South Carolina faced an expected snub at the first playoff ranking despite having quite a tough schedule this season. Facing five ranked opponents in a row and walking out with a 1-4 isn’t a joke. However, they still failed to impress the CFP committee and the AP Poll voters. If they can win the rest of their season, probably better treatment in respect to the top-12 spot awaits for them. But it doesn’t matter. They are already on their hot streak, racking up back-to-back wins by a combined score of 107 to 36 for the last three weeks. This unbelievable surge has secured them a No. 23 spot in the playoff after a long drought. But again, it barely matters. veteran analyst Joel Klatt gives them their flower.

Coming fresh off a Texas A&M win, the Gamecocks were pretty stable in knowing what they could do against Vanderbilt. But the coach never took the business lightly. Playing against a bowl-eligible team demands their full grit and attention. Coach Shane Beamer minutely studied how they were second in the SEC in the turnover margin and least penalized throughout the season. This detailed strength analysis of the opponent and taking action on the field accordingly led the Gamecocks to a breathtaking 28-7 win this Saturday. Could it be any more phenomenal? Joel Clatt, the football analyst, more specifically a football lover, sees the real flex in it. ‘You look up, and they’re just winning football games. They won that big one against Texas A&M last week. Shane Beamer, baby, let’s go, this folks, it’s not all just about who’s going to get into the 12-team playoff,”

As per the FPI, after the third blowout win, Shane Beamer’s South Carolina stands out as the 14th-best team in the nation which is a four-spot surge from last week’s 18th. They are ranked 55th nationally as per offensive efficiency. The projection also sees a 30.5 per cent chance of the Gamecocks continuing their winning streak for the rest of their schedule, and 14.2 per cent chance of making it to the playoff, and a close to nil chance to win a championship.

All these consoling stats sound like a sly jibe at their woes, but the reality is that quality football still stands at the top of all the parameters to judge a program’s worth, something South Carolina is living up to each week. ”There are teams and players, hundreds of them, if not thousands of them, that are straining and pushing to try to better themselves as men and as football players and as teams every week. UCLA and South Carolina are in runs like that, not going to the playoffs, but certainly playing better right now,’‘ said Clatt in his lifting slant.

Clatt is, however, not a fan of the CFB ranking system, including AP Polls. Recently, he voiced his frustration over how Indiana was placed at a lower ranking than Michigan, accusing the CFP committee of having a brand bias. The Fox analyst wholeheartedly felt that the undefeated 10-0 Hoosiers deserve more than they got. Coming to South Carolina, head coach Shane Beamer is seemingly on the same page with Clatt.

Shane Beamer slammed the CFB ranking system

Beamer might not show off his team’s strength in the pre-game interviews for the Vanderbilt game, but the much-needed win gave them the spark in the voice while praising a super-efficient offensive line who are always ready to respond when the team needs it the most. He thinks that offensive flexibility makes a team great, and South Carolina checked that criterion quite well. So, the head coach couldn’t care less about how the rankings committee and the voters set the bar.

The people that do the rankings don’t think we are worth a crap, and that’s fine,” said Shane Beamer. “Keep crapping on us, that’s the way we like it as well. Don’t rank us this week. We are good at where we are. We just like to lie low and work really, really hard and come out and have fun on Saturdays as well.”’

However, the rant seemingly hit the voters, and they were granted the first AP Poll spot in the season. On Saturday, the team will look to add to their goodwill stacks by scoring another staggering win against Missouri.

What’s your take on Joel Clatt hyping up South Carolina’s ‘better football’ dynamic amidst the CFP snub? Let us know in the comments.