Ole Miss still atop weekly ranking of SEC from No. 1-14
It's Crossover Saturday in the SEC.
Of the five conference games this week, three feature matchups of teams from opposite divisions. And in a quirk of the SEC schedule, all three of those crossover games are being played on the home turf of Eastern Division teams.
The biggest is Alabama at Georgia, which looms as particularly important for the Crimson Tide because it already has one SEC loss. The battle between Georgia's offensive line and tight end corps against Alabama's front seven is of particular interest.
But don't overlook Ole Miss' visit to Florida, where the Gators rallied to beat Tennessee last Saturday. The Rebels struggled to dispatch of Vanderbilt last weekend. And if Florida is going to challenge Georgia in the SEC East in Jim McElwain's first season as coach, the Gators need to make a statement.
Meanwhile, the Vols try to regroup at home against Arkansas in a duel of teams that began the season ranked in the Top 25 but have taken tumbles.
No. 14: Vanderbilt (1-3, 0-2)
It's no substitute for winning, but the Commodores' strong performance in a loss at Ole Miss provided a hint that things could be getting better in Derek Mason's second season as coach.
"Teams are not going to want to see us in October and November," Mason said.
In particular, teams might not want to see the Vanderbilt defense as the season goes along. With Mason serving as his own defensive coordinator, the Commodores have shown major improvement over last year.
There were times in the Ole Miss game when the Rebels offense looked totally befuddled by what Vanderbilt was doing defensively. The Commodores fooled them with different alignments and blitz schemes.
On one key sequence early in the fourth quarter, Jahmel McIntosh intercepted Chad Kelly and returned the ball to the Rebels 19, but the Commodores failed to get any points when Tommy Openshaw missed a 32-yard field goal.
Next up: Middle Tennessee State, at Murfreesboro.
No. 13: Arkansas (1-3, 0-1)
Although the Razorbacks played much better than in their previous two games, an overtime defeat by Texas A&M extended their losing streak to three games.
Arkansas had its chances. The Hogs led by eight points in the fourth quarter and later got the ball for a possible game-winning drive with less than three minutes remaining but failed to take advantage.
At least Arkansas got back to ground-and-pound offensive style. The Hogs outgained A&M in yardage 457-423 and won the time of possession. Alex Collins ran for 151 yards, but quarterback Brandon Allen was guilty of some key miscues.
Allen fumbled late in regulation and couldn't convert on a fourth-down pass in overtime.
Next up: Tennessee, at Knoxville.
No. 12: South Carolina (2-2, 0-2)
Prior to the first start of his college career, Lorenzo Nunez was told by Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier that he needed to be a game manager and not a game changer.
Spurrier's advice: "Just take care of the ball, play smart."
As it turned out, though, Nunez had to step up his game to lead South Carolina to a 31-14 win against Central Florida.
"As it turned out, I was wrong," Spurrier said. "I think he had to win the game for us."
Nunez ran for 123 yards on 18 carries and completed 12 of 22 passes for 184 yards and two touchdowns.
Although Spurrier is notorious for having an itchy trigger finger with quarterbacks, it is clear that Nunez is the quarterback of the moment for the Gamecocks.
"It gives all of us life — that maybe better days are ahead," Spurrier said. "I think it gives the entire team hope that the offense is going to be better."
Next up: Missouri, at Columbia, Mo.
No. 11: Tennessee (2-2, 0-1)
The Vols' inability to close out games — first Oklahoma, then Florida — is an area of serious concern for coach Butch Jones.
"We're one play away and we come up short," he said.
In the 28-27 loss at Florida, the Vols repeatedly failed to stop the Gators in fourth-down situations. What proved to be the deciding touchdown pass came on fourth-and-14.
"Is our resiliency being tested right now? Absolutely," Jones said. "But it's only the fourth game of the year as well."
It will be interesting to see which direction the Vols go from here. A home game against Arkansas is followed by showdowns with SEC East leader Georgia and old rival Alabama.
Moving forward, Tennessee needs to find a way to keep playing — and playing well — late in games.
Next up: Arkansas, at Knoxville.
No. 10: Missouri (3-1, 0-1)
A week after surviving an ugly 9-6 game against Connecticut, the Tigers got off to a fast start and then faded badly at Kentucky in a disappointing performance.
"We came out and started fast and strong but we killed ourselves," said quarterback Maty Mauk, who has been suspended for Saturday's game with South Carolina. "We just have to get back to the basics."
The game at Kentucky was the first of five games in five weeks against SEC East competition. If the Tigers are going to extend their streak of division championships to three, this is a key stretch of the schedule.
True freshman Drew Lock played briefly at quarterback against Kentucky and went 3-of-5 for 47 yards. He is likely to start Saturday.
The Tigers entered the game ranked No. 25 in the nation but promptly fell out of the rankings.
Next up: South Carolina, at Columbia, Mo.
No. 9: Kentucky (3-1, 2-1)
Nobody has to remind Kentucky's players that the Wildcats started last season 5-1. Because of that, the 3-1 start this year is not necessarily a big deal.
Just the same, the manner in which the Big Blue performed in a victory over SEC East opponent Missouri last Saturday indicates the program is continuing to take steps in the right direction.
It was particularly noteworthy that quarterback Patrick Towles rebounded from a bad game against Florida to play well against the Tigers. He went 5-for-5 through the air in a fourth-quarter, 93-yard touchdown drive that sealed the victory.
The 'Cats persevered with a rebuilt offensive line made up of sophomores and former reserves. But the group held up well against an aggressive Missouri defensive front. Kentucky rushed for 120 yards and was able to pick up key yardage on the ground late in the game.
"There were some tough runs in there," said coach Mark Stoops.
Next up: Eastern Kentucky, at Lexington.
No. 8: Auburn (2-2, 0-2)
After starting the season as a Top 10 team, the Tigers hit October winless in the SEC and searching for their identity.
Due to the poor start, Auburn was not among the 42 teams that received votes in this week's Associated Press poll.
"We should be disappointed," said Tigers coach Gus Malzahn. "But the thing about it, we're going to get better. I think everybody sees these preseason rankings and all that, but it doesn't matter until about halfway through."
While the Tigers are only a third of the way through their schedule, they need to find traction on defense and stabilize play at the quarterback position.
"We've got to get better," Malzahn said. "I think everybody sees that but that's the name of the game. ... We're playing a lot of new guys that are touching the ball for the first time and defensive guys on the field for the first time. The key will be improving."
Next up: San Jose State, at Auburn.
No. 7: Florida (4-0, 2-0)
He may have made a number of key plays down the stretch in Florida's comeback victory over Tennessee, but Will Grier hasn't locked down the quarterback position for the Gators.
Florida coach Jim McElwain indicated that Grier, a redshirt freshman, will compete with sophomore Treon Harris for the starting job during practice this week. Harris is coming off a one-game suspension.
McElwain said Grier merely played the way he is supposed to play late in the game.
"Those two drives at the end are what he's supposed to do," he said. "That's what you do when you play the position. We practice it that way and he executed. There were a lot of drives there that weren't executed so we've got a long ways to go."
Grier completed 23 of 42 passes for 283 yards and two touchdowns. He was 5-for-5 on fourth down, accounting for 123 yards, including a 63-yard scoring pass to freshman wide receiver Antonio Callaway with 1:26 remaining.
Next up: Ole Miss, at Gainesville.
No. 6: Mississippi State (3-1, 1-1)
The Bulldogs arrived at Jordan-Hare Stadium last Saturday with a specific goal:
Get back into the Western Division title chase.
Mission accomplished.
By beating Auburn 17-9, Mississippi State gained altitude in the division entering yet another crucial road game at Texas A&M.
"We're back where we want to be," said Bulldogs coach Dan Mullen.
State continues to rely heavily on quarterback Dak Prescott, who completed 29 of 41 passes for 270 yards and two touchdowns against Auburn. Prescott has thrown a TD pass in 18 straight games. In the last eight quarters of play, he is 62-of-84 for 774 yards and five TDs.
"We feel we have a quarterback who can get the ball where he needs to," Mullen said.
Next up: Texas A&M, at College Station.
No. 5: Alabama (3-1, 0-1)
The Crimson Tide used a visit by Louisiana-Monroe as a tuneup for its big game at Georgia.
Quarterback Jake Coker was less than perfect, going 17-of-31 for 158 yards. He got off to a slow start and threw an interception for the third straight game.
"I think we all started a little slow but eventually we got things going and finished how we wanted to finish off," Coker said.
Coker's third touchdown pass of the game came early in the fourth quarter and sent most of the crowd to the exits at Bryant-Denny Stadium Those who remained got to see the Crimson Tide finish off the 16th shutout of Nick Saban's coaching career at Alabama.
Louisiana-Monroe didn't pick up a first down until it pulled off a fake punt in the second quarter.
Next up: Georgia, at Athens.
No. 4: Texas A&M (4-0, 1-0)
Aggies freshman Christian Kirk has emerged as one of the most dynamic playmakers in the SEC.
Three weeks after gaining national attention with 224 yards and two touchdowns in his collegiate debut, Kirk burned Arkansas for 173 receiving yards and two TDs. His 20-yard scoring reception on a pass from Kyle Allen proved to be the difference in overtime.
Aggies coach Kevin Sumlin has devised a number of different ways to get the ball into the speedy freshman's hands. Kirk lines up at different positions. As a return man, he is forcing opponents to make adjustments.
Against Arkansas, A&M all but abandoned the running game, which is something that could cost the Aggies down the road against SEC West competition.
Allen completed 21 of 28 passes for 358 yards and two touchdowns.
Next up: Mississippi State, at College Station.
No. 3: Georgia (4-0, 2-0)
Nick Chubb's obvious ability as a running back may be matched by his ability as a motivator.
With Georgia sputtering along and leading outmanned Southern University just 20-6, Chubb spoke up in the huddle during the third quarter.
The Dawgs responded by getting things in gear and finished off the victory that sends them into the showdown with Alabama undefeated.
Chubb has rushed for at least 100 yards in 12 straight games. Alabama has not allowed a 100-yard rusher this season.
Obviously, something's got to give.
"It all starts up front," said Georgia coach Mark Richt. "They've got some big, strong guys, you know. Their defense as a whole is a very veteran group."
Georgia counters that with a strong, veteran offensive line.
Next up: Alabama, at Athens.
No. 2: LSU (3-0, 2-0)
As much as he enjoys watching Leonard Fournette run (Who wouldn't, other that opposing defenses?), look for LSU coach Les Miles to show discretion this week.
The Tigers should have no problem with Eastern Michigan at Tiger Stadium, so why overload Fournette, especially with so many SEC games yet to be played?
Fournette has jumped to the top tier of the Heisman Trophy race by averaging 210.3 rushing yards. No other running back in the nation is even close. He followed a 228-yard game against Auburn with a 244-yard performance at Syracuse.
The big yardage total against Syracuse came despite having an 87-yard touchdown run nullified by an illegal-formation penalty.
At this point, Fournette is on pace to rush for 2,524 yards and 32 touchdowns, with an average of 8.64 yards per carry. That would give him SEC records in all three categories. Clearly, he has a chance to threaten Barry Sanders' national record of 2,628 rushing yards, set in 1988.
Next up: Eastern Michigan, at Baton Rouge.
No. 1: Ole Miss (4-0, 2-0)
The Rebels looked uncharacteristically shaky in the red zone in an 11-point home victory over Vanderbilt, which is a cause for concern entering a game at Florida.
Clearly, the Commodores did some things on defense that surprised Ole Miss, which appeared to lack an emotional edge coming off the big win against Alabama a week earlier.
"I think we've just got to prepare better," said Rebels quarterback Chad Kelly, who threw for 321 yards and a touchdown but was intercepted twice. "They did some stuff that we were not prepared for. They showed it in a couple of games last year, but they didn't show it at all this year.
"That's on me, personally. I take full responsibility."
The Rebels may need to rely more on multi-purpose talent Robert Nkemdiche near the goal line. Nkemdiche, a future first-round NFL draft pick at defensive tackle, scored his third touchdown of the season with a 1-yard run.
Next up: Florida, at Gainesville.