Time to Crow? Gamecocks Football Ranked 3rd by The Sporting News

The USC Gamecocks, coming off back-to-back 11-2 seasons and boasting arguably the nation's best football player in defensive end and physical freakshow Jadeveon Clowney, are getting some major preseason love by pigskin prognosticators.

Just one day after their archrival Clemson Tigers made a splash by being ranked sixth in a preseason poll by Athlon Sports, the Gamecocks on Thursday bested the Tigers — times two.

Athlon on Thursday picked the Gamecocks fifth in its preseason poll, just a notch ahead of the Tigers, who are expecting at least an ACC championship year on the arm of star QB Tajh Boyd. 

But not to be outdone, The Sporting News ranked the Gamecocks third in its preseason poll, behind only Alabama and Stanford, giving the Gamecocks the highest preseason ranking in any poll in the program's otherwise mediocre history. Clemson, meantime, ranked ninth in The Sporting News' poll. 

Both the Tigers and Gamecocks, each coming off 11-2 seasons, are expected to continue their streak of preseason top 10 rankings as more polls come out.

For Athlon's preseason analysis of USC, click here. For Clemson's, click here. 

While preseason polls should be taken with a large grain of salt, this is inarguably the golden age of college football in the Palmetto State, with both the Gamecocks and Tigers considered national powers and possible BCS title contenders.

So, who do you think will have the greater season, and do either have a shot at a national or conference title? Let us know in the comments.