Did South Carolina drop out of the top 25?

South Carolina and Clemson Fall Out of AP Top 25

Yes, South Carolina football has dropped out of the AP Top 25, along with in-state rival Clemson. After a pair of disappointing performances, both programs lost their rankings in the latest poll released on September 14, 2025. It’s a rare moment for the Palmetto State, which now sees neither team represented in college football’s weekly national spotlight.

The shift in the rankings saw Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt, and Southern California make their season debuts in the Top 25, capitalizing on strong early outings and favorable results elsewhere. Meanwhile, South Carolina’s loss to a ranked opponent and Clemson’s narrow defeat to a rising ACC contender exposed lingering questions about depth and consistency.

For South Carolina, the drop follows a rocky start to the season under a new offensive scheme. While the defense showed flashes, the Gamecocks struggled to find rhythm on the offensive side of the ball, ultimately costing them in tight moments. Clemson, traditionally a powerhouse, looked uncharacteristically shaky on both lines of scrimmage, raising concerns about their ability to rebound in a competitive ACC landscape.

Still, it’s early in the season, and both teams have ample opportunity to regain footing. College football is as much about resilience as it is about rankings, and history shows that teams falling out of the Top 25 in September can still make deep runs by December. Fans in Columbia and Clemson will be hoping this early stumble serves as a wake-up call rather than a sign of deeper issues.

For now, though, the spotlight has shifted—South Carolina and Clemson must earn their way back in.