South Carolina football received a bump up in the updated ESPN FPI rankings ahead of its season opener against Virginia Tech.
South Carolina football opens the 2025 season in less than a week with a neutral-site matchup with the Virginia Tech Hokies. However, some teams have already played their first game, as week zero has come and gone. With that, ESPN has updated its Football Power Index rankings heading into week one.
Based on the latest FPI, the Gamecocks are the No. 11 overall team in college football. That is up four spots from the outlet’s summer ranking. Carolina owns a 15.2 rating in the FPI, mere percentage points below No. 10 Ole Miss, whose score also rounds to 15.2.
The FPI is based on a number of factors, perhaps most notably, efficiency. Because South Carolina has not played yet in 2025, this is merely a projection. Once games are played, the FPI will combine on-field results and rest-of-season projections. ESPN defines the FPI as “a power rating that tracks each team’s strength relative to an average FBS squad. Teams are rated on offense, defense, and special teams, with the values representing points per game.”
With South Carolina’s No. 11 spot in the rankings, ESPN has predicted the Gamecocks to post a record of 7.9-4.2 in 2025. The FPI model gives Shane Beamer’s team a 93.7% chance of reaching bowl eligibility and a 35.6% shot of reaching the College Football Playoff.
Because of USC’s No. 13 strength of schedule, a 9-3 regular season finish might be enough to reach the CFP. A 10-2 (or better) mark would almost assuredly punch the Gamecocks’ ticket into the 12-team field. A berth in the playoff would be South Carolina’s first.
Ranked 11th nationally, the Gamecocks are also No. 7 in the SEC. Three teams on the 2025 schedule (Alabama Crimson Tide, 3; Texas A&M Aggies, 9; Ole Miss Rebels, 10) rank ahead of the garnet and black in the updated FPI.
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In total, South Carolina will face off against seven teams ranked inside the FPI top 25 this week. In addition to Alabama, Texas A&M, and Ole Miss, the Gamecocks will play against the LSU Tigers (12), Clemson Tigers (16), Oklahoma Sooners (19), and Missouri Tigers (23).
South Carolina will play on Sunday against the FPI No. 32 squad in Virginia Tech. ESPN will broadcast the 3:00 showdown, while the ESPN app makes it available via streaming.
The rest of the schedule isn’t quite as high in the updated FPI rankings. Kentucky (43), Vanderbilt (49), and Coastal Carolina (101) round out the teams ranked by the FPI. South Carolina State, being an FCS team, does not have a spot in the ranking.
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Category: General Sports
