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South Carolina moves up in ESPN FPI despite second disappointing loss

Screenshotby: Kevin Miller09/22/25kevinmillerGC
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Sep 20, 2025; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers running back Jamal Roberts (20) scores a touchdown as South Carolina Gamecocks defensive back David Bucey (13) attempts the tackle during the second half of the game at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images

On Saturday night, South Carolina football dropped to 2-2 overall and 0-2 in SEC play. The Gamecocks fell to the Missouri Tigers, 29-20, giving back the Mayor’s Cup Trophy that they had earned last season.

The loss was an ugly one at times, as Shane Beamer’s team had a horrendous deficit in the run game and committed 14 penalties.

Somehow, though, the Gamecocks found themselves in a slightly higher standing in the updated ESPN FPI on Sunday night. Despite the loss, South Carolina perplexingly moved up four spots to No. 33 nationally in the FPI.

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Some of the Gamecocks’ improvement stems from an improvement in strength of schedule, but the team’s efficiency numbers got better, too.

Thanks to a 302-yard passing day and zero turnovers from LaNorris Sellers, the offensive efficiency metric overcame the abysmal ground effort to move up from No. 114 to No. 98. Even with the improvement, that is second-worst in the SEC, one spot ahead of the Florida Gators.

Defensively, missed tackles were the story. Still, the Gamecocks rose in the FPI defensive efficiency ranks from No. 48 to No. 37. Though Saturday was far from a banner performance, Clayton White’s unit picked off a pass and stiffened to hold Mizzou to field goals on three occasions.

Special teams had another nice day for South Carolina. Though this game did not feature another Vicari Swain touchdown, the kick coverage remains very good, Mason Love averaged 45 yards per kick, and William Joyce made all of his kicks. A Max Kelley kickoff out of bounds was the unit’s only real blemish.

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The remainder of South Carolina’s schedule ranks as the FPI’s 16th-most difficult road ahead. The Gamecocks have six more SEC contests in a row before out-of-conference games against Coastal Carolina and Clemson.

This week, South Carolina will match up with one of just two SEC teams rated lower than they are. The Kentucky Wildcats (ranked No. 43 in the FPI) will travel to Williams-Brice Stadium on Saturday. Kentucky owns the FPI’s No. 81 offense, No. 29 defense, and No. 37 special teams units.

Slated for a night kickoff underneath the lights, South Carolina-Kentucky will begin at 7:45 p.m. SEC Network will handle the broadcast, while the ESPN app will make the game available via streaming.

The matchup with the Wildcats will present the Gamecocks with an opportunity to get back on track. South Carolina won last year’s meeting by a score of 31-6 in Lexington.

After being ranked in the top 11 of both major polls just two weeks ago, USC received no votes in either the AP top 25 or the coaches poll this Sunday.

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