Well, a big thank you to the defensive players at Ole Miss. We as Gamecock fans appreciate all the hard work you guys did to harass Will Levis into hurting his foot/ankle. Well, it might be the grounds crew there that needs the shout out. I remember SC playing there and like 100 players went off the field that day. I don’t think I ever remember seeing that many players get hurt in one game.

Anyway, here is the poll from last Saturday’s results.

As you can plainly see, Georgia has taken over the top spot in the poll again this week. I guess beat Auburn does still mean something. Penn State moved up a lot in the poll after beating them, LSU got into the top 25 for beating them, and Georgia takes over the top spot after beating them. Too bad they are not back on SC’s schedule this year; SC could be ranked after beating them.

Ohio State’s win over a so-so Michigan State team helps them jump Alabama in this week’s edition. I mean beating a team on a 3 game (now 4 game) losing streak really shows how you are a top team this year. You know you are good when you beat the same team that Maryland did. Yeah, that same Maryland team that lost to Purdue…the Purdue team that lost to Syracuse. I would go on, but Syracuse is undefeated. Anyway, good for you Buckeye nation.

Alabama, I guess playing your back up QB doesn’t really help like it does some other teams. We all know you guys were looking ahead to the Tennessee game. It might be the first time in 20 years you might actually have to show a pulse in order to win the game. Too bad Heupel didn’t insult your bagmen in the off season. Or maybe Saban is taking too much time trying to get his inspiration for all those Aflac commercials. Don’t lose your shot at the CFB playoffs or even the SEC Championship game by losing to Tennessee.

Clemson moves up to number 4. Here is all the respect Clemson fans have been whining for all year. Beating a mediocre NC State team and then beating a bad Boston College team is gets you one spot in the poll. I guess I can throw in there the fact you beat Wake Forest when they decided not to try to score at the end of regulation (yes, I am still not sure about that call). Just remember that Florida State beat a SEC team that was ranked for 1 week this year. Don’t think you can just stroll into Doak Campbell and sleepwalk through for a win. Oh, who am I kidding?

Michigan adds insult to injury (literally) by getting dropped down to number 5 this week. Having a coach stay overnight in the hospital for evaluation (speedy recovery Coach Hart) and beating Indiana isn’t a good combination for the AP voters this week. Just take care of Penn State by more than a touchdown and you should move back up. They are raked as high as NC State was when Clemson beat them, so the voters like teams that beat top 10 teams. Then you get a week off to prepare for little brother Michigan State, not that you need it. Unless your punter can’t catch a snap.

Tennessee jumps two spots after dismantling LSU. You almost make the Alabama game a top 5 contest. But you’re still good enough that Gameday is coming to your city. It will be interesting to see how the game plays out if Bryce Young plays or not. You should have the better QB playing in the game though. Let’s see if your defense can actually play well two weeks in a row. I think that will determine if you have a shot at winning the game on Saturday. The last couple of SEC Shorts videos were funny. I hope your fanbase has watched the self help video this week.

Bottom Cal (thanks Jake1013) slips to number 7 this week. The pride of bottom California is rolling through the very pedestrian Pac 12. You might have a little bit of a tussle going to Salt Lake, but Utah just lost to your little brother school. That would be so funny to lose to them after UCLA just beat them. Please let this happen football karma. The headlines could write themselves for sports columnist out there.

Oklahoma State also get bumped down a spot this week. I mean, all you did was beat a team that beat Texas that beat Oklahoma that beat Nebraska that beat Rutgers that beat Temple that beat UMass that beat Stoney Brook that is 0-5. So, I guess it wasn’t all that impressive. You are still in the driver’s seat in the Big XII right now. The winner of your game against TCU has an inside track to the Big XII title game. Please don’t blow this one. I do like your team. I’d like for you guys to win the Big XII.

Ole Miss stays at number nine this week after playing around with Vanderbilt for a half. Cakewalk game against Auburn this week should ease up the schedule. Should let you guys get some reps for the second and third stringers. Actually, the next 3 weeks will be a fairly easy time on your schedule with LSU and A&M after the Auburn game. You also get a bye week before Alabama. This schedule has set up well for you guys this year. Everybody go check out Juice Kiffin’s twitter. He had a segment on the SEC Gameday show that was down at the Grove a couple of weeks ago. Everyone likes dog’s twitter accounts, right?

Penn State also holds serve at number 10 for their big game this weekend. I mean everyone love B1G football. Especial those great 9-6 and 7-3 games they like to play up there. I know neither game involved Penn State and Michigan, but who is to say they will not have a defensive slugfest this weekend. After writing this, it will be a 55 to 52 game or something. Nothing to see here unless they beat Michigan this Saturday.

UCLA shoots up the poll to number eleven this week. They basically replaced the team they beat last week in Utah. Congrats UCLA, you now have a win against a team the Florida beat. Florida is getting votes in the poll, so they are slouches. You have a bye week to enjoy the weather there in bottom California. Then another tough Pac-12 game against Oregon is on deck. They are undefeated after getting taken behind the woodshed by Georgia. We can all say that game was a fluke. I mean, it’s not like Georgia has taken anyone else behind the woodshed… right?

Oregon now has some bulletin board material since UCLA has jumped them in the poll this week. I mean UCLA did beat a top 15 team and all you have done Oregon is lose to the only ranked team you faced. So, maybe you can’t feel too bad they jumped you in the poll. The good news is that if you win the game, they definitely will not be ranked ahead of you guys. The bad news is that you might not have any teams on your schedule that finish in the top 25.

TCU frog jumps up to 13 after handing Kansas their first loss of the season. You also just weakened your strength of schedule since their QB will not play against Oklahoma. Not sure that will make a huge difference this week, but it might. Your next two games are both big in terms of the Big XII. Oklahoma State and Kansas State. Beat both the State school and you will be all alone in the undefeated column of the Big XII. Who knew getting rid of the winningest coach in program history would work out so well?

Wake Forest eases up one spot to number 14. Rebounding after the Clemson loss has kept the Demon Deacons close to the top 10. Got to pump up that SOS for the Tigers. You still have a slim shot at the Atlantic division. You need Clemson to lose twice. Maybe FSU and Syracuse can pull it off. I’m sure you will have your fingers crossed watching their games.

NC State drops one spot after struggling again in a win against Florida State. You almost let Clemson beat you twice. Losing to Clemson is bad but allowing them to play into your next game is even worse. Luckily FSU was still patting themselves on the back for beating LSU. They could say they actually beat a team that has been ranked in the top 25 this year. Not something the Wolfpack can say. Big showdown with a ranked Syracuse team is up next. Be ready to play for the start in the Carrier Dome.

Mississippi moves up after passing by Arkansas last Saturday. QB Rodgers set the SEC record for completions in his 28th game. He passed UGa’s Aaron Murray for that honor. Murray had his completions over 52 games though. I think I saw that Rodgers averages more completions that Murray averaged attempts. That is a wild stat. Just goes to show you that Leach does not change, ever. Good luck with Kentucky next week. It would be their 3rd loss in a row if you beat them. I’m not sure how I feel about that, but I’d still rather see them lose.

Kansas State moves up 3 because someone has to this week. That was an absolute offensive game against Iowa State. I thought that Iowa was the team with the good defense. This game is another reason why I was very surprised to see bottom Cal and UCLA running to join the conference. You have a bye week to rest up after that brutal game last Saturday. Nothing like having to kick a field goal in the 4th quarter to win an exciting game. You can take this win and move forward to preparing for TCU. Make sure you study the Oklahoma State tape and not the Oklahoma tape.

The bye week was great for Syracuse. Moving up 4 spots without having to actually play a game… awesome, isn’t it? I hope you guys rested up well for the NC State game. They have something to prove after their last 2 outings. They should be hyped up to play you guys since they really need a ranked win on their resume. You could flip the script and get your own top 25 win though.

Kansas stays steady at number 19 this week. They lost a tough game to TCU. They also lost their starting QB for at least the next game. Oklahoma is not as hard as it seemed earlier this year, but not having your starting QB can hurt you… just ask Kentucky and Alabama. Plus, having your head coach’s name show up in other colleges openings can’t ever be good. The psyche of Kansas has to be a little fragile right now. Maybe Oklahoma will be the medicine that gets them back on track.

Utah drops to 20 in the poll after getting beat by UCLA. After the embarrassment of losing to Florida, I would have thought they would be out of the poll to be honest. There has to be more one loss teams that could be in the poll. The turnaround to play bottom California is quick. Hopefully your defense shows up this Saturday. You will need it to contain the Trojans. Go look at the Oregon State tape, they played them better than anyone this year.

Cincinnati gains a few spots after beating powerhouse South Florida. I didn’t know South Florida was a powerhouse, but they have to be to move up 3 spots after only winning by 4 points. Plus, that loss to Arkansas is getting worse by the week. But like I said earlier I guess there aren’t a whole lot of 1 loss teams to put in the poll. UCF might be the only hard game left on the schedule. SMU might be too?

Kentucky tumbles down to 22 after the loss to SC on Saturday. Again, thought they would have been completely out after losing to an unranked team that no one thought was good. I guess they are giving them the benefit of the doubt about their starting QB. Would he have made that big of a difference? I don’t think so after seeing their offensive line. I guess Stoops still has people fooled into thinking Kentucky is a football school now.

Texas is tied with Kentucky for 22 after dismantling Oklahoma on Saturday. That was a bloodbath. It wasn’t a shootout; it was a murder. Alabama better be glad Ewers got hurt in that game or they would already have 1 loss. He looks like he is the real deal, so that makes the kid at Ohio State pretty good. It also makes me wonder why Archie Manning picked Texas. I know a redshirt year puts them 2 years apart, but he isn’t going to start his freshman year like his uncles did.

Illinois is next in the poll. It looks like Brett Bielema loves being back in the B1G. He couldn’t cut it at Arkansas in the SEC, but his brand of football just fits in the B1G. I wonder if Wisconsin will make a run at him if they fire the guy they have now. It has been a while since Illinois was relevant in football. I’m not sure anyone is happy about that. I’m not sure beating Iowa 9-6 is anything to write home about, bit it impressed enough voters to get in the poll. I thought Minnesota looked like the cream of the B1G West, but I guess we will see who that is after Saturday.

James Madison makes their debut in the poll this week. Taking care of a couple of the better teams in the SunBeast conference the last couple of weeks is looking good for them. Thank you for Juice Wells though. He has been a big addition for SC this year. I ran into a JMU fan this last weekend on a wine trip in Virginia, and he was very complementary of him. I’m just glad that they are not on the schedule anytime soon for SC.

Enjoy the bye week. There is talk of a "blackout" game against A&M on Twitter. Those have not gone well for SC in the past. I think they should just wear all garnet. The fans can wear whatever they want though.

Go Cocks!