Gamecocks Ranked Sixth in Preseason A.P. Poll

Aug 17, 2013

The University of South Carolina football squad is the No. 6 team in the country, according to the preseason poll released by the Associated Press today.

The No. 6 ranking for the Gamecocks is the highest preseason A.P. ranking in school history. The Gamecocks were ranked ninth in last year’s A.P. preseason poll. They were ranked seventh in the first 2013 USA Today/Coaches poll, released earlier this month.

“I hope we can live up to it,” said head coach Steve Spurrier. “It’s flattering. I don’t know if we can live up to it or not, but we’ll try.”

The Gamecocks garnered 1,154 points to rank between two other SEC schools, No. 5 Georgia (1,249) and No. 7 Texas A&M (1,104). Defending national champion and SEC rival Alabama received 58 of the 60 first-place votes to easily take the top spot in the first poll of the year. Ohio State, Oregon and Stanford follow the Crimson Tide in the next three spots. Clemson, Louisville and Florida, the fifth SEC school, round out the top-10.

The Gamecocks finished the 2012 season with a school-record 11 wins for the second-straight season. They ended the season ranked eighth in the final A.P. poll, their highest finish in school history.

The Gamecocks will open the 2013 season on Thursday, August 29, when they host the North Carolina Tar Heels at Williams-Brice Stadium. Game time is set for 6 p.m. and the contest will be televised nationally on ESPN.

Single game tickets will go on sale to the general public beginning Monday, August 19, at 10 a.m. Approximately 3,000 tickets remain for the August 29 opener against North Carolina. Season tickets remain on sale as well.

2013 Associated Press Preseason Top-25

1. Alabama (58)

2. Ohio State (1)

3. Oregon

4. Stanford

5. Georgia (1)

6. South Carolina

7. Texas A&M

8. Clemson

9. Louisville

10. Florida

11. Florida State