The hottest team in college football resides in Columbia, South Carolina. Shane Beamer’s Gamecocks are riding a six-game winning streak following a road victory over the rival Clemson Tigers, one that took some Superman-like heroics from redshirt freshman quarterback LaNorris Sellers and, perhaps, a divine intervention-affected interception by senior linebacker Demetrius Knight.

While the 17-14 victory secured a really nice bowl game this winter, the win also kept USC’s College Football Playoff hopes alive.

Now 9-3, South Carolina is perhaps the bubbliest of all the CFP bubble teams. On one hand, the Gamecocks have lost three times. On the other hand, they haven’t fallen since October 12th and have beaten four ranked opponents. Most teams ahead of them in the rankings have lost once or even twice since then. What seemed impossible back in October is on the table as December begins.

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With the post-regular season College Football Playoff Rankings coming out on Tuesday, speculation will run wild about Carolina’s deservedness (or lack thereof) to make the inaugural 12-team field. However, before that poll drops, there are a couple more rankings to analyze.

On Sunday, South Carolina moved up in the USA Today Coaches Poll. Following a No. 14 ranking last week, the Gamecocks now sit at No. 12. The upward trajectory continued for a team included in the Coaches Poll for the fourth week in a row.

The AP Poll will come out around 2:00 p.m. The Gamecocks were 16th last week according to the Associated Press. Sunday’s ranking also will mark four weeks in the AP top 25 for USC. Somehow, one voter (Stephen Means, who covers Ohio State for cleveland.com) has left the Gamecocks off of his personal top-25 list the past two weeks. Will that change on Sunday afternoon?

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With no more games left on the South Carolina football schedule, all Shane Beamer’s squad can do is wait. Several conference championship games could have an impact on the Gamecocks’ postseason fate, however. Most notably, the ACC Championship Game will feature 9-3 Clemson and the 11-1 SMU Mustangs. The winner automatically makes the playoff field, but the loser could slip behind Carolina in the pecking order. If the College Football Playoff Rankings echo their Sunday counterparts, that one extra spot could make all the difference when Selection Sunday comes around in just a week’s time.

Tuesday’s College Football Playoff Ranking show will be on ESPN. The broadcast will last from 7:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Five days later, Selection Sunday will follow on December 8th with a much longer 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. show.