On Monday, Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt released his preseason top 25 on an episode of his podcast, The Joel Klatt Show. On the same day that veteran writer Brett McMurphy left the Gamecocks completely out of his top 25, Klatt then ranked South Carolina inside the top 12 and right in the midst of the College Football Playoff discussion. According to Klatt, Shane Beamer’s team belongs in the No. 11 spot this preseason.
You can check out Klatt’s entire list below.
- Penn State Nittany Lions
- Texas Longhorns
- Ohio State Buckeyes
- Clemson Tigers
- Oregon Ducks
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish
- Georgia Bulldogs
- LSU Tigers
- Alabama Crimson Tide
- Michigan Wolverines
- South Carolina Gamecocks
- Miami Hurricanes
- Illinois Fighting Illini
- Florida Gators
- Kansas State Wildcats
- Texas A&M Aggies
- Indiana Hoosiers
- Arizona State Sun Devils
- Texas Tech Red Raiders
- Iowa State Cyclones
- Ole Miss Rebels
- Iowa Hawkeyes
- Baylor Bears
- Oklahoma Sooners
- Utah Utes
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Klatt also broke down each of his 25 ranked teams.
The Fox Sports personality admitted that he thinks he may have overrated the Gamecocks at No. 11 overall in college football. However, he is high on South Carolina because of the team’s best players. “They have a quarterback that I think is exceptional, and they also have a defensive player who could be one of the best defenders in the sport. Because of that, I’ve got to rank them higher…I’m talking about quarterback LaNorris Sellers and Dylan Stewart off the edge.”
Outside of Stewart, Klatt is a little concerned about South Carolina’s defense. “The defense has got to replace a good amount, particularly on the defensive line,” he said. However, he is a believer in head coach Shane Beamer and the Gamecocks’ recruiting efforts. “Beamer has recruited well. Shane knows what he is doing on the recruiting trail. The talent has risen in that program.”
The other primary concern for Klatt regarding Carolina is the difficult road: “This team’s schedule is back-loaded,” he said. South Carolina is going to have a monster schedule late…at LSU, Oklahoma, Bama, at Ole Miss, then they have an off week. Then they’re at A&M, then…Coastal Carolina. Then Clemson to finish.”
Looking on the potential bright side for the Gamecocks’ schedule, Klatt thinks the 2025 slate gives USC an opportunity to ramp up over the season’s first month. “They’re going to have time to develop and then get better as the season goes.” South Carolina opens the year with a neutral-site contest against Virginia Tech before two home contests against SC State and Vanderbilt, a road game at Missouri, and a home meeting with Kentucky.
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Though South Carolina’s 11th-spot in the ranking wouldn’t put them in the College Football Playoff (Kansas State is the highest-ranked team from the Big 12, and an unranked Group of Five school would earn an automatic bid, as well), Klatt thinks there’s a chance the Gamecocks make the field of 12 this fall.
“South Carolina’s going to have to bring their lunch pail to make it to the postseason,” Klatt opined. “This is a team that was knocking on the door last year. They had a chance but didn’t quite get over the hump. Maybe they get over that hump this year with an experienced quarterback and really quality players on the defensive side.”
