Analytics model includes South Carolina as one of 12 SEC teams in top 25
South Carolina football coach Shane Beamer is entering his fifth season at the helm in Columbia. Heading into the summer, expectations have never been higher during his tenure. The Gamecocks are a trendy top 15 pick, and some analysts even project USC to crack the College Football Playoff field for the first time.
Though not quite as high on South Carolina as other outlets, Kelley Ford’s KFord Ratings Power Index thinks highly of the Gamecocks. According to the KFord Ratings, Beamer and company are one of 12 teams in the Southeastern Conference worthy of top 25 consideration. Carolina slots in at No. 17 in the index.
Be in the know about all things Gamecocks for just $1 for 7 days—lock in this special offer!
The KFord Ratings predicts the Gamecocks will be 17.1 points above FBS average this season. South Carolina is 10th in the SEC. The Texas Longhorns (29.6 PAA) own the top spot. Then, the Georgia Bulldogs (2nd, 28.6 PAA), Alabama Crimson Tide (4th 27.5 PAA), LSU Tigers (9th, 21.9 PAA), Ole Miss Rebels (10th, 20.1 PAA), Texas A&M Aggies (11th, 19.4 PAA), Tennessee Volunteers (12th, 19.3 PAA), Florida Gators (15th, 17.6 PAA), and Oklahoma Sooners (16th, 17.2 PAA) are ahead of USC. Following the garnet and black, the Auburn Tigers (18th, 15.8 PAA) and Missouri Tigers (22nd, 12.6 PAA) round out the SEC’s inclusion in the top 25. The rival Clemson Tigers are 8th overall and 1st in the ACC with a 22.5 PAA rating.
Top 10
- 1Breaking
Wisconsin tampering
Badgers sue Miami
- 2Hot
Rece Davis
Ranks Top 5 QBs
- 3
CWS Odds
Lines set for LSU vs. Coastal
- 4Trending
CFP Predictions
12-team bracket, Champion
- 5
Coastal Carolina
Fires jab at LSU before CWS
Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
Unsurprisingly, the SEC dominates the KFord Ratings. The best league in college football has 12 teams in the top 25, seven better than any other conference. The BIG Ten (six), ACC (four), and Big 12 (two) combine to have 12 total teams in the top 25. Notre Dame is the only non-power conference school, though the Fighting Irish are typically lumped in with the Power Four. The KFord Ratings also rank teams 26 through 30. Three BIG Ten squads and two from the Big 12 make up the back end of the rankings.
The 2025 version of the Gamecocks will play seven teams from the KFord top 25. Alabama, Clemson, LSU, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, and Missouri all appear on South Carolina’s schedule.
