College Football Rankings: Way-too-early Top 25 projections for 2018

Will Muschamp has been rebuilding his name after unceremoniously being terminated as the head coach at Florida. Getting his second chance to lead an SEC program, Muschamp guided the Gamecocks to a 9-4 finish after taking down Michigan 26-17 in the Outback Bowl. It was the first time South Carolina reached nine wins since Steve Spurrier’s squad did so in 2013.

In hindsight, South Carolina was only a couple of plays away from turning in an 11-2 season. Losses to College Football Playoff participants Georgia and Clemson were to be expected. Narrow defeats against Kentucky and Texas A&M proved the difference between nine wins and a double-digit campaign.

They get back quarterback Jake Bentley and get to play one of the easier FBS schedules in 2018. South Carolina takes on Coastal Carolina, Marshall, FCS Chattanooga and Clemson in non-conference play. In addition to their SEC East schedule, the Gamecocks drew Texas A&M and Ole Miss in interdivisional play.

Muschamp’s crew will be experienced and tough to beat in 2017, though strength of schedule could cost them with the College Football Playoff selection committee if they manage to keep winning through the first few months of the season. But in the preseason AP Top 25, the pollsters will look at the talent coming back and the big win over the Wolverines in Tampa and give them a spot somewhere in the high teens.