From Rock Hill, S.C., David Cloninger covers Gamecock sports. He will not rest until he owns every great film and song ever recorded. Want the inside scoop on Gamecock athletics? Subscribe to Gamecocks Now.
South Carolina and Clemson will each begin seasons of great expectation in the top 25.
It was expected that each would, and the release of the USA Today/Coaches' Top 25 a week ago confirmed it. The Associated Press Top 25, which The Post and Courier references, usually mirrors the coaches' poll and did upon its release Aug. 11.
The Tigers are ranked fourth. The Gamecocks are 13th. Clemson was sixth in the coaches' poll while USC was 13th.
It's the first preseason ranking for the Gamecocks since 2014. USC fans are hoping this year doesn't resemble that season.
USC began that year with a home matchup against Texas A&M, which was ranked 21st. The Gamecocks were ninth.
The Aggies blistered the Gamecocks 52-28. USC stayed in the rankings the next four weeks, rising to No. 13 after three straight wins, but a 21-20 home loss to Missouri with ESPN's "College GameDay" in town dropped USC out of the polls, an exile that lasted until 2018.
USC, picked to win the SEC East at SEC Media Days in 2014, finished 7-6 in coach Steve Spurrier's final full season. He quit six games into 2015.
With no more divisions, the Gamecocks were picked to finish fifth in the SEC at this year's SEC Media Days. USC received five votes for SEC champion.