Week 7 had a near-season-altering upset, a critical fumble at the goal line (or was it?), Alabama’s third-straight win over a ranked SEC team, and the state of Texas dominating SEC rivals.
Before flipping over to Week 8, let’s break down the key stat or performance from each Week 7 SEC matchup that highlights why teams won or lost.
Alabama – 27-24 Win at No. 14 Missouri
Ty Simpson completes 74% of his passes for 200 yards and three TDs, including the game-clincher on fourth down with 3:16 to go. Suppose you bought Heisman stock in Simpson after Alabama’s loss to Florida State in the opener. In that case, Vegas wants you to cash out now because Simpson is certainly a Heisman favorite after the Tide beat a third-straight ranked SEC opponent (two road wins). Missouri had chances to win this game – the Tigers slightly outgained Alabama – but Simpson and the offense consistently made plays to extend drives that Missouri did not. Missouri QB Beau Pribula had an up-and-down performance.
Arkansas – 34-31 Loss at No. 12 Tennessee
Razorbacks lost the turnover battle 3-0. In the first game under interim head coach/ex-Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino (Twilight Zone in Fayetteville), the Razorbacks’ offense suffered a terrible case of fumblitis against the Vols. Two fumbles were in Tennessee territory. Arkansas kept Tennessee from scoring off two of its three turnovers, but the damage was already done as the Vols mounted a 34-17 fourth-quarter lead. Credit the Razorbacks for continuing to fight and getting within three. This game could’ve turned Arkansas’ way if it had protected the ball better.
Auburn – 20-10 Loss to No. 10 Georgia
Tigers were shut out in the second half and only gained 40 total yards. This game completely flipped after the infamous Jackson Arnold fumble at the goal line. If the fumble had been ruled in Auburn’s favor, the Tigers would have gone up 17-0. Instead, Georgia mustered a field goal before half and went on to score 20 straight points. After gaining 237 yards in the first half, Auburn’s offense was irrelevant in the second half. Jackson Arnold’s rushing ability was nonexistent, and he looked rattled, overthrowing receivers. The Tigers also racked up 103 yards in penalties.
Florida – 34-17 Loss at No. 5 Texas A&M
Gators were 1-for-10 on third down (0-for-1 on fourth down). DJ Lagway built on his season-best performance against Texas last week to throw for 245 yards and 2 TDs (no INTs) against the Aggies, and the Gators were within seven to start the fourth quarter. It wasn’t enough as Florida’s offense fumbled twice and turned the ball over on downs at the Texas A&M 49 early in the fourth quarter.
Georgia – 20-10 Win at Auburn
Georgia’s offense got going in the second half, gaining 218 yards compared to 78 first-half yards. There’s no doubt that the key performance for Georgia that lifted it to victory was the defense doing a complete 180 and shutting out and shutting down Auburn’s offense in the second half. But I want to recognize how much better the Bulldogs’ offense played in the second half. Even though Georgia’s defense took Auburn’s offense out of the game after halftime, the Bulldogs only held a three-point lead until Gunner Stockton’s rushing TD with 1:53 left in the game. As much as Georgia needed its defense to make stops in the second half, it equally needed its inept offense to wake up to mount the comeback on The Plains.
Kentucky – Bye
LSU – 20-10 Win Over South Carolina
LSU’s defense sacked South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers five times and dominated a tight fourth quarter by stopping the Gamecocks on all three possessions. LSU’s offense had plenty of highlights – most notably the breakout performance of tight end Trey’Dez Green (119 yards and a touchdown) – but it still struggled to maintain consistency and put the Gamecocks away. The defense deserves the game ball for keeping Sellers in check the whole game and making critical stops late in the game when South Carolina was within a touchdown.
Mississippi State – Bye
Missouri – 27-24 Loss to No. 8 Alabama
Missouri converted one third down (1-for-10) and was stopped on a fake punt on 4th-and-4 in the fourth quarter that helped set up an Alabama TD on its next possession. Another team that only converted one third down. Alabama’s offense was more efficient than Missouri’s, underscored by holding the ball for 38:33. The Tigers’ failing to convert the fake punt set up an Alabama drive that extended its lead to 10 with 3:16 left. Mizzou QB Beau Pribula played an up-and-down game (162 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs). His late interception that sailed over the intended receiver’s hands epitomizes the Tigers’ self-inflicted wounds.
Oklahoma – 23-6 Loss to Texas (Dallas, TX)
Sooners QB John Mateer – cleared to play after injuring the thumb on his throwing hand – threw three interceptions. In the first game back from thumb surgery, Mateer did not resemble the Heisman favorite he was a few weeks ago. At least two of his INTs were clearly ill-advised throws into double coverage. I want to be fair to Mateer, given his injury, but he deserves criticism for poor decision-making that isn’t due to injury. The absence of a running game (48 yards) didn’t help Mateer ease back into the starting role.
Ole Miss – 24-21 Win Over Washington State
QB Trinidad Chambliss completed 69% of his passes for 253 yards, two TDs, and another rushing TD. Chambliss is fully entrenched as Ole Miss’s starter. According to his head coach, Lane Kiffin, Chambliss was playing like “Division II” on the Rebels’ first few possessions, but the DII transfer settled in and made critical plays to ensure Ole Miss avoided a major upset (Rebels were 33.5-point favorites). Perhaps the Rebels were caught looking ahead to Georgia.
South Carolina – 20-10 Loss at No. 11 LSU
South Carolina scored once in six trips inside LSU territory. I mentioned under LSU how much pressure LeNorris Sellers was under all game. The Gamecocks’ offense never got into rhythm, and it was hurt by penalties, including an illegal formation that nullified a successful fake punt attempt. Sellers, undoubtedly South Carolina’s best player, can’t be held to 143 total yards and no scores for the Gamecocks to beat ranked teams.
Tennessee – 34-31 Win Over Arkansas
Tennessee sacked Arkansas QB Taylen Green five times. Not only did the Vols’ defense secure three takeaways to Arkansas’ zero, but they also recorded five sacks to Arkansas’ zero. Tennessee’s offense did plenty as well. Running back DeSean Bishop had a career high of 146 yards rushing and a touchdown before an injury took him out of the game in the third quarter. Aguilar threw for 200+ yards for the sixth-straight game. Ultimately, the Vols’ defense made the difference in a three-point win.
Texas – 23-6 Win over No. 6 Oklahoma (Dallas, TX)
Arch Manning led a turnover-free day for Texas. Manning didn’t have a career-high statistical performance in the Red River Rivalry, but I argue that his play overall against Oklahoma was his best so far. The Longhorns were efficient on third down (10-for-17) and established an effective running game (136 yards). Texas’ defense did its part by making John Mateer uncomfortable all game and shutting down the Sooners’ running game.
Texas A&M – 34-17 Win over Florida
The Aggies complemented a strong defensive performance with a balanced offense (234 passing, 183 rushing). Texas A&M’s defense stifled several Florida offensive drives. It was the Aggies’ balanced offense that capitalized on empty possessions by the Gators and allowed Texas A&M to pull away from Florida in the fourth quarter. The Aggies executed a 12-play, 53-yard drive in the fourth quarter that ran over eight minutes off the clock.
Vanderbilt – Bye
By Jake Thigpen (@Jake_Thigpen)
