In-Shape Gamecocks Ranked 12th In Coaches Poll

COLUMBIA, S.C. (USC SID) – 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.