South Carolina jumps 10 spots in ESPN FPI after rout of Florida in The Swamp

South Carolina climbed 10 spots to No. 28 nationally in ESPN's Football Power Index after its road win over a ranked Florida team on Saturday, On3's GamecockCentral reported on Monday.

The jump follows a rough few weeks for Shane Beamer's team. Two lopsided early wins had pushed the Gamecocks into the FPI top 15 and close to the AP Top 25. Then they lost three straight SEC games, to Mississippi State, Alabama and Kentucky. The 38-19 win in Gainesville was their first of the season over a power-conference opponent, and the model rewarded it.

The Gamecocks now rank 12th in the SEC in FPI. Their projected record is 5.8-6.2, more than a full game better than a week ago, and for the first time in two weeks it is not among the bottom two in the conference. FPI puts South Carolina's chance of reaching six wins and bowl eligibility at 57.8%, according to On3.

The win was efficient. A late penalty wiped out a play and left South Carolina at 393 total yards, the first time this season it finished under 400. Even so, the 38 points set a program record for a game in The Swamp. The Gamecocks also converted 10 of 16 third downs and moved up six spots, to No. 42, in FPI's offensive efficiency rating.

The defense made the bigger move. Clayton White's unit had struggled against SEC offenses but held Florida to 19 points, six of them in garbage time. That lifted South Carolina from No. 82 to No. 56 in defensive efficiency. Special teams were mixed, with a blocked punt late in the game, but the Gamecocks still rose two spots to No. 29 in that category.

The model now has South Carolina favored in three of its six remaining games: Texas A&M (No. 21 in FPI), Clemson (No. 45) and Arkansas (No. 61). It rates the home game against No. 13 Tennessee as close to a pick'em. The other two opponents rank No. 2 and No. 16.

South Carolina is off this weekend, a break in a stretch of 10 straight power-conference games. The Gamecocks return to Williams-Brice Stadium to host Tennessee in Week 8.

The team they beat has a tough week ahead. Florida, now 4-2, plays at No. 7 Texas (4-1) on Saturday at noon Eastern on ABC. The Longhorns are favored by 10.5 points with a total of 52.5. On Novig, one of the venues pricing the game, Texas is listed at -376. BetMGM has the top sportsbook price on Texas at -425. Full prices are on the Florida at Texas game page.

How Florida does in Austin will help show how much the Gamecocks' win in Gainesville was worth. For South Carolina, the bye week offers a chance to build on its best showing of the season before Tennessee comes to Columbia with a bowl bid on the line.