Ranking the top 10 Gamecock teams of all time
South Carolina’s triumph in the Outback Bowl over Michigan continues the most successful run in school history. A look at the 10 best USC football teams:
1. 2012
RECORD: 11-2
COACH: STEVE SPURRIER
Winning 11 games for the second consecutive season, USC finished as the highest-ranked squad in school history, coming in No. 8 in the final Associated Press poll and seventh in the coaches poll.
2t. 2011
RECORD: 11-2
COACH: STEVE SPURRIER
The Capital One Bowl win against Nebraska gave USC its first 11-win season. Other firsts: USC won six SEC games and finished 5-0 against SEC East foes.
2t. 2000
RECORD: 8-4
COACH: LOU HOLTZ
A win in the opener ended a 21-game losing streak. A win a week later against No. 9 Georgia set the stage for a memorable year. The bowl romp over Ohio State provided a perfect finish.
4. 2001
RECORD: 9-3
COACH: LOU HOLTZ
The Gamecocks went 5-3 in the SEC and defeated three Top-25 teams. Beating Alabama is never bad. The Gamecocks made it back-to-back Outback Bowl wins against Ohio State.
5. 1984
RECORD: 10-2
COACH: JOE MORRISON
The Gamecocks won their first nine games before stumbling against a weak Navy team. Win that game and follow with a victory over Clemson, and USC would have played for the national championship.
6. 1987
RECORD: 8-4
COACH: JOE MORRISON
A play here or a play there, and perhaps this team would challenge for the best label. The Gamecocks took Nebraska and Miami, both ranked No. 2 at the time, to the wire.
7. 1980
RECORD: 8-4
COACH: JIM CARLEN
In George Rogers’ senior season, the Gamecocks beat Michigan in Ann Arbor, played Southern California tough in L.A. and had a shot at derailing Georgia’s march to the national title.
8. 1979
RECORD: 8-4
COACH: JIM CARLEN
A one-point loss at Notre Dame ranks among the Gamecocks’ toughest defeats. USC went 2-2 against ranked teams.
9. 1969
RECORD: 7-4
COACH: PAUL DIETZEL
The Gamecocks raced through the ACC undefeated to earn the league championship, but USC lost its two games against ranked teams (Georgia and Tennessee).
10. 1958
RECORD: 7-3
COACH: WARREN GIESE
This team that featured Alex Hawkins and King Dixon had the possibility of being really special, but two close losses spoiled the possibility of a major bowl.
This story was originally published January 9, 2013 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Ranking the top 10 Gamecock teams of all time."