COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- South Carolina star tailback Marcus Lattimore is out for the season with a knee injury.

Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier announced Lattimore's status Sunday, saying "our worst fears were realized."

Spurrier said Lattimore has ligament and cartilage damage in his knee sustained when he was blocking in South Carolina's 14-12 win over Mississippi State. Spurrier said doctors want the knee to stabilize for a few weeks before operating on Lattimore.

Spurrier said a Mississippi State defender was trying to tackle ball-carrier Bruce Ellington when he rolled into Lattimore.

Lattimore had been the Southeastern Conference's top rusher most of the season until he was overtaken by Alabama's Trent Richardson. Lattimore had 39 yards in South Carolina's win.

The 14th-ranked Gamecocks (6-1, 4-1 SEC) don't play again until Oct. 29 at Tennessee