COLUMBIA, S.C. - Lou Holtz cried.

Alone in his office at 1:30 a.m. Sunday and overwrought from another disheartening defeat, South Carolina's coach saw tape of his team playing its heart out against Tennessee - and felt his own heart break in despair.

"Yeah, I get downhearted, but I cried and I don't do that," Holtz said Monday. "To play that well, to sell out in so many things and have nothing to show for it ... "

South Carolina (5-3, 3-3 Southeastern Conference) lost 43-29, the 12th consecutive defeat to the Vols. Holtz figured he'd see the usual lack-of-effort errors and poor execution of losing teams. Instead, he saw the Gamecocks play - now get this - "one of the better football games since I've been here."

His offense drove inside Tennessee's 20 seven times and gained 567 yards. His defense forced seven punts. Every click of the remote showed a Gamecock playing hard, winning football - except they lost.

"That's where my pain is," said Holtz, eyes moistening behind his glasses. "My pain is for them."

Holtz told his players as much Sunday, holding a quick turnaround practice to cleanse the Gamecocks before Saturday's game with Arkansas.

Holtz's words were sincere and connected with a group still reeling from a game they planned to win, center John Strickland said.

"I agreed with him," Strickland said. "I cried, too, after the game."

The loss continued an ugly streak of futility for Holtz - his teams are 0-10 the past three seasons when a victory would mean the postseason.

CBS to televise Georgia-Auburn Game AUBURN, Ala. - Auburn's football game against Georgia on Nov. 13 will be nationally televised by CBS.

The game will start at 3:30 p.m. at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn. CBS has broadcast the Auburn-Georgia game the past three seasons.

Tigers prove to be human against Rebels

AUBURN, Ala. - Tommy Tuberville hopes Auburn's sluggish first-half performance against Mississippi sent the following message to the players and fans:

"Hey, we are human."

If that didn't remind the third-ranked Tigers that they can indeed be beaten, then maybe Miami's shocking loss to North Carolina will get their attention.

Auburn, which won 35-14, enters its first open date with a spot in the SEC title game assured, a perfect record intact and burgeoning national championship hopes.

The Tigers (9-0, 6-0 SEC), ranked No. 3 in the BCS, led Ole Miss 7-0 at the half. They still have outscored opponents 177-26 in the first half this season.

Next up is the team's biggest challenge of the year, a Nov. 13 game against Georgia (7-1, 5-1), ninth in the BCS.

"We probably needed a game like that," Tuberville said. "We had to play hard for three quarters and the game was still in doubt and it was good to see."

Rebels need three wins in a row for bowl-eligibility

OXFORD, Miss. - Mississippi's mission is simple: Win three consecutive games, or stay home for the holidays for the first time since 2001.

The Rebels (3-5, 2-3 SEC) must beat Arkansas (Nov. 13), LSU (Nov. 20) and Mississippi State (Nov. 27) just to qualify for a third consecutive bowl game.

"You don't feel very good when you're 3-5," coach David Cutcliffe said Monday. "We have to win our three remaining games ... but the 'one-game-at-a-time' attitude hasn't changed."

Still, even though they're in serious danger of finishing in the SEC's lower division, Cutcliffe said the Rebels aren't panicking.

"Panic is not the right word, but we want to have a sense of urgency," he said.