Every ranked team in the SEC won their game last week with the exception of Ole Miss (and the Rebels lost to No. 1 Alabama in a conference game). Vanderbilt’s embarrassing loss to Georgia Tech excluded, it was a good week for SEC football as it continue to build its brand back up after a weak week one. Let’s take a look at what we learned last week in the SEC…..
5. It feels like a change is needed at Vanderbilt and Kentucky
I don’t mean to pick on the two worst teams in the SEC, but they just don’t seem like they are headed in the right direction.
Derek Mason is in his third year. Last year, the team made a one game improvement overall and a two game improvement in the conference. This past week, they got blown out by Georgia Tech. When you get blown out by 31 points to a team that won just 3 games last season, you have to re-evaluate your team.
Maybe the move isn’t firing Derek Mason but something needs to be done. If you can’t beat them, maybe Vanderbilt should join Georgia Tech in running an option type attack. That might help them from a schematic standpoint, since they are at a talent disadvantage in the SEC.
Kentucky is a bit of a harder team to figure out. Mark Stoops is now in his fourth year. He has put up back-to-back 5-7 seasons and 2-6 seasons in the conference. The Wildcats started off the season with an embarrassing loss at home to Southern Miss, then they got blown out by Florida and then they had to rally in the second half to pull way from New Mexico State.
Stoops is a defensive guy. If his offense isn’t clicking, you’d figure his defense would be making strong improvements. You’d be wrong. Through three games, the Wildcats are dead last in the league in total defense and dead last in scoring defense. At this point, Kentucky must be wondering if they hired the right guy.
4. Ole Miss has backed themselves into a corner
For the second time this season, Ole Miss blew a big lead and couldn’t recover. The Rebels are now backed into a corner at 1-2 with some tough games coming up against Georgia, Memphis, Arkansas, LSU, and Auburn.
Mississippi is a better team than their record indicates but they are in a must-win situation on Saturday as they face the mysterious Georgia Bulldogs. On paper, the Rebels should win this game, but it doesn’t seem like it’s worked out like Ole Miss thought so far this season.
3. Butch Jones might be this year’s Gus Malzahn
Everything seems to be lining up for Tennessee and Butch Jones. The Vols had massive preseason hype, but so far, they’ve been decidedly mediocre.
They fumbled their way to victory against Appalachian State. Virginia Tech fumbled their way to a loss against the Vols. Then the Vols won an uninspired game against the Ohio Bobcats by nine points.
Regardless of how they won, the Vols are undefeated. Want even better news for the Vols? They get to face Florida without Florida’s starting QB Luke Del Rio.
2. Jacob Eason is going to be the real deal
Georgia gave the ball to freshman Jacob Eason against Missouri and Eason brought a win home for the Dawgs in dramatic fashion.
It wasn’t a game for the ages by Eason, but it was a game that showed everybody what Eason is capable of doing. With the running game stunted, Eason was pressed into winning the game for Georgia. He went 29 of 55 for 308 yards and 3 TD. He threw 1 INT but overall showed good decision making even if he did struggle with accuracy on his deep balls.
Even more important than how Eason played was how he finished. With the game on the line and Georgia faced with a 4th and 10, Eason stood up and threw a beautiful pass to Isaiah McKenzie for what would be the winning TD. That was the type of play that is made by someone who you just know is going to turn out to be something special.
1. Alabama isn’t the best team in college football
At least not yet.
Alabama showed a lot of fortitude against Ole Miss but they were far from the best team on Saturday.
The Louisville Cardinals absolutely skewered Florida State and Ohio State dispatched of Oklahoma in Norman. Those were the best two wins of the weekend by the best two teams.
Take nothing away from Alabama. They did what they had to do to win their game. They are also playing a freshman quarterback and the longer the Tide offense plays under Jalen Hurts, the better it will get.
For now, Alabama isn’t the best team in college football. Of course, the champion isn’t crowned in September.
