Aug. 18, 2012

The University of South Carolina football squad is the No. 9 team in the country, according to the preseason poll released by the Associated Press today.

The No. 9 ranking for the Gamecocks is the highest preseason ranking in school history. The Gamecocks were ranked 12th in last year’s A.P. preseason poll. They were also ranked ninth in the first 2012 USA Today/Coaches poll, released earlier this month.

The Gamecocks garnered 994 points to rank between Michigan (1,000) and SEC rival Arkansas (963). Southern California is the preseason favorite according to the national writers with 1,445 points and 25 first place votes, edging Alabama (1,411, 17) and LSU (1,402, 16). Oklahoma and Oregon round out the top five.

There are five SEC teams ranked among the top 10 in the country, including Alabama (2), LSU (3), Georgia (6), South Carolina (9) and Arkansas (10).

The Gamecocks finished the 2011 season with a school record 11 wins and an 11-2 overall mark. They were ranked ninth in the final A.P. poll, their highest finish in school history.

The Gamecocks will open the 2012 season on Thursday, August 30 in Nashville against the Vanderbilt Commodores.

PRESEASON AP TOP 25

1. Southern Cal (25) 10-2 1,445

2. Alabama (17) 12-1 1,411

3. LSU (16) 13-1 1,402

4. Oklahoma (1) 10-3 1,286

5. Oregon 12-2 1,274

6. Georgia 10-4 1,107

7. Florida St. 9-4 1,093

8. Michigan (1) 11-2 1,000

9. South Carolina 11-2 994

10. Arkansas 11-2 963

11. West Virginia 10-3 856

12. Wisconsin 11-3 838

13. Michigan St. 11-3 742

14. Clemson 10-4 615

15. Texas 8-5 569

16. Virginia Tech 11-3 548

17. Nebraska 9-4 485

18. Ohio St. 6-7 474

19. Oklahoma St. 12-1 430

20. TCU 11-2 397

21. Stanford 11-2 383

22. Kansas St. 10-3 300

23. Florida 7-6 214

24. Boise St. 12-1 212

25. Louisville 7-6 105

Others receiving votes: Notre Dame 83, Washington 55, Auburn 53, North Carolina 32, Utah 30, Georgia Tech 25, BYU 22, Tennessee 15, South Florida 11, Baylor 9, Texas A&M 5, UCF 4, Cincinnati 3, Missouri 3, N.C. State 3, Houston 1, Louisiana Tech 1, Mississippi St. 1, N. Illinois 1.