Welcome back to the most normal, totally balanced conference that is the SEC.
At some point, this conference will act accordingly, right? Missed field goals, botched PAT holds, double-digit consecutive incompletions at home against a bottom 15 team nationally, five interception games, and a 24-point road upset all came in an action packed week three. Let’s, of course, start with the Vols.
(6) GEORGIA def. (15) TENNESSEE 44-41
There was never a better time to snap the streak. This is, in all likelihood,
the worst Georgia team in a hot minute as their best players are a year away from being elite, and Tennessee let them off the hook. A 14-point first quarter lead evaporated almost instantly, and just when it felt like the Vols were fading like they did last season, they fired back, taking advantage of Georgia settling for three on two separate drives. Trailing 38-30, Georgia and Gunner Stockton marched down the field, scored a relatively easy touchdown, and then converted the two-point try, also with ease.
Tennessee and Joey Aguilar followed that up with a drive down inside Georgia territory, and got into field goal range for Max Gilbert with seven seconds left. The Vols were going to run another play as they still had a timeout to burn, but a false start forced Heupel’s hand into sending out his kicker earlier than he wanted and five yards further back. Gilbert then missed the kick because when do we ever get to have good things. Enter overtime, and of course Gilbert gets the exact same kick and nails it. 41-38 Vols, but Georgia can answer.
The game was as simple as this: Mike Bobo had Tim Banks in a bear trap all game long, and the trap refused to go off. Banks would remove his foot only to put it back down the next drive. It wasn’t until OT that it finally clasped. It took Georgia three plays to score and hand Tennessee its 9th straight loss to the Bulldogs, and Tennessee has still not beaten Kirby Smart since his first season at Georgia.
Aguilar and Brazzell were sensational. This is the most wide open Heupel’s offense has looked since Hendon Hooker broke every school efficiency record. At the end of the day, the defense doesn’t hold up. Under Tim Banks, Tennessee’s defense has allowed 29.7 points per game to top-20 teams since the start of 2023 in the regular season and CFP, and 36.3 points per game in losses going back to 2022. It’s what separates this program from the truly elite of the sport. They can’t get stops. There’s no adjustments, never enough aggression on non-passing downs with blitzes, and just not enough discipline. Until that changes, we’ve seen this program’s ceiling.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: WR Chris Brazzell II – 6 rec, 177 yards, 3 TD
Other Results
(3) LSU def. Florida 20-10
↳ DJ Lagway throws five interceptions as Billy Napier’s hot seat grows molten. LSU continues to win, but it’s getting uglier by the week.
↳ POTG: LSU S Dashawn Spears — 2 INT, pick-six
(7) Texas def. UTEP 27-10
↳ A win is a win unless your fanbase is ready to throw Archie into the portal themselves. Manning throws 10 straight incompletions in an ugly win over lowly UTEP.
(16) Texas A&M def. (8) Notre Dame 41-40
↳ Good omens don’t usually come against the Irish in their stadium, but a botched PAT snap leads to a game-winning touchdown drive, capped off with an 11-yard TD pass from Marcel Reed to Nate Boekircher. Has Mike Elko finally broken through in College Station?
↳ POTG: TAMU WR Mario Craver — 7 rec, 207 yards, 3 TD
Vanderbilt def. (11) South Carolina 31-7
↳ Vanderbilt nabbed another early season ranked upset, and with every touchdown scored, Diego Pavia gains an additional year of eligibility.
↳ POTG: Vandy LB Nick Rinaldi — 7 tackles, 1 sack, 2.5 TFL
(13) Oklahoma def. Temple 42-3
↳ After their win over Michigan, OU’s final tune-up before their SEC opener results in a comfortable blowout as the Sooner defense smothers Temple.
↳ POTG: OU DEFENSE — 4 sacks, 11 TFL, 105 total yards allowed
(17) Ole Miss def. Arkansas 41-35
↳ Trinidad Chambliss and Taylen Green exchanged haymakers in a high-scoring shootout that eventually saw Ole Miss emerge victorious to kick off conference play.
↳ POTG: Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss — 21/29, 353 yds, 1 TD, 62 rush yds, 2 TD
(19) Alabama def. Wisconsin 38-14
↳ Have you ever wondered why a school scheduled a certain home and home series? Anyways, Alabama outscores Wisconsin 80-24 in their two season series as the Tide get back on track after their week one loss.
↳ POTG: Bama QB Ty Simpson — 24/29, 382 yards, 4 TD
(24) Auburn def. South Alabama 31-15
↳ Despite only scoring three second half points, Auburn’s defense stymied the outmatched South Alabama offense as the Tigers pick up a win before heading to Norman.
↳ POTG: AUB RB Jeremiah Cobb — 19 carries, 119 yards, TD
(25) Missouri def. Louisiana 52-10
↳ If you put on the SEC Network, there’s a chance Ahmad Hardy is still running all over the Ragin’ Cajuns defense. Hardy and Pribula against South Carolina who may not have LaNorris Sellers makes for appointment television this weekend.
↳ POTG: Mizzou RB Ahmad Hardy — 20 carries, 250 yards, 3 TD
Mississippi State def. Alcorn State 63-0
↳ For the first time since 2018, Mississippi State is 3-0, and with a win over Northern Illinois this coming week, they could sit at 4-0 heading into SEC play, something they haven’t done since 2014.
↳ POTG: State RB Fluff Bothwell — 12 carries, 93 yards, 2 TD
Kentucky def. Eastern Michigan 48-23
↳ Stoops and co. made light work of one of the nation’s worst teams, rushing for 252 yards as a team.
↳ POTG: UK RB Seth McGowan — 18 carries, 104 yards, 3 TD
