USC Gamecocks Football

Gamecocks climb again in Top 25

South Carolina Gamecocks wide receiver Ace Sanders (1) celebrates his touchdown grab with running back Marcus Lattimore (21) in the second quarter of the Gamecocks game against Missouri at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, SC.
South Carolina Gamecocks wide receiver Ace Sanders (1) celebrates his touchdown grab with running back Marcus Lattimore (21) in the second quarter of the Gamecocks game against Missouri at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, SC. gmelendez@thestate.com

South Carolina moved up again in The Associated Press Top 25 after Saturday's 31-10 win over Missouri.

The Gamecocks (4-0) climbed one spot to No. 6, giving the Southeastern Conference four of the top six teams in the nation.

It's USC's highest AP ranking since the team was No. 6 after defeating North Carolina in 2007 to improve to 6-1 that year. It's the fifth time in school history that Carolina has been ranked sixth or better in the AP poll.

USC also is No. 6 in the USA Today Coaches Poll, up two spots.

Oregon slipped past LSU to No. 2 in the AP rankings behind Alabama after the Ducks rolled to a victory and the Tigers struggled to remain unbeaten. Oregon routed Arizona 49-0 on Saturday night in Eugene. No. 3 LSU hung on to win at Auburn 12-10.

Florida State remained No. 4 after its 49-37 victory against Clemson, and Georgia held steady at No. 5.

Alabama got 59 of 60 first-place votes from the media panel, with LSU receiving the other.

Kansas State moved up eight spots to No. 7 after beating Oklahoma 24-19, the Wildcats' best ranking since September 2006. The Sooners dropped from sixth to 16th.

Record Pts Pv
1. Alabama (59) 4-0 1,499 1
2. Oregon 4-0 1,414 3
3. LSU (1) 4-0 1,346 2
4. Florida St. 4-0 1,340 4
5. Georgia 4-0 1,245 5
6. South Carolina 4-0 1,147 7
7. Kansas St. 4-0 1,067 15
8. Stanford 3-0 1,055 9
9. West Virginia 3-0 1,045 8
10. Notre Dame 4-0 1,003 11
11. Florida 4-0 864 14
12. Texas 3-0 856 12
13. Southern Cal 3-1 801 13
14. Ohio St. 4-0 633 16
15. TCU 3-0 616 17
16. Oklahoma 2-1 611 6
17. Clemson 3-1 588 10
18. Oregon St. 2-0 451 NR
19. Louisville 4-0 414 20
20. Michigan St. 3-1 348 21
21. Mississippi St. 4-0 246 23
22. Nebraska 3-1 179 25
23. Rutgers 4-0 128 NR
24. Boise St. 2-1 114 24
25. Baylor 3-0 92 NR

Others receiving votes: Northwestern 89, UCLA 79, Michigan 44, Ohio 40, Virginia Tech 26, Arizona 17, Iowa St. 16, Wisconsin 13, Oklahoma St. 12, Texas A&M 11, Cincinnati 10, Tennessee 10, Texas Tech 10, Arizona St. 8, Louisiana Tech 7, Purdue 5, Miami 1.

This story was originally published September 23, 2012 at 11:55 AM with the headline "Gamecocks climb again in Top 25."

Related Stories from The State in Columbia SC
Get one year of unlimited digital access for $159.99
#ReadLocal

Only 44¢ per day

SUBSCRIBE NOW