The AP poll is known for being polarizing. Every week, people are eagerly awaiting the committee’s decision and are incensed over specific placements. Or the absence of it. However, this time, one CFB analyst, Josh Pate, was surprised by the rankings of the AP poll after Shane Beamer’s team achieved the weekend’s outcome.

Josh Pate said on episode 578 of his college football broadcast on November 12, “The AP ranked South Carolina. I didn’t realize this. No, no, Shane Beamer, if he’s out there listening, you need to do the right thing. You need to reject this. You need to decline the AP’s invitation to be ranked. I have heard you. I have listened to Shane Beamer accurately call these people out for being asleep at the wheel over the past couple of weeks.“

It seems that Josh was not genuinely shocked because, before this AP poll-raking announcement, he was aware of the team’s potential and skill. He explained this in his podcast, saying, “We at the JP pole properly and appropriately had South Carolina power rated well inside the top 25, and now these people want to show up once.”

However, it makes sense that South Carolina’s performance versus Texas A&M would earn a spot on the AP poll. Fans at Willy B Stadium witnessed that when the Gamecocks (5-3) played home to A&M (7-1) in the SEC. And both teams went into the half tied at 20–20 after a close first half. A symbolic switch was then flipped, and Beamer’s ensemble surged into overdrive. They defeated the Aggies 44–20, scoring 24 points in a row to cause the Aggies to suffer their first league defeat. On top of this, Pate highlighted redshirt rookie quarterback LaNorris Sellers, who amassed 106 rushing yards and 244 yards in the air while also scoring two touchdowns. On the day, the Gamecocks amassed an incredible 530 total yards. 

Josh therefore found it pretty normal that South Carolina would be ranked in the AP poll. After the eleventh week of college football, however, which other teams did he name in the AP poll? Look at it.

Josh Pate’s AP poll ranking

After a string of important college football games, there have been some major changes to the AP Poll rankings as of Week 11. According to Pate, Oregon’s outstanding performance has kept them at the top of the rankings. Georgia maintains their position at number two. Third-place Penn State is closely followed by fourth-place Ohio State. Alabama has risen in the rankings with a convincing victory against LSU. Alabama is in fifth place and Ole Miss is in sixth place. The ranking of the team was impacted by Ole Miss’s victory over Georgia, which garnered headlines.

Washington is in seventh place as well. However, since there are still a few weeks of college football left, these are not finalized. These rankings are subject to change. Fans are now drawn to the college football playoffs in addition to this rating. What do you think about South Carolina’s chances of winning the CFP this season?