Around the SEC: Week 3
Week 2 of college football saw some massive upsets and some backbreaking losses, and the Southeastern Conference wasn’t spared from this trend.
Business as Usual
Nick Saban’s Alabama Crimson Tide looks like the Monstars from Space Jam, crushing Mercer 48-14 and retaining their No. 1 spot in the latest AP poll this week. Freshman quarterback Bryce Young made things look easy, tossing for 237 yards and three scores on an efficient 70 percent completion percentage.
The No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs are looking dangerous early, scoring 56 points against UAB off the heels of a defensive-focused win over Clemson in Week 1.
With questions about the offense persisting coming into the weekend, Stetson Bennet stepped in for JT Daniels under center and exploded for 288 yards and five touchdowns.
On the other side, Kirby Smart's defense kept its momentum rolling, only allowing one third-down conversion and forcing three turnovers in the dominant 56-7 victory.
In Florida, the previously 13th-ranked Florida Gators blew out the South Florida Bulls 42-20, thanks to Anthony Richardson’s Heisman-like performance. Just look at these numbers: 152 passing yards on just three pass attempts including a passing touchdown. Plus, 115 yards on the ground on four carries, one of which was an 80-yard score.
Bouncing to the state of Mississippi, Lane Kiffin’s No. 20 Ole Miss Rebels took care of business against the Austin Peay Governors, winning 54-17. Surprisingly, the rushing attack, headlined by sophomore Henry Parrish Jr.’s 76 yards on 8 touches, carried the Rebels to a win, racking up 336 total rushing yards.
The SEC is….FUN?!
Perhaps the most anti-SEC game of all-time, head coach Jimbo Fisher and the No. 5 Texas A&M Aggies barely escaped Denver with a win over Colorado by a score of 10-7. However, the win didn’t come without a steep price as starting quarterback Haynes King was helped off the field in the first quarter.
Fisher told the media that King will miss time with “a crack in his right leg.”
In a pretty major upset, the No. 15 Texas Longhorns lost to the unranked Arkansas Razorbacks 40-21. The “mythical” Longhorns gave up 40 points to a Razorbacks squad that was 3-7 in the 2020 season, including a five-game losing streak to end the season.
Needless to say, the saying “Texas is back!” is probably done — for this year at least.
Looking Ahead
Week 3 is set up to be a group of solid games for the SEC. The No.1 Crimson Tide will travel to Gainsville to face off against the, now, No. 11 Gators.
The No. 22 Auburn Tigers, who beat down Alabama State 62-0 in their Week 2 matchup, are seeking a win in Happy Valley against the No. 10 Penn State Nittany Lions.
The No. 2 Bulldogs host the South Carolina Gamecocks who are fresh off their three-point win against the East Carolina Pirates. Meanwhile, two coaches will look to keep their positive vibes going as Coach Ed Ogeron and the LSU Tigers, off the heels of a bounce-back victory over McNeese State, will host Central Michigan.
Meanwhile, Mississippi State’s Mike Leach will bring his air-raid offense to Memphis; an impressive defensive performance carried the Bulldogs to a win over NC State.
Another wild weekend in the SEC is in the books. Who will pull off an upset? Who will fall asleep at the wheel?
Matthew McLaughlin is a first-year student majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email mem6936@psu.edu.
