South Carolina vs. Auburn: 3 Things We Learned About the Gamecocks

Auburn won the BCS national championship in 2010.

South Carolina was hoping to do the same in 2011.

Unfortunately for the Gamecocks, the visiting Tigers may have squashed those hopes after coming to Columbia and shocking USC with a 16-13 upset victory on Saturday evening.

The contest was anything but pleasing to the eye, but it was hard-fought and well-won by the visitors.

Here are three things we either learned or had reinforced about South Carolina this weekend.

Melvin Ingram Is One of the Best Players in the Nation

Just a few weeks removed from being named the national defensive player of the week for a sensational performance in a victory against Georgia, the fifth-year senior defensive end recorded 11 tackles, 4.5 of which went for a loss of 21 yards. Of those tackles-for-loss, 3.5 were sacks.

He also added two quarterback hurries and an interception.

Just as former Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley went from a relative unknown to a first-round NFL draft pick after a brilliant 2010 season, Ingram might be doing the same for the Gamecocks in 2011.

Stephen Garcia Might Be Playing His Way out of a Job

Traditionally, Steve Spurrier has little patience for mistakes by his quarterbacks.

However, Stephen Garcia has been given more opportunities than just about any signal-caller the former Heisman Trophy winner has ever coached. He has been suspended five times by the team, but still finds himself under center for the Gamecocks on Saturdays.

It may be tough for Spurrier to defend keeping Garcia as his No. 1 when South Carolina play Kentucky next week. And that's just due to his poor play.

Against Auburn, the senior from Tampa completed just 9-of-23 passes for 160 yards with two interceptions and a touchdown.

On the positive side, Garcia did have 10 carries for 62 yards and finally got preseason All-American receiver Alshon Jeffery involved in the offense (five catches for 82 yards and a touchdown), but that may not be enough to keep the South Carolina faithful happy.

Stephen Garcia Might Be Playing His Way out of a Job

Just a few weeks removed from being named the national defensive player of the week for a sensational performance in a victory against Georgia, the fifth-year senior defensive end recorded 11 tackles, 4.5 of which went for a loss of 21 yards. Of those tackles-for-loss, 3.5 were sacks.

He also added two quarterback hurries and an interception.

Much like former Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley went from an unknown to a first-round NFL draft pick last season, Ingram might be doing the same this season.