Around the SEC - Week 6
With Week 6 of the college football season in the rearview mirror, it’s safe to say that the SEC has established itself as the most talented and competitive conference in America.
No. 1 Alabama (6-0, 3-0 SEC) took care of business against Texas A&M (3-3, 1-2 SEC), but it was no cakewalk. Despite four turnovers and the absence of quarterback Bryce Young, the Crimson Tide survived 24-20 to keep their hopes of a perfect season alive.
Kirby Smart and Georgia (6-0, 3-0 SEC) coasted to a 42-10 victory against Auburn (3-3, 1-2 SEC), and earned the top spot in the Week 7 AP Top 25.
At first glance, Missouri (2-4, 0-3 SEC) look like one of the worst teams in Division I football. Despite their record, the Tigers have proved they are capable of competing with any team in the country. In their last three games, they’ve lost to Auburn, No. 1 Georgia, and Florida by a combined 14 points.
Despite holding a 10-point lead with just over 14 minutes left, the Tigers couldn’t complete what would have been one of the biggest upsets in college football history. Missouri had Georgia on the ropes the whole game and led for 56 out of the 60 total minutes.
The week prior, they suffered a heartbreaking overtime loss at the hands of Auburn in one of the season’s craziest finishes. Despite a 14-point first quarter deficit, Mizzou responded with a pair of TDs to knot the game at 14-14 entering the half.
Both teams forgot how to play offense in the second half, but Missouri hung around long enough to give itself an opportunity to steal a win in one of the country’s most hostile environments. With under 90 seconds left in regulation, Missouri quarterback Brady Cook led a masterful 63-yard drive to set up a chip shot field goal attempt for Harrison Mevis.
He pushed it right.
Mizzou put together an impressive defensive stand in overtime’s opening possession and held Auburn to a field goal. With the ball in the red zone, running back Nathan Peat broke off a 19-yard run that looked like a surefire walk-off touchdown.
As they say, it’s a game of inches. Missouri needed about four more to escape with the victory. Before Peat crossed the goal line, he lost control of the ball, which was recovered by Auburn in the endzone. Ballgame.
Saturday’s game against Florida only made matters worse for Tiger fans. After facing a 24-10 deficit, Missouri found the endzone to cut the lead to seven. After a pair of defensive stops, Missouri had momentum and possession. The comeback ultimately fell short as the Tigers failed to convert on a fourth-and-two in Gator territory.
Missouri reminds me of the food sampling aisle at the grocery store. First, they grab your attention. Might not be flashy, but keeps you engaged just long enough that you think to yourself, “Hmm, maybe there's a chance.” At that point, you have to stick around, then boom… All of a sudden there’s that one moment that forces you to walk away. What’s done is done, and all you can ask yourself is, “What if?”
When you think of SEC football, Missouri is probably the last team that comes to mind. Although the eye test doesn’t do the Tigers justice, this group embodies what SEC football is all about. They play gritty, physical defense, utilize the run game, and stay competitive in every game.
Intentionally or unintentionally, people tend to overlook steady progress and only focus on the end result. Last year, Georgia beat Missouri 43-6. Two years ago, Georgia won by 35. It’s easy to look past teams like Missouri that hide in the shadows of programs that annually reload with a plethora of four and five-star recruits. It’s important to take a step back and recognize the success that isn’t simply defined by a “W” or “L.” The Tigers have a great shot to win their first conference game at home against lowly Vanderbilt (3-3, 0-2 SEC).
In the SEC, no team is safe when Saturday rolls around. Unranked South Carolina (4-2, 1-2 SEC) dominated No.13 Kentucky (4-2, 1-2 SEC) on the road in week six. Oddsmakers listed Alabama as 24.5-point favorites prior to their game against A&M, but the Crimson Tide needed every second to walk away victorious.
The point is, every team is competitive in the conference, top to bottom. Consistency is the key ingredient to a winning formula in the SEC gauntlet. It’s what turns good teams great, and great teams into dynasties.
10 out of 14 SEC teams have been in the AP Poll Top 25 poll at one point during the season. Teams like Ole Miss (6-0, 3-0 SEC) and Tennessee (6-0, 2-0 SEC) have exceeded all expectations and have set themselves up for a possible appearance in the College Football Playoff.
Tennessee quarterback Henden Hooker has established himself as one of the best players in the nation and has a realistic shot of winning the Heisman Trophy. A standout performance against the Crimson Tide this Saturday will really put pressure on Ohio State quarterback and current betting favorite C.J. Stroud. If Tennessee can pull off the upset, Hooker’s odds to win the trophy will skyrocket even more.
Buckle up, Week 7 of SEC football will is set to take fans on an emotional rollercoaster.
Charles Lebowitz is a junior majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email cpl5424@psu.edu.
