South Carolina Opens at No. 13 in Preseason AP Poll with Strong Support from Some Voters and Complete Snubs from Others

South Carolina Opens at No. 13 in Preseason AP Poll with Strong Support from Some Voters and Complete Snubs from Others

South Carolina football begins the 2025 season with a No. 13 ranking in the preseason AP Top 25, a position that reflects both optimism and skepticism from the nation’s panel of voters. The Gamecocks’ placement signals national respect for Shane Beamer’s program after notable strides in recent years, but the variation in individual ballots shows the divide over just how dangerous this team can be. Some voters believe South Carolina is a legitimate top-10 threat, while others left the Gamecocks completely off their ballots.

Being ranked No. 13 gives South Carolina a solid starting point, but the range of opinions from AP voters tells an intriguing story. Certain writers and broadcasters clearly see the Gamecocks as a dark horse SEC contender, ranking them as high as the top eight. Those ballots indicate a belief in South Carolina’s returning talent, defensive potential, and Beamer’s ability to navigate a challenging schedule. In particular, these high-ranking voters seem confident in the team’s quarterback situation, the growth of its offensive line, and a secondary they believe can generate turnovers against even elite competition.

On the flip side, some voters weren’t convinced the Gamecocks have done enough to warrant preseason recognition at all. A handful left South Carolina outside their top 25 entirely, signaling doubts about depth, consistency, and the ability to replace key departures on both sides of the ball. These omissions reflect a more cautious approach — perhaps influenced by the memory of close losses last season or by concerns over how the Gamecocks will perform against the SEC’s upper tier.

The split also illustrates the inherent unpredictability of preseason rankings. With no games yet played, voters are weighing potential against proven results, making their decisions based on roster projections, recruiting momentum, and perceived schedule difficulty. For South Carolina, that schedule is a double-edged sword: it offers opportunities to impress against high-profile opponents, but it also means there’s little room for error if the team hopes to climb higher in the rankings.

From a program perspective, the No. 13 ranking is still a significant sign of progress. Just a few years ago, South Carolina wasn’t in the conversation for preseason polls at all. Now, they enter 2025 with national attention, which can help in recruiting and energizing the fan base. Still, Beamer and his players will be the first to admit that preseason polls don’t win games — they simply set the narrative before the season begins.

The Gamecocks’ opening position also creates pressure. A strong start could push them into the top 10 quickly, but early missteps could cause a steep drop, especially since some voters already have them outside their rankings. The margin for error is slim in a conference where one or two losses can shift national perception dramatically.

The diverse range of ballots might even work in South Carolina’s favor from a motivational standpoint. Beamer has often used perceived slights as fuel for his team, and knowing that some voters didn’t think they were top-25 worthy could be the kind of chip-on-the-shoulder material coaches love to use. At the same time, the recognition from higher-ranked ballots reinforces that the program’s progress is being noticed by influential voices in college football.

Ultimately, South Carolina’s spot at No. 13 represents both an acknowledgment of growth and a challenge to prove doubters wrong. The 2025 season will quickly reveal whether the voters who placed the Gamecocks in the top 10 were ahead of the curve or whether those who left them out entirely had the more accurate read. In a few months, the debates over preseason rankings will give way to results on the field — and for South Carolina, those results will determine whether No. 13 was too high, too low, or just right.

For now, the Gamecocks will carry the label of a team that intrigues but does not fully convince the national media. The path ahead is difficult, but if South Carolina delivers early statement wins, the spread between their highest and lowest rankings will narrow quickly, replaced by consensus respect. Until then, they remain a team with both believers and skeptics — and the 2025 season will decide which side was right.