Gamecocks tumble in polls

South Carolina had its nation-long winning streak of 10 games snapped on Saturday night with a 23-21 loss at LSU. The loss sent the Gamecocks (6-1, 4-1) tumbling in the AP Poll falling six spots to hold a No. 9 ranking entering this weekend’s showdown against No. 3 Florida.

The loss at Tiger Stadium drops South Carolina out of the top five in the polls, a mark it achieved for the first time since a three-week stay in 1984. The previous highest ranking under head coach Steve Spurrier happened in 2007 when the Gamecocks climbed to No. 6 in the AP Poll before losing to Vanderbilt.

The Southeastern Conference has seven teams ranked in the top 25. Alabama holds onto the top spot after their victory over Missouri on Saturday afternoon. Florida, ranked No. 4 entering the week, moved up spot with a 31-17 victory at Vanderbilt. Georgia moved up a spot to No. 13 in the AP Poll.

Mississippi State stayed at No. 19 in the AP Poll after narrowly defeating Tennessee. Texas A&M moved up two spots to No. 20 after its defeat of No. 23 Louisiana Tech.

Saturday’s game against Florida will mark the third straight opponent that South Carolina has faced that is ranked in the top 10 nationally. Only once under Spurrier have the Gamecocks played a ranked opponent in three straight weeks. Not since 1987 has South Carolina played an opponent ranked in the top 10 three straight weeks.

South Carolina is also ranked No. 8 in the USA Today Coaches Poll announced on Sunday morning.

Head coach Steve Spurrier will meet with the media on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. The team will hit the practice field to begin preparation for Florida on Monday night at 7 p.m. at the Proving Grounds. Practice is closed to the public.

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