Gamecocks post highest finish in history - WCIV-TV | ABC News 4 - Charleston News, Sports, Weather

COLUMBIA, S.C. (USC) – The University of South Carolina football finished the 2012 season as the highest ranked squad in school history, it was announced Tuesday.

The Gamecocks finished eighth in the final Associated Press poll and seventh in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches poll, both one spot higher than in 2011.

"I'm very proud of our team and what we accomplished this season," said head coach Steve Spurrier. "We are obviously thrilled to be ranked one spot better than we were last year and the highest in school history. Much of the credit goes to our seniors, especially the leadership provided by our captains - D.J. Swearinger, T.J. Johnson, Justice Cunningham and Shaq Wilson - which was instrumental in our success. We lose a lot of outstanding players but have a good nucleus returning for next season," continued the Head Ball Coach. "Our goals will be just as high. Our No. 1 goal is to win the SEC Championship and we'll try to accomplish that next season."

The Gamecocks finished the season with an 11-2 record following a 33-28 win over Michigan in the Outback Bowl on January 1, and have posted a school-record 11 wins in each of the past two seasons. Carolina has recorded the most wins in two- (22), three- (31) and four- (38) consecutive seasons in school history. In addition, the Gamecocks have been ranked among the nation's top-25 for 47 consecutive polls, the most in school history and tied for the fifth-longest current streak in the nation.

The 2012 Gamecocks defeated four teams that finished among the AP top 25 including Georgia (5), Clemson (11), Vanderbilt (23) and Michigan (24).

The SEC finished the year with five teams in the AP's top 10: Alabama (1), Georgia (5), Texas A&M (5), South Carolina (8) and Florida (9). LSU finished 14th, while Vanderbilt came in at number 23. The SEC has captured seven consecutive national championships.

AP Top 25
Record Pts Pv
1. Alabama (59) 13-1 1,475 2
2. Oregon 12-1 1,358 5
3. Ohio St. 12-0 1,302 3
4. Notre Dame 12-1 1,288 1
5. Georgia 12-2 1,230 6
5. Texas A&M 11-2 1,230 10
7. Stanford 12-2 1,169 8
8. South Carolina 11-2 1,038 11
9. Florida 11-2 933 4
10. Florida St. 12-2 922 13
11. Clemson 11-2 889 14
12. Kansas St. 11-2 871 7
13. Louisville 11-2 781 22
14. LSU 10-3 756 9
15. Oklahoma 10-3 615 12
16. Utah St. 11-2 456 18
17. Northwestern 10-3 443 21
18. Boise St. 11-2 419 20
19. Texas 9-4 358 NR
20. Oregon St. 9-4 303 15
21. San Jose St. 11-2 243 24
22. N. Illinois 12-2 227 16
23. Vanderbilt 9-4 180 NR
24. Michigan 8-5 147 19
25. Nebraska 10-4 119 23

Others receiving votes: Baylor 95, Penn St. 90, Cincinnati 78, Oklahoma St. 42, Tulsa 34, UCLA 31, Arkansas St. 28, TCU 9, UCF 9, Wisconsin 6, N. Dakota St. 1.

USA Today Coaches Poll
Record Pts Pvs
1. Alabama (56) 13-1 1,400 2
2. Oregon 12-1 1,322 3
3. Notre Dame 12-1 1,253 1
4. Georgia 12-2 1,213 5
5. Texas A&M 11-2 1,171 9
6. Stanford 12-2 1,167 8
7. South Carolina 11-2 1,064 10
8. Florida State 12-2 942 12
9. Clemson 11-2 916 13
10. Florida 11-2 886 4
11. Kansas State 11-2 841 6
12. LSU 10-3 775 7
13. Louisville 11-2 772 18
14. Boise State 11-2 633 15
15. Oklahoma 10-3 600 11
16. Northwestern 10-3 580 17
17. Utah State 11-2 444 20
18. Texas 9-4 398 25
19. Oregon State 9-4 366 14
20. Vanderbilt 9-4 248 NR
21. San Jose State 11-2 244 24
22. Cincinnati 10-3 186 NR
23. Nebraska 10-4 175 21
24. Northern Illinois 12-2 156 16
25. Tulsa 11-3 110 NR

Others receiving votes: Michigan 101; UCLA 75; Baylor 52; Oklahoma State 36; Wisconsin 18; Central Florida 15; Arkansas State 13; Arizona State 10; Rutgers 9; Kent State 5; Louisiana Tech 2; Arizona 1; Ohio 1.