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The University of South Carolina football squad is the No. 9 team in the country, according to the preseason poll released by the Associated Press today.  Clemson is ranked 14th.

The No. 9 ranking for the Gamecocks is the highest preseason ranking in school history. The Gamecocks were ranked 12th in last year’s A.P. preseason poll. They were also ranked ninth in the first 2012 USA Today/Coaches poll, released earlier this month.

Clemson received 615 points to earn the 14th spot.  The Tigers are also ranked 14th in the USA Today Coaches' Poll.

There are five SEC teams ranked among the top 10 in the country, including Alabama (2), LSU (3), Georgia (6), South Carolina (9) and Arkansas (10).

Florida State (7), Clemson (9) and Virginia Tech (16) are the three ACC schools in the Top 25.

The Gamecocks finished the 2011 season with a school record 11 wins and an 11-2 overall mark. They were ranked ninth in the final A.P. poll, their highest finish in school history.

The Tigers finished 10-4 overall and were ranked 22nd to end the season.

The Gamecocks will open the 2012 season on Thursday, August 30 in Nashville against the Vanderbilt Commodores while the Tigers will open their season in Atlanta against Auburn Saturday, September 1.