SEC PRIMER (WEEK 2): A little early for SEC worship but it's OK to take a knee
STAFF REPORT
Is it too much to ask the Southeastern Conference football teams to take a bow after Week 1?
Yeah, maybe, but take into consideration that 12 of 14 won and only one of the losses was a super surprise (sorry LSU but RRS saw that one coming).
No, there is no need to remind the world of the league’s superiority. That will take care of itself come January when either Alabama or Georgia wins the national title, possibly winning against the other like it is 2018 all over again.
But the proof is not on top; it’s near the center where teams like Kentucky, Auburn and Missouri are providing hope that the middle tier teams provided a glimpse of good quarterback play. It might mean a real fight for those New Year’s Day 6 spots.
But let’s not get too hasty. The league has its flaws – and we don’t have to mention Vanderbilt in that sentence since the ‘Dores have been blemish for quite some time.
We must ask the question of LSU – will you get yourself together? This is not a do or die situation this week (McNeese State has never beaten a team in the SEC) but Auburn is coming as is Florida and Ole Miss (no, we didn’t forget Mississippi State next week, either). If Ed Orgeron is to continue his reign in Tiger Town, a win in those games is vital.
And what about the Bulldogs, as in Mississippi State? Great comeback Dogs, but what are you doing behind 20 points to Louisiana Tech in the fourth quarter, to begin with?
Let’s give Tennessee, Arkansas and South Carolina credit for beating teams like they’re supposed to.
Ole Miss might have placed itself in the West Division sweepstakes but that’s a bit premature, right?
All-in-all, it was a solid week for the league and sets up what could be a surprise or two coming in the next few weeks.
But it’s still Alabama and Georgia on top and will be for a while.
QUICK NATIONAL NOTE
About the national scene… there are two games this week that are monumental for the playoff race (Yes, even this early). Iowa and Iowa State are playing the biggest game in series history. No one expects Iowa to dethrone Ohio State in the Big 10 but Iowa State may be in position to topple Oklahoma but to get to the playoffs, it must beat the Hawkeyes.
Oregon has been pathetic against Top 5 opponents and few give the Ducks a chance to beat Ohio State this weekend. But a win would not only give Oregon some street cred, it helps the Pac-12 (thanks in part to UCLA and its win over LSU).
We take a look at Oregon with their longtime play-by-play voice, Jerry Allen, below…
SEC Schedule for Sept. 11
Alabama State (1-0) at Auburn (1-0, 0-0 SEC)
11 a.m. CDT • SEC Network
Auburn, Ala. • Jordan-Hare Stadium (87,451)
Series: AU leads, 1-0 (Last meeting – 2018, AU 63-9)
Last week: Auburn def. Akron, 60-10; ASU def. Miles, 14-13
What about ASU/AU
Auburn scored 60 points in its first game, the most for a first-year coach at AU.
Auburn’s 613 yards were the second most in a season opener in program history. The most came in 1985 vs. SW La. (695 yds)
Bo Nix passed for 275 yards in the win last week, becoming the 7th AU QB to pass for 5,000 career yards.
RRS Prediction: Auburn 59, Alabama State 7 (No line)
South Carolina (1-0, 0-0 SEC) at East Carolina (0-1)
11 a.m. CDT • ESPN2
Greenville, N.C. • Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium (51,000)
Series: SC leads, 14-5 (Last meeting – 2016, SC, 20-15)
Last Week: SC def. Eastern Ill., 46-0; Appalachian St def. East Caroina, 33-19
What about SC/EC
South Carolina is looking for back-to-back wins to open the season for the first time since 2017 and only the second time since winning six straight to start 2012. The Gamecocks also ended a 6-game losing streak with the win over East Carolina.
New QB (and former grad assistant) Zeb Nolan passed for 4 TDs, all in the first half in his SC debut.
The SC defense did not allow a third-down conversion for a first down in the win (0-for-9).
Jordan Burch recorded a 61-yard Pick-6 in the win over East Carolina, the first since the win over Georgia in 2019.
RRS Prediction: South Carolina 23, East Carolina 20 (SC favored by 2)
Pittsburgh (1-0) at Tennessee (1-0, 0-0 SEC)
11 a.m. CDT • ESPN
Knoxville, Tenn. • Neyland Stadium (102,455)
Series: Pitt leads, 2-0 (Last meeting - 1983, Pitt, 13-3)
Last week: Pitt def. UMass, 51-7; Tenn. def. Bowling Green, 38-6
What about Pitt/UT
The “Johnny Majors Classic” will honor the former coach of both schools. He led Pitt to the 1976 title and UT to 3 SEC titles. He is 0-2 against Pitt as the UT coach.
UT had two running backs go over 100 yards against Bowling Green. Tiyon Evans had 120 yards while Jabari Small had 117 yards. Both had a TD. As a team, UT had 331 yards rushing. It was the first time since the season opener against Bowling Green in 2015.
Tennessee became the 10th program to earn its 850th win in school history.
RRS Prediction: Pitt 27, Tennessee 21 (Pitt favored by 3)
Florida (1-0, 0-0 SEC) at South Florida (0-1)
12 p.m. CDT • ABC
Tampa, Fla. • Raymond James Stadium (65,890)
Series: UF leads, 1-0 (Last meeting – 2010, UF, 38-14)
Last week: NC State def. USF, 45-0 ; UF def. FAU, 35-14
What about USF/UF
Florida continues its tour of the Sunshine State with a trip to Tampa to face South Florida for the second time in school history. Last meeting was 2010.
The Gators set a school record for rushing in an opener against FAU with 400 yards.
Florida posted its 15th game of 500-plus yards under Dan Mullen.
Anthony Richardson had a 73-yard run for a score, the longest for a UF quarterback since 2012 (Tennessee – Trey Burton)
RRS Prediction: Florida 42, South Florida 14 (UF favored by 28)
UAB (1-0) at Georgia (1-0, 0-0 SEC)
2:30 p.m. CDT • ESPN2
Sanford Stadium (92,746)
Series: UG leads, 2-0 (Last meeting – 2006, UGA, 34-0)
Last week: UAB def. Jacksonville St., 31-0 ; UGA def. Clemson 10-3
What about UAB/UGA
Georgia tallied seven sacks vs. Clemson, one shy of the school record.
QB JT Daniels improved his record to 5-0 in the win Saturday.
Georgia last posted back-to-back wins over Top 10 opponents in 2018 (No. 9 Fla and No. 9 Ky).
UAB posted its first shutout since 2018.
RRS Prediction: Georgia 31, UAB 10 (UGA favored by 24)
Texas A&M (1-0, 0-0 SEC) vs. Colorado (1-0)
2:30 p.m. CDT • Fox Sports
Denver, Colo. • Empower Field at Mile High Stadium (76,125)
Series: UC leads, 6-3 (Last meeting - 2009, Colorado, 35-34
Last week: A&M def. Kent St., 41-10; Colorado def. Northern Colorado, 35-7
What about A&M/COL
Texas A&M and Colorado last met when the two were in the Big 12 in 2009.
A&M TE Jalen Wydermyer is 11 yards away from becoming the fourth TE to break 1,000 yards.
A&M had five sacks against Kent State, four recorded by freshmen.
Colorado has faced two SEC teams in the state not named Texas A&M or Missouri. Georgia played the Buffs in 2010 while LSU visited in 1979.
RRS Prediction: Texas A&M 31, Colorado 10 (A&M favored by 17)
Mercer (1-0) at Alabama (1-0, 0-0 SEC)
3 p.m. CDT • SEC Network
Tuscaloosa Ala. • Bryant-Denny Stadium (101,821)
Series: UA leads, 3-0 (Last meeting - 2017, Bama, 56-0)
Last week: Mercer def. Point Unv., 69-0; Alabama def. Miami, Fla., 44-13
What about Bama/Mercer
UA QB Bryce Young finished his first start vs Miami - 27-for-38 for 344 yards and 4 TDs, which set a school record for a first start.
Young’s 94-yard pass to Jameson Williams was the second-longest in school history (McCarron to Amari Cooper – 99 yards @ Auburn in 2013.)
Alabama has now scored 30 or more points in 27 consecutive games.
RRS Prediction: Alabama 59, Mercer 7 (No line)
Texas (1-0) at Arkansas (1-0, 0-0 SEC)
6 p.m. CDT • ESPN
Fayetteville, Ark. • Reynolds Razorback Stadium (72,000)
Series: UT leads, 56-22
Last week: Texas def. La.-LaFayette, ; Arkansas def. Rice, 38-17
What about Texas/Arkansas
This is the 79th meeting between the programs, first since Texas Bowl in 2014. Texas leads series 56-22.
QB KJ Jefferson had two rushing touchdowns against Rice, the first time a quarterback for the Razorbacks did that since 2011 (Tyler Wilson, Ole Miss)
Jalen Catalon’s 83-yard interception return for a touchdown vs. Rice is the longest since the 100-yard return by Rohan Gaines in2014 (Ole Miss).
Texas QB Hudson Card made his debut last week, completing 14 of 21 passes for 224 yards and two TD and rushed for one TD.
RRS Prediction: Texas 24, Arkansas 21 (Texas favored by 7)
North Carolina State (1-0) at Mississippi State (1-0, 0-0 SEC)
6 p.m. CDT • ESPN2
Starkville, Miss. • Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field (61,337)
Series: Tied, 3-3 (Last meeting - 2015, Miss St, 51-28)
Last week: NC State def. ; Miss St def. La Tech, 35-34
What about NC St/Miss St
Mississippi State had the largest comeback victory in school history Saturday in the win over La Tech. They trailed by 20 with 13:11 left in the game. The previous record was set in 1999, trailing Auburn 16-0 before coming back to win 18-16.
Wide receiver Makai Polk had 10 receptions for 57 yards.
MSU and NC State met in the 2015 Belk Bowl, won by the Bulldogs, 51-28. The last three meetings have been in bowl games.
NC State had a pair of rushers go over 100 yards for the first time in school history in the opener. Zonovan Knight and Ricky Person accounted for 352 total yards.
RRS Prediction: NC State 27, Miss St. 24 (NC State favored by 1)
McNeese State (0-1) at LSU (0-1, 0-0 SEC)
6:30 p.m. CT • SECN+/ ESPN+
Baton Rouge, La. • Tiger Stadium (102,321)
Series: LSU leads, 1-0 (Last meeting - 2010, LSU, 32-10)
Last week: West Fla. def. McNeese, 42-36 ; UCLA def. LSU, 38-27
What about McNeese/LSU
This is actually the third meeting between the two programs. The second meeting was canceled on Sept. 2, 2015, although the game got underway with both teams having one possession before a lightning storm interrupted play. The game ended after a four-hour delay and called a “No contest.”
LSU coach Ed Orgeron will face his son, Cody who is the starting quarterback for McNeese State.
LSU has won 32 straight games against in-state opponents.
The Tigers gave up 210 yards rushing to UCLA and 470 yards in total offense.
Kayshon Boutte had 148 yards and three TDs on nine receptions in the loss.
RRS Prediction: LSU 32, McNeese St. 14 (No line)
Austin Peay (1-0) at Ole Miss (1-0, 0-0 SEC)
6:30 p.m. CT • SECN+/ ESPN+
Oxford, Miss. • Vaught-Hemingway Stadium (64,038)
Series: First Meeting
Last week: Austin Peay def. Chattanooga, 30-20; Ole Miss def. Louisville, 43-24
What about Austin Peay/Ole Miss
Ole Miss had 500 yards for the seventh time in 11 games under Lane Kiffin in the win over Louisville.
The Rebels had 21 plays of 10 or more yards.
Matt Corral became the eighth QB for Ole Miss to surpass 5,000 yards. He is eighth on the all-time passing list at Ole Miss.
OL Ben Brown made his 35th consecutive career start in the Ole Miss win over Louisville.
RRS Prediction: Ole Miss 52, Austin Peay 13 (No line)
Missouri (1-0, 0-0 SEC) at Kentucky (1-0, 0-0 SEC)
6:30 p.m. CDT • SEC Network
Lexington, Ky. • Kroger Field (61,000)
Series: UK leads, 7-4 (Last meeting: 2020 - MIZ, 20-10)
Last week: Missouri def. Central Mich, 34-24; Kentucky def. La-Monroe, 45-10
What about Mizzou/KY
Missouri and Kentucky open conference play in the SEC.
This is just the second time since 2008 that KY has opened conference play against someone other than Florida or South Carolina (’08 Alabama and ’20 Auburn).
Kentucky had 564 yards of total offense, the most since gaining 601 yards against Louisville in 2018.
Missouri’s defense had nine sacks , the most since 2000.
Missouri kicker Harrison Mevis set a career high with a 53-yard field goal.
RRS PREDICTION: Kentucky 27, Missouri 24 (Kentucky favored by 5)
Vanderbilt (0-1, 0-0 SEC) at Colorado State (0-1)
9 p.m. CDT • CBS Sports Network
Fort Collins, Colo. • Canvas Stadium (41,000)
Series: First meeting
Last week: South Dakota St def. Col. St, 42-23 ; East Tenn St def. Vandy, 23-3
What about Col St/Vandy
Vanderbilt lost its 11th straight game on Saturday.
The ‘Dores had 11 possessions - six ended in punts, one ended on downs, three by turnovers and one by a field goal. All of the turnovers were in the fourth quarter.
Vandy had 82 yards in rushing.
RRS Prediction: Colorado St 24, Vanderbilt 14 (Col. St favored by 7)
RRS RECORD: Last week: 11-3 (6-5 vs. spread); Season: 11-3 (6-5 vs. spread)