South Carolina was dealt a huge blow to their hopes of repeating as SEC East champions when Marcus Lattimore was injured during the Mississippi State game.Lattimore suffered a torn ligament and cartilage damage while blocking for Bruce Ellington during the fourth quarter of the Gamecocks' win over Mississippi State.The Gamecocks are without their star running back for the rest of the 2011 season. He's a big part of this offense's identity and now leaves Steve Spurrier scratching his head trying to find his options behind him.There has already been a season-ending injury to true freshman Shon Carson, and backup fullback Matt Coffee suffered a knee injury in the Mississippi State game and is lost for the season as well.The options are dwindling for the Gamecocks, but here are the names you need to know going forward as the people who look to replace the production of Marcus Lattimore.Begin Slideshow

We all know who South Carolina's No.1 running back is right now. It's some guy named Marcus Lattimore if you haven't heard of him. There might be a few names behind him, though, that you may need to know soon enough. The Gamecocks are looking for a running back to step up and provide some depth behind the Gamecocks star running back. The three candidates are Kenny Miles, Brandon Wilds and Eric Baker. Miles has had the most production of the three as he came onto the scene in 2009 as a redshirt freshman and ran for 626 yards on 117 carries. Those numbers decreased with the emergence of Marcus Lattimore in 2010 as he only ran the ball 40 times for 152 yards. His best game of 2010 came when Lattimore was injured in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl as he ran the ball 10 times for 70 yards in that game. Eric Baker is another veteran on the bench but one that has missed significant time during his Gamecock career. Baker started his freshman year in 2008 with 46 carries for 182 yards in nine games. He entered the 2009 season in prime position to take over as the starting running back but Kenny Miles performed well enough to keep Baker on the bench. Baker would tear his ACL during bowl practice that year and would also sit out the 2010 season as he recovered from ACL surgery. Brandon Wilds is the newcomer to the group. He's a true freshman that most people expected to redshirt as he added weight to move over to the fullback position. I guess Wilds didn't get that memo.His hard work over the summer and performance in fall practice earned him a spot on special teams with a chance to earn some repetitions at running back as well. Wilds has seen time so far in 2011 on special teams but got his chance on offense against Vanderbilt on September 24th and he produced quality output in a limited capacity.Wilds carried the ball three times for 22 yards and had two catches for seven yards as well. The opportunity for Wilds came due to a wrist injury to Kenny Miles that forced him out of the game against Vanderbilt.   The total number of carries for a backup running back this season is 10 carries. This is between the three running backs mentioned and injured freshman Shon Carson who is out for the season. Marcus Lattimore appears to be in better shape and more than ready to handle the heavy workload this season but he will need a break at some point and one of these guys will have to step up. Running backs coach Jay Graham said after practice Wednesday that it's a bit of an open competition behind Lattimore right now. Kenny Miles returned to practice Wednesday night but he's still questionable depending upon how his wrist responds to the practice time he's put in. So who gets the carries behind Lattimore? It really seems like Brandon Wilds will be able to grab a few more carries here especially if Miles is out with injury. He's got the size right now at 6'1" and weighs 223 pounds. He showed a nice burst on a 16-yard run against Vanderbilt in the fourth quarter. He also has nice hands out of the backfield.Eric Baker would be a nice change of pace back for the Gamecocks and he also catches well out of the backfield but I don't think there will be enough carries for the Gamecocks to spread around. There should be a heavy dose of Marcus Lattimore this weekend against Auburn with Brandon Wilds mixed in on occasion for South Carolina. We all know who drives this offense for South Carolina. Sometimes, though, even Marcus Lattimore needs a little break. So when he does, you should have an idea of who is carrying the football besides No. 21.Read more South Carolina Football news on BleacherReport.com

Conference expansion is coming for the third time since the 1990's, and insiders and fans expect it to be the biggest move in history for the Bowl Championship Subdivision of College Football.
Nobody knows when it is coming, but Big 10 Bosses have hired a financial firm that will help determine the deciding factors that could choose the best fit universities to expand the Big 10 to twelve teams or beyond.
If enough dominoes fall, then AD Eric Hyman must choose the fate of the city favorite college of Columbia, South Carolina. What will he decide? To make up my mind, let’s look at some history.
As early as 1922, the Gamecocks joined the Southern Conference , which formed from the roots of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association . A meeting was held on February 25, 1921 in Atlanta, Georgia. 14 member schools split from the SIAA in 1921, while USC joined the conference in 1922.
23 member schools made up the conference from 1922-1953. 13 members split from the SOCON in 1933, forming the SEC. In 1953, South Carolina Clemson, Duke, Maryland, North Carolina, North Carolina State, and Wake Forest formed the Atlantic Coast Conference.
The Gamecocks would not accomplish much in the ACC from a football standpoint, only winning two ACC Championships. The 1969 Carolina squad went 7-4 and was undefeated in conference play. The 1971 ACC title was taken away due to an ineligible player. The Gamecocks almost were invited to the Orange Bowl in 1956, but the bid did not come. Overall, the Gamecocks were mediocre at best.
In basketball, South Carolina was another story. Coach Frank McGuire led the Gamecock Ballers to an undefeated 1970 ACC season, along with an ACC Tournament Championship in 71'. Carolina qualified for three straight Sweet 16 appearances from 71-73.'
Hostility of road crowds on "Tobacco Road" in North Carolina and unfair economic treatment prompted South Carolina to become an Independent after 1971.
While operating as an independent in earlier years, the Gamecocks would see Jim Carlen and Joe Morrison reach new heights.
The Gamecocks reached six bowl games and saw six teams with eight wins or more. South Carolina finished 1984 10-2 and ranked 11th in the nation. Joe's teams were called "Fire Ants and Black Magic" due to the swarming defense wearing black jerseys
Coach Morrison died in 1989 and so did the Gamecocks.
After many tough seasons as an independent, the Gamecocks joined the SEC in 1991. Although it is a challenging conference, South Carolina has fielded a consistent football program under Brad Scott, Lou Holtz, and Steve Spurrier.
 
 
ACC-Pros
·         The South Carolina Gamecocks are from the roots of the ACC, with natural rivals such as arch-rival Clemson and former nemesis North Carolina.
·          The Gamecocks would have a better shot at playing in the conference championship game in a weaker conference.
·          The ACC Championship Game is in Charlotte, which is in close proximity to Columbia.
ACC-Cons
·         Basketball would be a tough shot in the ACC. Making the NCAA Tournament would be harder with teams such as North Carolina and Duke crowding the standings.
·         The Gamecocks could gradually become worse- they did not do much in the ACC in those days.
·         Football is not as seriously taken in the ACC. South Carolina would be looked down upon by former SEC rivals.
·         South Carolina could lose money and recruits by re-joining the ACC to fellow SEC rivals.
·         It is a step down- Clemson dreams of joining the SEC one day.
SEC-Pros
·         South Carolina is pulling in millions of dollars in the SEC.
·         It's South Carolina's identity- The Gamecocks have been playing in the SEC for 18 years
·         The Gamecocks' natural rivals are Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee- not North Carolina or Duke
·         South Carolina runs circles around Clemson in revenue- by millions
·         Steve Spurrier is an SEC man. He wants an SEC Championship with the Gamecocks before he retires.
·         The recruits came to be winners in the SEC
·         Better bowl games
·         More fanfare in the SEC
·         Tougher schedules bring more BCS Bids
SEC-Cons
·         It would be interesting to play in the same conference as Clemson, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Miami, or North Carolina-all good football teams
 
Prediction: The Gamecocks will stay in the SEC
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Read more South Carolina Football news on BleacherReport.com

Is 2010 the Year of the Gamecock? Can the University of South Carolina Fighting Gamecocks really win an SEC Championship under th guide of Steve Spurrier? "Maybe next year"... some will say. But many proclaim it is now or never for the Gamecocks. Steve Spurrier must produce a strong season or trouble will tear up the Gamecock City- Columbia, South Carolina.

Stephen Garcia must fight to stay alive or true freshman Connor Shaw of the Flowery Branch, GA Falcons will steal his spot. The offensive line is the key to keeping order for Carolina. The defense looks like it will be good as always, but the offense is a question mark... as always.

South Carolina has the keys to contend on offense. This includes two talented quarterbacks that need to work hard over the summer, Stephen Garcia and Connor Shaw. Also this includes tall wideouts Tori Gurley, Alshon Jeffery and Jason Barnes. Three great Tight ends in Jared Cook, Justice Cunningham, and TE/FB Pat DiMarco.

Nevertheless, the Gamecocks main goal is to play in the 2010 SEC Championship. South Carolina must overcome offensive problems, quarterback issues, defensive injuries, and whatever it takes in 2010 to keep order in Columbia.

The Gamecocks must win most games in the SEC and have to beat archrival Clemson in the 2010 campaign. And that's what we will preview today...
Begin Slideshow

Is 2010 the Year of the Gamecock? Can the University of South Carolina Fighting Gamecocks really win an SEC Championship under th guide of Steve Spurrier? "Maybe next year"... some will say. But many proclaim it is now or never for the Gamecocks. Steve Spurrier must produce a strong season or trouble will tear up the Gamecock City- Columbia, South Carolina.

Stephen Garcia must fight to stay alive or true freshman Connor Shaw of the Flowery Branch, GA Falcons will steal his spot. The offensive line is the key to keeping order for Carolina. The defense looks like it will be good as always, but the offense is a question mark... as always.

South Carolina has the keys to contend on offense. This includes two talented quarterbacks that need to work hard over the summer, Stephen Garcia and Connor Shaw. Also this includes tall wideouts Tori Gurley, Alshon Jeffery and Jason Barnes. Three great Tight ends in Jared Cook, Justice Cunningham, and TE/FB Pat DiMarco.

Nevertheless, the Gamecocks main goal is to play in the 2010 SEC Championship. South Carolina must overcome offensive problems, quarterback issues, defensive injuries, and whatever it takes in 2010 to keep order in Columbia.

The Gamecocks must win most games in the SEC and have to beat archrival Clemson in the 2010 campaign. And that's what we will preview today...
Begin Slideshow