There have been higher days for the SEC.
The nation’s strongest convention — uh, we expect — had a fairly depressing Saturday, beginning with No.1 Alabama’s sweat-inducing shut shave as an enormous favourite towards No. 22 Texas.
Whereas the Crimson Tide survived, 20-19, the slim win raises some questions in regards to the group’s place atop the USA TODAY Sports activities AFCA Coaches Ballot.
At the least Alabama escaped what would’ve been a dreadful loss.
No. 6 Texas A&M misplaced 17-14 to Appalachian State, sending the Aggies tumbling within the early Bowl Subdivision pecking order and reinforcing one thing each Energy 5 program ought to tattoo on their brow: Do not schedule the Mountaineers — not at house, not away, not ever.
Missouri was blitzed by former border-state rival Kansas State in a 40-12 loss. The Tigers have been pushed round by the Wildcats’ terrific operating recreation, paced once more by star operating again Deuce Vaughn, and have been ultimately doomed by a run of 4 interceptions in as many drives within the second half.
In one other Energy 5 crossover matchup, Vanderbilt misplaced 45-25 to No. 21 Wake Forest and quarterback Sam Hartman, who threw for 300 yards and 4 touchdowns after lacking the season opener.
It is not all dangerous, nevertheless. It speaks to the SEC’s depth that one other member, No. 2 Georgia, might supplant the Tide atop this week’s High 25 after a simple win towards Samford. Tennessee is destined for a nationwide rating after beating No. 14 Pittsburgh 34-27 in time beyond regulation, albeit with the Panthers having beginning quarterback Kedon Slovis sidelined for the second half.
This weekend’s record of winners and losers consists of groups from the SEC, Massive 12 and extra:
Winners
Texas
Typically a loss is not only a loss, even when the Longhorns had a number of alternatives within the second half to place Alabama away and safe a tenure-making victory for second-year coach Steve Sarkisian. Whereas Texas got here up simply quick, the efficiency bodes properly for the group’s possibilities in an unpredictable Massive 12 and may put wind in this system’s sails after a dreadful 2021 season. One factor the Longhorns want is a wholesome quarterback after dropping starter Quinn Ewers early and watching backup Hudson Card limp his method via a gutty efficiency.
SHOWING FIGHT:Texas tells Alabama, remainder of SEC it’s prepared for brand new league
Appalachian State
After narrowly dropping to North Carolina amid an epic fourth-quarter barrage of factors, Appalachian State deserves to be picked as the favourite within the Solar Belt and one of many prime groups within the Group of 5 after profitable at A&M. Down the highway, there’s an opportunity this group seems again on the UNC loss and wonders what might’ve been; as confirmed final yr, an unbeaten Group of 5 group with strong non-conference wins towards the Energy 5 might make an argument for the School Soccer Playoff.
Southern California
Caleb Williams had 341 passing yards and 4 touchdowns as USC moved to 2-0 with a 41-28 win at Stanford. It is fairly clear via two weeks that this offense goes to be pretty much as good as anticipated, largely because of the earlier connection Williams had with Lincoln Riley and his scheme. However with Oregon and Utah already holding a loss, the Trojans are already the highest-ranked group from the Pac-12 and possibly a contender for the New 12 months’s Six even sooner than anticipated.
Brigham Younger
The Cougars are set to take an enormous leap into the playoff dialog after bouncing again from a missed area objective on the of regulation and one in time beyond regulation to beat future Massive 12 cohort Baylor 26-20 in double time beyond regulation. Keyed by quarterback Jaren Corridor’s 261 passing yards, the win will ship BYU hovering within the Coaches Ballot and create some main momentum heading into subsequent weekend’s matchup with Oregon. The Cougars additionally face Notre Dame and Arkansas in October, offering much more alternative to play an enormous position within the make-up of this yr’s New 12 months’s Six.
Kansas
Kansas is 2-0 for the primary time since 2011 after a 55-42 time beyond regulation win towards West Virginia capped by a walk-off pick-six within the first additional body. This system has made monumental beneficial properties in a really quick time beneath second-year coach Lance Leipold, who took over the group final spring and has reworked the Jayhawks right into a not-so-easy out within the Massive 12. Leipold’s work goes to make him a really intriguing possibility for some high-profile jobs set to open this winter and subsequent within the Midwest.
Arkansas
Historical past tells us Alabama will bounce again and stay one of many groups to beat within the race for the nationwide championship. Within the rapid aftermath, nevertheless, search for a number of groups on this yr’s schedule to share this uncommon thought: Alabama seems beatable. One future opponent who could also be dreaming of an SEC West crown is No. 17 Arkansas, which moved to 2-0 with a 44-30 win towards South Carolina. Quarterback KJ Jefferson had 229 yards of whole offense and two touchdowns whereas the protection gave up simply 44 yards on the bottom, the fewest allowed by the Razorbacks in 4 years. This efficiency comes after a win within the season opener towards Cincinnati, one of many prime packages within the Group of 5. By two weeks, Arkansas might have the perfect resume of any group within the Bowl Subdivision.
Kentucky
Will beating Florida give Kentucky somewhat nationwide respect? (Most likely not.) One week after upsetting Utah, the Gators have been shoved round by a fairly classic Kentucky effort. The Wildcats held UF to 279 yards of offense and intercepted quarterback Anthony Richardson twice in a 26-16 win that ought to settle a couple of issues within the SEC East. Whereas Georgia’s the overwhelming favourite, second place appears more likely to come right down to the Wildcats and Tennessee, with that assembly set in Knoxville on Oct. 29.
Kansas State
The Wildcats received little or no via the air from switch quarterback Adrian Martinez, who threw for under 101 yards, however bullied Missouri on protection and with a bodily operating recreation that went for 235 yards and 4 scores. Going for 145 yards and two touchdowns will give Vaughn’s missed Heisman marketing campaign some juice with an enormous matchup with No. 7 Oklahoma approaching Sept. 24. It is clear that Kansas State is a professional risk to win the Massive 12 and attain a serious bowl.
The Solar Belt
It was an impressive Saturday for a wildly underrated convention — although the Solar Belt’s secret could also be getting out. Along with Appalachian State’s win at A&M, Marshall shocked No. 9 Notre Dame, Georgia Southern beat Nebraska, FBS neophyte James Madison remained unbeaten, South Alabama beat MAC frontrunner Central Michigan 38-24 and Georgia State pushed UNC to the sting with an 18-point third quarter earlier than dropping 35-28. With the American set to lose three key members to the Massive 12, the Solar Belt stands poised to take over as the highest convention within the Group of 5.
Losers
Notre Dame
The warmth is on first-year coach Marcus Freeman, who’s the primary coach in program historical past to lose his first three video games. Final week’s 21-10 setback to Ohio State is one factor; falling 26-21 to Marshall is one other. What’s ailing the Preventing Irish? Most of all, this offense might be scrambling for solutions after one other subpar displaying. Notre Dame averaged 3.5 yards per carry and completed with simply 351 whole yards, with quarterback Tyler Buchner and Drew Pyne combining for five.8 yards per try and three interceptions. We could also be an extended season for the Irish.
Texas A&M
Any rating of the worst losses in program historical past has a brand new entry. The Aggies have been outgained by 128 yards and managed simply eight first downs to the Mountaineers’ 22. It is not that Appalachian State is a pushover, since we all know the Mountaineers are among the many prime groups within the Group of 5. However this yr was speculated to be completely different: A&M was picked as a near-lock for the New 12 months’s Six and at the same time as the highest group within the SEC West. As an alternative, coach Jimbo Fisher’s group has hit all-time low heading right into a brutal run of video games: No. 16 Miami (Fla.), Arkansas, Mississippi State, Alabama, South Carolina and No. 23 Mississippi.
Nebraska
The Scott Frost period is unofficially over after Nebraska misplaced 45-42 to Georgia Southern behind one of many worst defensive performances at school historical past. The Eagles put up 642 yards of offense, 409 coming via the air, and scored the game-winning landing with 36 seconds remaining to place a nail within the coffin for what was as soon as one of the promising teaching tenures within the Energy 5. Whereas it is unlikely that Nebraska makes any teaching transfer earlier than October — and given Frost’s connections to the college, possibly not till after the common season — he’s very a lot teaching out the string as his alma mater.
Houston
One week after storming again from a 21-7 gap and getting previous Texas-San Antonio in time beyond regulation, Houston noticed the script flipped in a 33-30 loss to Texas Tech. Forward by three factors due to a area objective with 37 seconds left, the Cougars allowed the Pink Raiders to drive 49 yards to tie the sport with three seconds left. After a miraculous fourth-down conversion by the Pink Raiders pressured a second time beyond regulation, Tech quarterback Donovan Smith ran it in from 9 yards out for the win. This one hurts: Houston was near beginning 2-0 towards a pair of high quality non-conference opponents earlier than heading into what’s a really pleasant remainder of the schedule.
Alabama
There are a number of query marks popping out of the shut win, none greater than the state of an offensive line that was projected to enhance after a down 2021 season however was largely unimpressive towards Texas. Is that this offensive entrance able to profitable alongside the road of scrimmage towards Arkansas, Georgia and the perfect the SEC has to supply? One factor we all know: Bryce Younger is an unbelievable expertise with a aptitude for the dramatic. He took a step towards recapturing the Heisman Trophy along with his great fourth quarter.
Wisconsin
Any thought that No. 18 Wisconsin might rise out of the Massive Ten West and make a run on the convention championship and a playoff berth evaporated fully with a 17-14 loss to Washington State. That is changing into such a predictable a part of the Badgers’ existence that it begs the query of why they’re constantly ranked so excessive within the preseason. Will this system break via beneath Paul Chryst?
Iowa’s offense
At the least the Hawkeyes scored seven factors the simple method: with a landing. Sadly, after scoring seven with a area objective and two safeties final week, the landing was all Iowa would muster in a 10-7 loss to rival Iowa State. The place does this go away the Massive Ten West? Iowa, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Purdue, Northwestern and Illinois have already suffered a loss. The one group standing unbeaten is Minnesota.
