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National reactions to South Carolina's College Football Playoff snub

by:Kevin Miller•12/03/24•

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South Carolina was voted 14th in the latest College Football Playoff rankings, effectively eliminating the Gamecocks from the eventual field. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-The Columbus Dispatch
South Carolina was voted 14th in the latest College Football Playoff rankings, effectively eliminating the Gamecocks from the eventual field. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-The Columbus Dispatch

There’s no other way to put it: South Carolina got absolutely snubbed by the College Football Playoff Selection Committee.

On Tuesday night, the penultimate CFP rankings dropped, and, somehow, the Gamecocks were No. 14. Not only did USC get left out of range of making the 12-team field, Shane Beamer’s team is several spots back. CFP Selection Committee Chair Warde Manuel then said about teams not playing during Conference Championship Weekend, “We will not adjust those teams.” In other words, the Gamecocks are out.

For much of the lead-up to the ranking show, national voices argued that South Carolina deserved the final at-large spot in the field. However, most of them acknowledged fighting against the head-to-head argument (both Alabama and Ole Miss beat the Gamecocks this season) and brand recognition (Alabama and Miami were on the bubble, too) likely would be too much for Carolina to overcome. All three of those other bubble teams are ahead of the Gamecocks. Alabama is 11th, Miami is 12, and Ole Miss is 13th.

Reactions in Gamecock Nation were, understandably, heated.

However, reactions from around the world of college football, largely, have been supportive of South Carolina, as well.

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On3’s JD PicKell didn’t necessarily argue that USC belonged in the field, but he wasn’t thrilled with Carolina’s 14th ranking.

FoxSports’ Aaron Torres went as far as claiming, “The rig is in!”, citing Rivalry Week results’ effect on the rankings.

Barstool’s Dave Portnoy, who has a sizeable bet that is reliant upon an Alabama championship, still believes the Gamecocks belonged in the College Football Playoff.

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Texas football reporter CJ Vogel thinks the rest of the 12-team field is excited about not playing South Carolina.

Kelley Ford, whose analytics model evaluates just about everything imaginable in college football, has South Carolina football as one of the most under-ranked teams in the country and deserving of a College Football Playoff berth.

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Following the CFP snub, South Carolina football fans will have to turn their attention elsewhere. National Signing Day is Wednesday, and the Gamecocks will sign another top-25 class. The transfer portal opens (officially) next week. Oh, yeah, and 9-3 USC still will have a nice bowl game to play.

Follow along at GamecockCentral for coverage on Signing Day, the transfer portal, and more over the next few weeks ahead of USC’s bowl game.

Discuss South Carolina football on The Insiders Forum!

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