South Carolina continues climb up Massey Rankings
On Tuesday night, South Carolina football learned its spot in the College Football Playoff Rankings. After snubbing the Gamecocks last week, the CFP Selection Committee slotted USC into the No. 21 spot this week. The ranking is slightly higher than Carolina’s No. 23 ranking in both the AP Poll and USA Today Coaches Poll.
The computer polls like the Gamecocks even more.
[GamecockCentral: $1 for 7 days and 50% off first year]
One of the most prominent algorithm-based rating systems—the Massey Rankings—pegged South Carolina as the 15th-best team in college football. Analyzing game outcomes, location, and schedules, the rankings update weekly. From last week, the Gamecocks moved up three spots, the same jump they made from the week prior. Since the Bye (ahead of the Oklahoma game), South Carolina has moved from 31st to 15th, a 16-spot leap in less than four weeks. The jump comes from an impressive three-game win streak in which Shane Beamer’s team has beaten two ranked SEC foes and Oklahoma (in Norman) by a combined score of 107-36.
The Gamecocks also rank higher than all of their future opponents. Missouri (20th), Wofford (183rd), and then Clemson (16th) remain on the schedule. USC gets Missouri and Wofford at home but has to travel to Clemson in the regular season finale.
Being 15th in the Massey Rankings, though, means that South Carolina is 8th in the SEC. As things stand, the Gamecocks are behind the Texas A&M Aggies (12th) squad they blew out two weeks ago. They also trail fellow 3-loss team LSU; famously, the Tigers beat the Gamecocks in week three after a poorly officiated contest ended in a questionable 3-point LSU victory.
Top 10
- 1
Elko pokes at Kiffin
A&M coach jokes over kick times
- 2
Dan Lanning
Oregon coach getting NFL buzz
- 3Trending
UK upsets Duke
Mark Pope leads Kentucky to first Champions Classic win since 2019
- 4Hot
5-star flip
Ole Miss flips Alabama WR commit Caleb Cunningham
- 5
Second CFP Top 25
Newest CFP rankings are out
[Win two tickets to the South Carolina-Missouri football game]
South Carolina also is 15th overall in the Massey Power Rankings. That number stems from a 27th-place spot in offensive rating, a ranking of 12th in defensive rating, and a No. 6 national strength of schedule. Rather than resume and win-loss record, the power ranking judges potential success. Essentially, this means that the Gamecocks are viewed (by the Massey Rankings) as the 15th-most impressive team in college football up to this point and the 15th-best team moving forward through the rest of the season.
Of the Gamecocks’ remaining opponents, only Clemson has a higher-rated offense (10th). South Carolina, though, has a better Massey Rankings offensive efficiency than both Missouri and Wofford. They also are ahead of all three remaining opponents in defensive efficiency and strength of schedule.
According to the Massey Rankings, South Carolina has its second-toughest test remaining coming up this Saturday. The Missouri Tigers (ranked 20th) are coming to town for a sold-out SEC showdown. SEC Network will broadcast the game, and the ESPN app will stream it. The Gamecocks and Tigers will kick off the Mayor’s Cup at 4:15 p.m.
