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Potential Heisman Trophy candidate Marcus Lattimore continues to shoulder the load for South Carolina.
Navy, meanwhile, has assembled the most potent rushing attack in the country thanks to a team effort.
The 10th-ranked Gamecocks and the Midshipmen will surely look to establish the run early and often as both try to stay undefeated Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium.
After running for 112 yards and three touchdowns in a 56-37 win over East Carolina on Sept. 3, Lattimore rushed for 176 last Saturday and put South Carolina (2-0) up for good with a late TD in a 45-42 victory at Georgia.
"It's a great back and we had to keep going to him," coach Steve Spurrier said. "He gives us hope to make any kind of run."
Since the start of last season, no one in the SEC has compiled more rushing yards than Lattimore's 1,485. His 21 rushing TDs in that span rank second in the league behind Mississippi State's Vick Ballard (23).
Lattimore even has five of the team's 21 receptions this year.
"We know as a whole we haven't played our best game," he said. "Like I said, it starts in practice, keeping the intensity up."
While Lattimore has - for the most part - single-handedly carried the Gamecocks' ground game, Navy (2-0) has used its famed triple-option to record an NCAA-leading 801 rushing yards.
Quarterback Kriss Proctor, who has attempted just 14 passes this season, leads the team with 199 rushing yards and three TDs. He is one of six Midshipmen to run for at least 70 yards.
"They run the triple option with fullback, quarterback and pitch guys so we'll have our hands full slowing down these guys," Spurrier said. "Their coach has done an unbelievable job. ... They just play very well and don't beat themselves. They know how to run the ball."
The Midshipmen, who haven't started 3-0 since 2006, ran for 410 yards while Proctor threw for 100 and two TDs during last Saturday's 40-14 rout at Western Kentucky.
Despite winning big, coach Ken Niumatalolo was in no mood to celebrate after senior running back Aaron Santiago suffered what is believed to be a season-ending broken right forearm.
"He's just a great, great kid," a choked-up Niumatalolo said after setting a record for most wins through four seasons at Navy with 29. "To be honest with you, I was in a daze in the second half. To lose a guy like that... "
Defensively, Navy has yet to allow a passing touchdown while surrendering just 148.0 yards per game through the air. The Midshipmen could make things difficult on quarterback Stephen Garcia, who reclaimed the starting job after outperforming Connor Shaw in the season opener.
Garcia wasn't very sharp last week, completing 11 of 25 passes for 142 yards and two interceptions. He threw for a touchdown and ran for another.
While Garcia struggled, defensive end Melvin Ingram went 68 yards for a touchdown on a fake punt and scored again on a fumble recovery. The Gamecocks' 101 points are the most the team has scored through two games in Spurrier's seven seasons with the school.
"We need to throw the ball much better. I don't know how long we will keep getting these big plays," Spurrier said. "Basically, we had four touchdowns from the defense and one from Melvin on the fake punt. We're trying to play a little bit better offensively around here.
"We haven't hit our best (by) any means yet, so we've got a lot of work to do, a lot of coaching. Players got to hopefully learn how to play this game or we're going to be in trouble this year."
Spurrier is 42-0 against non-BCS schools.
The Gamecocks lead this all-time series 4-3, but the programs haven't met since 1988. Navy hasn't defeated a top-10 team since beating then-No. 2 South Carolina 38-21 in 1984.
