As we get closer to the AP College Football ranking for 2025, other outlets keep revealing their rankings ahead of the 2025 season. Recently, FOX College Football's RJ Young released his mind-blowing 136-team FBS rankings, where he ranked everyone in the FBS landscape. Regarding the South Carolina Gamecocks, they made the Top 25 of Young's rankings. However, should they be higher than some teams ahead of them, who shouldn't be?
Young, in his ranking, slotted the Gamecocks at No. 17, a reasonable spot for Shane Beamer's team, who plan to build off of 2024's 9-4 record. While some players have moved on to graduation or the NFL Draft, the Gamecocks still have most of the offense returning, with some of the defense. The special teams need to replace almost its entire group; however, the Gamecocks look like a group poised for a stellar 2025 season.
The ceiling looks like a 10-win season for the Gamecocks, with the floor being 9-3 once again. Even with some turnover to the roster, when you have LaNorris Sellers, Nyck Harbor, DQ Smith, Jalon Kilgore, and Dylan Stewart leading the way, the hype is at an all-time high. Which is a great thing to have under Beamer's tenure, heading into season five as the head coach.
Did @RJ_Young really rank all 136 FBS teams ahead of the season? Yes, yes he did 🙌🔥
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) August 11, 2025
Where did your team land on his rankings? 🤔📊 pic.twitter.com/6H1ejN8DDq
However, while they are 17th, when glancing at Young's ranking, the Gamecocks should be higher. Especially with a closer look, they are a better team on paper than Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, and even Oklahoma. Furthermore, Ole Miss could be a team that should be ranked behind the Gamecocks.
Beamer's team defeated Ole Miss, Oklahoma, and Missouri in 2024. Furthermore, the Sooners lost 37 transfers, had a weaker recruiting class, and lost to the Gamecocks by 26. The Hoosiers, Tigers, and Rebels don't stack well against the Gamecocks, who have more going for them on the roster, schedule, and recent success.
At best, the Gamecocks should be ranked 12th if you slide up Michigan and Tennessee, while dropping the other schools behind Carolina. On the flip side, at worst the Gamecocks should be ranked 14th if there had to be programs between the Gamecocks, Wolverines, and Volunteers. It feels like the teams ahead of Carolina seem not to be factoring in what the Gamecocks are on their roster, schedule, and the trajectory of the program overall.
Nonetheless, the AP Poll will be out soon, and it'll be interesting to see where the Gamecocks will be once that is released. Either way, the Gamecocks are getting the recognition they deserve as they are in another Top 25 ranking around the college football world. The 2025 season will be the most exciting for the Gamecocks and Gamecocks Nation under Shane Beamer. Is it August 31st yet?