[Tuck4Bama]

Nowhere is South Carolina’s bend-but-don’t-break defense reflected more starkly than in the national statistics.

Despite being ranked 104th among 119 Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) schools in rushing defense, the Gamecocks are 10th in scoring defense, allowing an average of 14.3 points a game.

Though LSU rushed for 290 yards against the Gamecocks, the Tigers’ 28 points were 17 below their scoring average entering the game. LSU scored two of its four touchdowns on a fake field goal and on a short drive after USC failed to pick up a yard on fourth-and-1 from its 30-yard line in the third quarter.

“We’ve got to stop the run a lot better than we’re doing, but we do a good job keeping them out of the end zone,” Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier said Sunday.

The Gamecocks also are doing a good job defending the pass. USC is No. 2 in the country in pass defense (103.5 yards a game) and pass efficiency defense (behind LSU). But the Gamecocks’ porous run defense likely has contributed to those figures as teams elect to keep it on the ground against USC.

Of LSU’s 70 offensive snaps Saturday, 50 were running plays.

USC has allowed an average of 216.5 rushing yards a game, more than any SEC team except Kentucky (223.3).

Spurrier, who said the defensive line did not play well at LSU, suggested there could be personnel changes on defense this week.

Notes: Defensive stats headed in opposite directions