Week 1 of the 2025 college football season delivered everything that fans were hoping for, the upsets, the statement wins, and a few early season reality checks. Nothing screams "college football is back" quite like the No. 1 team in the country going down, unranked programs pulling off shockers, and fields being stormed across the nation.
The biggest headline came out of Columbus, where defending national champion Ohio State toppled top-ranked Texas in a gritty 147 showdown. Meanwhile, Florida State stunned the country with a 28-24 victory over Alabama, sending the Crimson Tide tumbling down the rankings. And in another heavyweight battle, LSU proved where they belong in the championship with a convincing win over Clemson.
Closer to home, South Carolina made a statement of their own. The Gamecocks, fresh off a 24-11 victory over Virginia Tech in the Aflac Kickoff Game, climbed in both the Coaches Poll and AP Top 25 as Week 2 rankings were released.
In the Coaches Poll, South Carolina checked in at No. 11, sitting just outside the top 10 and ahead of programs like Michigan, Ole Miss, and Florida. Meanwhile, in the AP Top 25, the Gamecocks climbed three spots to No. 10, giving them their highest AP ranking since the Steve Spurrier era.
The complete Coaches Poll for Week 2:
1 Ohio State (59)
2 Penn State (6)
3 Georgia (1)
4 LSU (1)
5 Oregon
6 Texas
7 Miami
8 Clemson
9 Notre Dame
10 Arizona State
11 South Carolina
12 Illinois
13 Michigan
14 Ole Miss
15 Florida
16 SMU
17 Tennessee
18 Iowa State
19 Florida State
20 Alabama
21 Indiana
22 Texas A&M
23 Texas Tech
24 Oklahoma
25 BYU
The complete AP Top 25 Poll for Week 2:
1 Ohio State
2 Penn State
3 LSU
4 Georgia
5 Miami
6 Oregon
7 Texas
8 Clemson
9 Notre Dame
10 South Carolina
11 Illinois
12 Arizona State
13 Florida
14 Florida State
15 Michigan
16 Iowa State
17 SMU
18 Oklahoma
19 Texas A&M
20 Ole Miss
21 Alabama
22 Tennessee
23 Indiana
24 Texas Tech
25 Utah
Quarterback LaNorris Sellers and wide receiver Nyck Harbor were the headliners in the win, connecting on a 64-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter that sealed the game. Harbor's speed and Seller's dual-threat ability have quickly become the formula for South Carolina's offensive success.
The Gamecocks will return home this weekend for their WIlliams-Brice Stadium opener against SC State on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. ET. It is the final tune-up before the Gamecocks begin SEC play in Week 3 against Vanderbilt.