The SEC is a week-to-week league once conference play is underway. Florida went from looking like a legitimate national championship contender to getting exposed on the road. Two of the conference’s emerging star quarterbacks squared off in Starkville and only one looked the part. Kentucky pulled off a historic comeback, Georgia’s Gunner Stockton continues to impress against weaker competition, and Auburn and Tennessee are struggling to find consistency at the most critical position.
Before flipping over to Week 6, let’s break down the standout stats and performances from the Week 5 SEC slate.
Missouri held Florida to 42 rushing yards after the Gators averaged 260 through four games in a shocking 28-point win over the undefeated Gators
This outcome epitomized how unpredictable college football can be. A week after Florida ran all over then-No. 4 Ole Miss for 302 yards and six touchdowns, Missouri held the Gators to a pedestrian 42 yards on 25 carries (1.7 yards per attempt). Running back Jadan Baugh, who entered Saturday averaging 7.2 yards per carry, managed just 13 yards on 12 attempts. Florida will have to prove it can win games when the running game is neutralized if it wants to compete for a playoff spot.
Alabama’s Keelon Russell wins battle of young Heisman hopeful QBs by outperforming Mississippi State’s Kamario Taylor in the Crimson Tide’s 56-23 win
Alabama vs. Mississippi State was a matchup of two quarterbacks playing better than anyone else in the country. Both sophomores. First-time starters. Only one left the game with his Heisman stock rising. Russell completed 16 of 22 passes for 285 yards and three touchdowns, adding another score on the ground without committing a turnover. Taylor, who entered the weekend leading the SEC in passing yards and touchdowns, threw for 258 yards, three scores, and was intercepted twice – including an ugly pick-6 on Mississippi State’s second possession. Russell will face his biggest challenge in Week 6 against Georgia. Taylor gets a chance to reset and learn from his mistakes during the team’s bye week.
Kentucky completes largest road comeback in program history; South Carolina loses second SEC home game after leading 16-0 or more (Mississippi State, Week 3)
Shane Beamer’s seat is burning hot in Columbia, SC. Two weeks after blowing a 16-point advantage against Mississippi State, the Gamecocks squandered a 17-0 lead against Kentucky in a 35-34 overtime loss. Blowing big leads at home isn’t as infuriating if it’s against the conference’s elite. But most Gamecocks fans believe their team’s talent level is on equal ground or better than Mississippi State’s and Kentucky’s. The Wildcats completed the largest road comeback in program history, capped by a gutsy decision to go for two and the win in overtime. For Kentucky, the win highlights the promising start to first-year head coach Will Stein’s tenure. For South Carolina, it’s another loss to further erode trust in Beamer’s leadership of the program.
Georgia QB Gunner Stockton throws for career-high 295 yards and three TDs against Vanderbilt
Stockton completed 25 of 32 passes (78%) for 295 yards and three touchdowns without an interception against Vanderbilt. Through five games, the Georgia quarterback has thrown 13 touchdown passes against just one interception while completing more than 75% of his passes. Most impressive is that Stockton has produced those numbers despite being pulled in the second half or earlier in every game so far. Vandy caused Georgia’s defense troubles in the first half before the Bulldogs settled in after halftime. Stockton will face his ultimate test at Alabama on Saturday. The bigger question isn’t whether Stockton can put up impressive numbers, but whether he can maintain that efficiency when Georgia needs him for four quarters – likely starting against the Crimson Tide.
Auburn and Tennessee combine for 245 passing yards, one TD and three INTs
Auburn vs. Tennessee was certainly not a quarterback clinic. The two teams combined to complete 33 of 51 passes for just 245 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. Tennessee running back DeSean Bishop nearly outproduced both passing attacks by himself, rushing for 220 yards and three touchdowns — matching their combined offensive touchdown total and finishing just 25 yards shy of their combined passing yardage. The Vols replaced the struggling freshman QB Faizon Brandon late in the second quarter for George MacIntyre. MacIntyre finished 8-for-10 for 86 yards, no scores, and no turnovers. Byrum Brown remained the QB for Auburn and was able to add 107 yards on the ground and one score.
By Jake Thigpen (@Jake_Thigpen)
