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With South Carolina's season over, where ESPN's FPI ranks the Gamecocks

Screenshotby: Kevin Miller6 hours agokevinmillerGC

On Saturday, South Carolina football’s season came to a close with a rivalry loss to the Clemson Tigers. The 28-14 defeat moved the Gamecocks’ overall record to 4-8.

The defeat saw Shane Beamer’s team slip just a bit in the ESPN Football Power Index (FPI) rankings.

From last week, the Gamecocks dipped down four spots. Now No. 31, South Carolina is still 12th in the SEC, ahead of the Florida Gators (36), Arkansas Razorbacks (41), Kentucky Wildcats (47), and Mississippi State Bulldogs (49). All eight of USC’s losses came to teams that rank above them in the FPI.

Similar to the drop in FPI standing, South Carolina moved down in each of the FPI’s efficiency metric rankings. No. 40 overall in efficiency, the Gamecocks saw a four-spot drop in offensive efficiency, an eight-spot fall on defense, and a two-spot slip on special teams.

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Shane Beamer’s team is now No. 82 in the FPI offensive metrics. The dip comes, in part, because the Gamecocks managed just 14 points against Clemson on Saturday. USC had a solid yardage total (422) but only put the ball in the end zone on a 53-yard pass to Nyck Harbor and a 74-yard pass to Vandrevius Jacobs. Four turnovers certainly didn’t help the cause.

The Carolina defense has been solid most of the season but didn’t have its best day against Clemson. Though Clayton White’s unit was far from the only problem on the day, they did surrender over 400 yards. The D moved down to No. 26 in the FPI defensive efficiency rankings.

Broyles Award nominee Joe DeCamillis has led a special teams group that has been really good in some areas but fairly average in others. Even so, the FPI metrics like the Gamecocks’ third phase a lot. USC ranks No. 9 nationally in special teams efficiency. However, that represents a two-spot fall from the previous week.

South Carolina is the only team in the top 40 of the FPI efficiency ranks with four wins or fewer.

The Insiders Forum: Discuss South Carolina football!