USC Cracks Into The Top 10 In Preseason Coaches Poll
COLUMBIA, S.C. (USC SID) — The South Carolina Gamecocks are the ninth-best team in the nation, according to the preseason USA Today/ESPN Top 25 Coaches‘ Poll, which was released today. The Gamecocks garnered 981 points to rank between Michigan (1,023) and SEC rival Arkansas (833). LSU is the preseason favorite with 1,403 points and 18 first place votes, edging Alabama (1,399, 20) and Southern California (1,388, 19). Oklahoma and Oregon round out the top five. There are five SEC teams ranked among the top 10 in the country, including LSU (1), Alabama (2), 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 eighth in the final Coaches‘ poll, their highest finish in school history. They were ranked 12th in the preseason Coaches‘ poll a year ago. The Gamecocks will begin fall practice on Friday, Aug. 3, at 7:30 p.m. The first game is scheduled for Thursday, August 30 in Nashville against the Vanderbilt Commodores. Rank School (2011 record) Points 1. LSU (13-1) 1403 2. Alabama (12-1) 1399 3. Southern California (10-2) 1388 4. Oklahoma (10-3) 1276 5. Oregon (12-2) 1258 6. Georgia (10-4) 1061 7. Florida State (9-4) 1055 8. Michigan (11-2) 1023 9. South Carolina (11-2) 981 10. Arkansas (11-2) 948 11. West Virginia (10-3) 833 12. Wisconsin (11-3) 743 13. Michigan State (11-3) 717 14. Clemson (10-4) 598 15. Texas (8-5) 549 16. Nebraska (9-4) 501 17. TCU (11-2) 499 18. Stanford (11-2) 497 19. Oklahoma State (12-1) 476 20. Virginia Tech (11-3) 461 21. Kansas State (10-3) 398 22. Boise State (12-1) 271 23. Florida (7-6) 250 24. Notre Dame (8-5) 166 25. Auburn (8-5) 66 Others receiving votes (with 2011 records): Washington (7-6) 64; Louisville (7-6) 46; Georgia Tech (8-5) 35; Cincinnati (10-3) 32; Texas A&M (7-6) 28; Baylor (10-3) 23; Utah (8-5) 22; Mississippi State (7-6) 21; South Florida (5-7) 12; N.C. State (8-5) 11; BYU (10-3) 10; Louisiana Tech (8-5) 10; Virginia (8-5) 9; Houston (13-1) 7; Southern Mississippi (12-2) 6; Central Florida (5-7) 5; Rutgers (9-4) 5; Florida International (8-5) 3; Missouri (8-5) 3; Tennessee (5-7) 3; Northern Illinois (11-3) 2; Texas Tech (5-7) 1.
