Now that Steve Spurrier has stepped aside as “Head Ball Coach” for South Carolina, interim coach Shawn Elliott has the unenviable task of trying to put the team’s focus back on the field as Vanderbilt visits Williams-Brice Stadium for Homecoming on Saturday (4 p.m. ET, SECN).

The Gamecocks (2-4, o-4 SEC) are in the SEC East cellar with the Commodores (2-3, 0-2), and the winner will get to take one step up the standings with an eye towards bowl eligibility.

For Elliott, this game is about even more.

It’s the first of (at least) a six-game audition for the South Carolina coaching job.

“I would love to be the head coach at the University of South Carolina for many years to come,” Elliott said.

The Gamecock fan base, Elliott said, has a “great opportunity” to rally around a 2-4 team, “and see what happens.”

It’s difficult to predict who will be calling the shots in Columbia next season, but for now, Elliott is the man in charge.

And he has the chance to lead a team mired in adversity, right the ship and put his stamp on what’s left of the 2015 season.

Standing in the way are the Commodores, who rallied past Middle Tennessee State two weeks ago.

Vanderbilt isn’t terribly concerned with the South Carolina coaching search. Instead, coach Derek Mason and his team are focused on adding an SEC win to the ledger.

“For us, the dynamics of that game don’t change a whole lot,” Mason said at his weekly press conference. “… This group is so young that they don’t really know the difference between what’s happening over there and what’s happening here on our practice field … It’s a normal game for us.”

I don’t know if I’d call it “normal.” I think “interesting” describes this weekend’s game far better.

VANDERBILT COMMODORES CLOSER LOOK

Top player, offense: Ralph Webb, Soph., RB — Webb has posted his two best rushing efforts of the season in his last two games. He has 50 carries for 245 yards in those outings, and he’ll be looking to continue that success on the ground against a team that has had its issues stopping the run. Webb had 19 attempts for 97 yards in last year’s 48-34 loss to South Carolina in Nashville.

Top player, defense: Zach Cunningham, Soph., LB — Cunningham leads the team with 35 tackles despite only starting two of the team’s five games. He’s made the most of his opportunities, also leading the team in tackles for loss. He is listed as a starter in this week’s two-deep, so the Gamecocks will need to account for him.

Top player, special teams: Tommy Openshaw, Soph., P/K — Openshaw handles the punting and placekicking for the Commodores, and he’s 10 of 15 in field goal tries in 2015. He made both of his field goal attempts in last year’s game and converted all four of his team’s extra points.