With Georgia taking an open date, start your Monday with a review of the weekend that was around the SEC and look ahead to the next week.
Monday, October 15
The week that was
Ole Miss 41, Auburn 20 (at Oxford)
Alabama 42, Missouri 10 (at Columbia)
Florida 31, Vanderbilt 17 (at Nashville)
Arkansas 49, Kentucky 7 -- Game shortened by weather (at Fayetteville)
LSU 23, South Carolina 21 (at Baton Rouge)
Mississippi State 41, Tennessee 31 (at Starkville)
Texas A&M 59, Louisiana Tech 57 (at Shreveport)
The big result
LSU and South Carolina played the big-boy game Saturday night, throwing some heavyweight punches at each other before the Tigers made the plays needed in the fourth quarter to get a big home win and deal the Gamecocks their first defeat. Truly, this was the kind of hard-fought, entertaining game that makes the SEC the best conference in college football.
The big story
Coaching hot seat drama is beginning to pick up quickly in several SEC locations, with Gene Chizik at Auburn, Derek Dooley at Tennessee and Joker Phillips at Kentucky all now feeling the heat after disappointing results Saturday.
The heartstopper
Texas A&M survived a wild shootout with Louisiana Tech that went into the wee hours. The Aggies led 46-23 with 5:44 to go in the third quarter before enduring a furious rally. The game was decided on a missed two-point conversion by La Tech with 38 seconds left. The teams combined for 1,293 offensive yards, 187 offensive plays and 64 first downs.
Offensive standouts
RUSHING
-181 yards (19 carries, 3 TDs) – Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M vs. Louisiana Tech
-177 yards (18 carries, 3 TDs) – Eddie Lacy, Alabama vs. Missouri
-177 yards (11 carries, 3 TDs) – Jeff Driskel, Florida vs. Vanderbilt
-144 yards (18 carries, 2 TDs) – T.J. Yeldon, Alabama vs. Missouri
PASSING
-395 yards (24-of-40, 3 TDs, 1 INT) – Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M vs. Louisiana Tech
-372 yards (23-of-31, 5 TDs, 0 INT) – Tyler Wilson, Arkansas vs. Kentucky
-291 yards (23-of-37, 2 TDs, 0 INT) – Tyler Russell, Mississippi State vs. Tennessee
RECEIVING
-8 catches (77 yards) – Cobi Hamilton, Arkansas vs. Kentucky
-7 catches (93 yards) – Chad Bumphis, Mississippi State vs. Tennessee
-6 catches (71 yards, 2 TDs) – Marcus Green, Mississippi State vs. Tennessee
-6 catches (131 yards, 1 TD) – Jordan Matthews, Vanderbilt vs. Florida
Defensive standouts
-21 tackles (1.5 TFL – 3) – A.J. Johnson, Tennessee vs. Mississippi State
-17 tackles (1.5 Sacks – 13; 1 other TFL – 1; 1 Blocked kick) – Damontre Moore, Texas A&M vs. Louisiana Tech
-16 tackles (1.5 TFL – 3) – Daren Bates, Auburn vs. Ole Miss
-14 tackles (0.5 Sack – 4) – Sheldon Richardson, Missouri vs. Alabama
-14 tackles (1 Sack – 6; 1 FF) – Shaq Wilson, South Carolina vs. LSU
-12 tackles (1 Sack – 9; 1 FR; 1 QBH) – C.J. Mosley, Alabama vs. Missouri
Statistics courtesy of SEC Media Relations
Trending up
FLORIDA
The Gators successfully navigated would could have been a tricky road test at Vanderbilt -- between games against LSU and South Carolina -- to remain unbeaten and seize sole possession of first place in the Eastern Division. Will Muschamp is working himself into the conversation for some serious postseason coaching honors if this keeps up.
MISSISSIPPI STATE
In a game overshadowed by the showdown down the road in Baton Rouge, the Western Division's Bulldogs outlasted Tennessee. Now at 6-0, all that stands between Miss State and venturing to Tuscaloosa unbeaten is next week's home date with Middle Tennessee.
OLE MISS
Congrats to the Rebels, who got their first SEC victory in forever and are beginning to look like the best team remaining on Georgia's schedule outside of Florida. Really.
Trending down
AUBURN
As hard as it is to envision a coach being in jeopardy only two seasons after a national title, Gene Chizik's team just isn't doing much to help him out right now. The Tigers are lucky to be 1-5 and not 0-6, and with games remaining against Vanderbilt, Texas A&M, Georgia and Alabama, you wonder just how many they're going to be able to win this year.
KENTUCKY
Yikes. Weather or not, has the SEC ever been known to abide a mercy rule outcome? The Wildcats now are entering into some rough territory only roamed by some of the worst teams in conference history.
TENNESSEE
Tough loss for the Vols on Saturday night in Starkville. That one felt like a swing game perhaps for Dooley's tenure, and this team badly needed to get some positive momentum going into games with Alabama and South Carolina.
In the polls
ASSOCIATED PRESS
1. Alabama
3. Florida
6. LSU
9. South Carolina
13. Georgia
15. Mississippi State
20. Texas A&M
USA TODAY
1. Alabama
4. Florida
6. LSU
8. South Carolina
12. Georgia
16. Mississippi State
19. Texas A&M
The week ahead
Noon: LSU at Texas A&M (ESPN)
12:21 pm: Auburn at Vanderbilt (SEC Network)
3:30 pm: South Carolina at Florida (CBS)
7 pm: Middle Tennessee at Mississippi State (ESPN2)
7 pm: Alabama at Tennessee (ESPN)
7 pm: Georgia at Kentucky (FSN)
OPEN DATES: Arkansas, Missouri, Ole Miss
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ON THE AGENDA
Georgia's players returned Sunday from the bye weekend and will be back on the practice field Monday evening.
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LINK(S) OF THE DAY
Georgia heads to Kentucky next weekend, and quite obviously, Kentucky is a mess.
It was a brutal Saturday night for Georgia's next opponent, leaving increasingly little doubt about the fate of Kentucky's coach.
And there was an interesting pregame note from Saturday's LSU-South Carolina game.
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TWEET(S) OF THE DAY
Jus when u thought South Carolina's defense was legit in stoppin the run. Haha
DB commit Shaq Wiggins
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We got some bandwagon fans. Hopefully my apt. Isn't egged.
Just want to apologize for my tweet last night. Was just frustrated after the tough loss. Sorry VOL nation.
Tennessee QB Tyler Bray
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Strength is going through hell and coming out a tougher person...
DL commit John Atkins
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In the airport about to head back to school.. It's been real Raleigh
RB Keith Marshall
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Today's NFL games show how much kickers matter #specialists #kicker
PK Marshall Morgan
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Had a great time in Kentucky huntin..comin home without a deer but still wldnt have rather been any other place my off week! #lovehuntin
DB Blake Sailors
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I never get sleep!!!! It's really over rated
LB Amarlo Herrera
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Just found my keys in the refrigerator, that's a first..
FB Merritt Hall
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You can get extremely bored while driving 5 hours by yourself, so I like to honk at random people to keep myself entertained. #boredtweet
QB Parker Welch
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just woke up from a CRAZY football dream. I think this weekend of no ball had to do with it
DB Marc Deas
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I apologize #MoultrieGa I wasnt able to come home this weekend, but when I do come home. We gone ball!! #BetThat!
TE Ty Flournoy-Smith
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Watching football with mama
LB Mike Gilliard
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Falcons are so clutch!!!!!!
WR Michael Bennett
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GOOOD TO BE A FALCON yessssssssssss baby
WR commit Tramel Terry
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Ribs, collards, sweet potatoes, and corn bread. Always eat good when I go home for the weekend
DL Sterling Bailey
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Grandma making me a cake before I go back to Athens
TE Jay Rome
- Gentry Estes
- Georgia Insider - Dawgs247