ESPN ranks the SEC, and puts two East teams ahead of the Gamecocks
The official SEC preseason poll won’t come out until Friday at the conclusion of SEC Media Days.
But that didn’t stop ESPN from putting together its preseason power rankings, and placing the Gamecocks as the No. 3 team in the league’s East Division.
ESPN Staff Writer Alex Scarborough placed the Gamecocks No. 6 in the power rankings, behind Georgia (No. 2) and Florida (No. 5). USC is coming off a season in which it finished second in the SEC East.
“South Carolina has largely flown under the radar,” Scarborough wrote. “But Will Muschamp has built a quality program in a very short period of time in Columbia. The offense, which has always been his Achilles’ heel, has become a strength thanks to the development of quarterback Jake Bentley and wideouts Deebo Samuel and (Bryan) Edwards. And the defense, despite missing true star power, should be solid under Muschamp’s watch. Don’t be surprised if the Gamecocks give perennial East powers Georgia and Florida trouble this season.”
Those Gators are coming off a 4-7 season in which they went 3-5 in the SEC. Two of those wins came by one and six points.
There is some banking on an immediate improvement in replacing Jim McElwain with Dan Mullen. The last time Florida changed coaches, McIliwain took over for Muschamp and won two SEC East titles (in an ailing division) in a row.
“There might not be a bigger wild card in the SEC than the Gators,” Scarborough wrote. “The return of Dan Mullen has breathed new life into a stagnant program. There’s finally hope that with Mullen’s magic and the addition of Ole Miss wideout Van Jefferson, the offense might finally pull out of the ditch. But the missing link is the same it always has been: quarterback. Whether it’s Feleipe Franks or Emory Jones, the position will make or break Mullen’s first season back in Gainesville.”
Full ESPN Power Rankings:
1. Alabama
2. Georgia
3. Auburn
4. Mississippi State
5. Florida
6. South Carolina
7. LSU
8. Texas A&M
9. Kentucky
10. Missouri
11. Ole Miss
12. Tennessee
13. Vandy
14. Arkansas