No. 7 LSU takes its 4-0 mark to Columbia to take on South Carolina this Saturday in a showdown many expect the Bayou Bengals to dominate.

Of course, the Head Ball Coach may have some tricks up his sleeve to try and slow down the LSU rushing attack and Heisman Trophy hopeful Leonard Fournette, who after five weeks of the season leads the nation in nearly almost rushing category.

Fournette ranks first in rushing yards (864), rushing yards per game (216), rushing touchdowns (11) and yards per rush (8.7) among players with at least 75 attempts on the season.

It would be a tall task for the Gamecocks to try and slow down Fournette with their run defense that ranks 76th in the country, having surrendered 170 yards on the ground per game thus far and nearly 5 yards per carry.

But eventually, LSU will have to turn to its passing attack, right?

That is, and should be, the ultimate goal of SEC defensive coordinators that will be facing LSU and Fournette over the coming weeks. Load the box to try and slow down Fournette and Co., and force Brandon Harris to beat your defense with his arm.

It seems simple, yet no defense on the Tigers’ schedule has been able to accomplish that to date.

Perhaps we’re being a bit presumptuous, but LSU should be able to handle South Carolina this weekend. Aside from linebacker Skai Moore and safety Isaiah Johnson, the Gamecocks lack the defensive firepower to really challenge Fournette and make this game as competitive as we would hope.

That leads to an Oct. 17 tilt between LSU and Florida, which instantly becomes the Tigers’ toughest task to date.

Florida boasts the nation’s 15th-best rush defense, which allows fewer than 100 yards rushing per game, under 3 yards per attempt and has allowed only 3 rushing scores this season.

Last week against then-No. 3 Ole Miss, the Gators held the Rebels to 69 yards on the ground and no rushing touchdowns. Entering the contest, Ole Miss had averaged 199 yards on the ground per game and piled up 13 scores.

As electric as Florida was against the Rebels in The Swamp last Saturday night, the defense has shown signs of vulnerability. Both Tennessee and Kentucky eclipsed the 100-yard plateau against Jim McElwain’s defense, and against LSU in Death Valley the task is especially daunting.

So if not Florida, then who?

If LSU can get by the Gators in two weeks, it should also have its work cut out on a week in, week out basis to close out the regular season.

In the month of November, LSU faces Alabama, Arkansas and Ole Miss in consecutive weeks. The Tide, Hogs and Rebels rank 10th, 16th and 48th in rush defense, respectively. Even more pressing for the Tigers — both the Alabama and Ole Miss games are road contests for LSU.

Bama has held opposing rushers to under 2.8 yards per clip and only surrendered 3 rushing touchdowns on the season. Only Georgia’s Nick Chubb topped 100 yards rushing against the Tide’s defense this season.

Arkansas has a deceptively stout run defense as well. However, the Razorbacks have been susceptible against the run in SEC play as Tennessee just put up 133 yards on the ground against them last week and overall, the unit has allowed 7 touchdowns.

Finally, LSU’s last hurdle comes in the form of Ole Miss. Like Bama, the Rebels have allowed only 3 rushing touchdowns this season. The rush defense has been consistent all season, allowing 3.4 yards per carry. That unit tightens up even more at home, where Ole Miss has yet to allow a rushing touchdown this season.

The issue is not only executing against the run but also containing Harris, who has proven that he can make plays. Harris has not truly been challenged yet, and when he was, he’s beaten teams with a few throws while hurting them with his scrambling abilities.

But there are four defenses ahead of him, Fournette and the LSU offense that are leaps and bounds better than any the Tigers have seen so far.