (10-3) 266

22. Georgia (6-7) 260

23. Florida (8-5) 240

24. Texas (5-7) 162

25. Penn State (7-6) 161

Others receiving votes (with 2010 records): Arizona State (6-6) 158; West Virginia (9-4) 149; Utah (10-3) 50; Miami (Fla.) (7-6) 49; Iowa (8-5) 41; Northwestern (7-6) 30; Arizona (7-6) 28; Central Florida (11-3) 22; Michigan (7-6) 19; Air Force (9-4) 15; North Carolina (8-5) 14; Houston (5-7) 13; South Florida (8-5) 9; Hawaii (10-4) 8; Clemson (6-7) 7; Tennessee (6-7) 7; Southern Miss (8-5) 6; Brigham Young (7-6) 5; North Carolina State (9-4) 4; Northern Illinois (11-3) 4; Oregon State (5-7) 4; Pittsburgh (8-5) 3; Washington (7-6) 3; Georgia Tech (6-7) 1; Nevada (13-1) 1.