Oct. 7, 2007

The University of South Carolina football team is ranked seventh in the latest Associated Press poll and 12th in the USA Today/Coaches’ poll released today.

The A.P. ranking is the highest for the Gamecocks since the final regular season poll in 1984 when they were 10-1 and ranked seventh in the nation heading into a Gator Bowl date with ninth-ranked Oklahoma State. The Gamecocks vaulted as high as No. 2 in the nation that season after winning their first nine contests before dropping a 38-21 decision at Navy. The Gamecocks are in the top 10 in the country for the first time since the 2001 season when they climbed to ninth in the AP poll after a 5-0 start.

The Gamecocks (5-1, 3-1 SEC) are coming off a convincing 38-23 win over previously undefeated and eighth-ranked Kentucky. The Wildcats fell to 17th in the A.P. and 18th in the Coaches’ poll this week. LSU, the only team to defeat South Carolina this season (28-16 in Baton Rouge), is an overwhelming No. 1 pick in both national polls.

South Carolina will put its ranking on the line this week when the Gamecocks travel to Chapel Hill to face the North Carolina Tar Heels (2-4, 1-2 ACC). The Tar Heels are coming off an impressive win over Miami (Fla.). Game time is set for 3:30 p.m. ET from Kenan Stadium. ABC will regionally televise the game as part of the ACC package.