Around the SEC: Week 10
The SEC holds two of the top four spots in the college football ranking with No. 1 Georgia and No. 2 Alabama.
Behind them, others like No. 12 Auburn and No. 13 Texas A&M jockey for position, with big games ahead for all four of the top dogs.
No. 18 Kentucky got upset by Mississippi State and Missouri took down Vanderbilt.
Mississippi State Upsets No. 18 Kentucky
The Wildcats were coming off a beatdown by the Georgia Bulldogs, and this week, the Mississippi State Bulldogs handed them a similar fate.
Mississippi State QB Will Rodgers had an accurate day going 36/39 for a completion percentage of 92.3 while passing for 344 yards and a score.
Jo’Quavious Marks and Dillon Johnson combined for 99 yards and three touchdowns on the ground as well.
The story of the day though was the Bulldog defense that forced four takeaways and held the Wildcat offense to 216 yards and 17 points.
Kentucky QB Will Levis had his worst game since transferring, going 17/28 for 150 yards, a touchdown and three interceptions.
The Wildcats could do nothing all day, and now they drop to 6-2, which hurts their New Year’s six chances and puts them firmly out of the SEC championship race.
As for Mississippi State, the defense and offense clicked in this one, and if they can maintain momentum in the coming weeks, they could find themselves in a premier bowl game.
No. 13 Auburn Takes Down No. 15 Ole Miss
Auburn continued their run of tough matchups against the Rebels this weekend.
They came out strong in the first quarter with a 14-3 lead and controlled the game from there on out.
Auburn QB Bo Nix was efficient going 22/30 for 276 yards and a touchdown.
RB Tank Bigsby had a monster game with 140 yards and a touchdown.
The defense also stepped up led by LB Zakoby McClain who had 14 tackles, two tackles for loss and two sacks.
They corralled Matt Corral, holding him to a 56.8 completion percentage, 289 yards and an interception.
Corral did get hurt, and the Ole Miss team as a whole is very banged up.
Auburn capitalized, led by efficient performances from their best players.
Now, Auburn heads into a massive game against the Aggies, while Corral gets set to duel fellow NFL draft prospect Malik Willis and Liberty.
Missouri Topples Vanderbilt
For Missouri, the goal is to find themselves in contention for a postseason invite. Winning this week set them on that path.
They have a matchup with the Gamecocks this week, and then Florida and Arkansas. Six wins, and they’re in.
Beating Vanderbilt set them on the right path, albeit a narrow win.
RB Tyler Badie destroyed the Commodores, posting 294 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns.
The Commodores did keep it close led by QB Mike Wright’s three touchdowns. Ultimately, they dropped to 2-7 though, firmly out of the postseason yet again.
Game of the Week: No. 12 Auburn vs No. 13 Texas A&M
This week, Auburn plays primetime football again.
The Aggies host the Tigers at Kyle Field as both teams look to continue their hot streaks.
The winner not only remains in playoff contention but could control their destiny in the SEC West.
Dylan Price is a first-year majoring in journalism. To contact him, email dvp5625@psu.edu.
