Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

It's finally gameday in the SEC. South Carolina hosts North Carolina State, and Vanderbilt travels to Miami (Ohio). Both are Thursday night games. Here's a look around the conference:

• South Carolina's Kenny McKinley is poised to break most of the Gamecocks' receiving records this season. He's also their most proven weapon, and some would say, their only proven weapon.
• Tailback Mike Davis' benching was tied to his breaking into a locked refrigerator in South Carolina's weight room, Travis Haney of the Charleston Post and Courier reports. Davis will not start in Thursday night's game against N.C. State.
• Vanderbilt redshirt freshman middle linebacker Chris Marve is ready to introduce himself to college football on Thursday night when the Commodores open the season at Miami (Ohio). His Vanderbilt teammates are equally excited about his making that introduction.
• With all the talk about freshman Julio Jones, Alabama junior receiver Mike McCoy has quietly had a stellar preseason camp. He heads into the season as one of the go-to guys for John Parker Wilson.
• LSU coach Les Miles isn't dropping any hints whether it will be Andrew Hatch or Jarrett Lee at quarterback Saturday for the Tigers. Here's betting that Hatch is the one who takes the first snap, and don't be surprised if the Tigers play all three quarterbacks in the game.
• The freshmen tailbacks have been the rage at Ole Miss ever since they signed, but veteran Cordera Eason will get the start for the Rebels in the opener.
• Mississippi State plans to play two quarterbacks in the opener at Louisiana Tech. A bigger question, though, may be whether or not left tackle Derek Sherrod will be able to play. He's been out this week with a foot infection.
• Georgia reserve defensive tackle Kade Weston will miss the opener with a knee injury.
• Who says the Gators have struggled in the running game under Urban Meyer? He says people need to do their homework. It also sounds like Emmanuel Moody, the Southern Cal transfer, is starting to come around at tailback.