On-again, off-again starter Chris Smelley threw three touchdown passes, South Carolina’s No. 1 defense held Mississippi to a field goal in the second half and the Gamecocks beat the Rebels 31-24 on Saturday for their first Southeastern Conference win.

The vice presidential candidates are getting ready for what could be the most-watched vice presidential debate in history. The 1984 debate between then-vice president George H.W. Bush and Rep. Geraldine Ferraro, the first woman vice presidential candidate on a major party ticket, attracted a TV audience of nearly 57 million.

Finally, South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier had some good news regarding his beleagured offense. Injured Gamecock star wideout Kenny McKinley has practiced extensively this week and Spurrier says he’ll play at Ole Miss on Saturday.

South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier says standout cornerback Captain Munnerlyn might not start against Ole Miss because of missed classes and weightlifting sessions. Munnerlyn started 10 games a season ago and all five contests this year. However, Spurrier says he wants to get the junior’s attention about going to class and attending scheduled workouts.

Steve Spurrier has the No. 1 defense in college football. Now, if he could only get his trademark offense playing the same way at South Carolina. The Gamecocks coach said Tuesday he was proud of his defenders, ranked first in overall defense among Football Bowl Subdivision clubs. Spurrier says he’ll work this week to nudge his 79th-ranked offense for South Carolina’s Southeastern Conference game at Ole Miss on Saturday.

South Carolina’s game at Kentucky on Oct. 11 will start at 12:30 p.m., while its contest Saturday at Mississippi will be available on pay-per-view TV. The Southeastern Conference announced the Kentucky time Monday. A short while later, South Carolina’s athletic department announced the game would be offered by pay-per-view arrangement.

The coach who designed the Florida offense that revolutionized the Southeastern Conference in the 1990s is now pinning most of his hopes to win at South Carolina on his defense.

Stephen Garcia was 13-for-20 for 131 yards and ran for 86 more, giving South Carolina’s offense enough of a kick to beat UAB 26-13 on Saturday night.