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Here’s a look at some eye-popping stats and historical context entering Week 5 for select games. This week, we focus on the three ranked matchups in the SEC.
No. 13 ALABAMA at No. 8 GEORGIA
Everyone is wondering whether Georgia RB Nick Chubb will be able to extend his streak of 100-yard rushing games to 13 and break Herschel Walker’s school record. I feel obligated to say this since so many fans are confused as to why they’re seeing Walker’s record as 12 in some places and 13 in others. Walker did do it in 13 straight, but that includes the 1981 Sugar Bowl, and bowl game stats weren’t counted before the year 2002.
So can Chubb do it against the Tide defense? Before Ohio State RB Ezekiel Elliott ran wild for 230 in last year’s CFP semifinal, Alabama hadn’t allowed a 100-yard rusher since Auburn’s Tre Mason went for 164 in November 2013. Since 2005, Alabama has allowed the fewest 100-yard rushers among FBS teams, and pretty comfortably.
Alabama — 15
Boston College — 21
Ohio State — 23
Boise State — 30
Penn State — 36
Whether Chubb does or not may go a long way in deciding who wins an epic matchup between the schools, who are meeting for just the third time at Sanford Stadium while both being ranked. Georgia is 2-1 all-time against Alabama in those games. The Bulldogs’ only loss came in the last meeting in 2008 after winning the previous two matchups by a combined score of 35-0.
| SEASON | WINNER | LOSER | SCORE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | No. 5 Georgia | No. 15 Alabama | 14-0 |
| 1976 | No. 6 Georgia | No. 10 Alabama | 21-0 |
| 2008 | No. 8 Alabama | No. 3 Georgia | 41-30 |
No. 3 OLE MISS at No. 25 FLORIDA
Florida RB Kelvin Taylor has been consistent for the Gators all season long. The junior has scored a rushing
TD in each of Florida’s first four games, making him the first Gator since Tim Tebow (2009) and first Gator running back since Ciatrick Faison (2004) to rush for a touchdown in four consecutive games.
But another area of consistency for Florida has been its tight ends, and it’ll use them today against No. 3 Ole Miss. The Gators’ tight ends are second in the SEC in receiving yards and first in receiving TDs.
| SCHOOL | TE RECEIVING YARDS | TOUCHDOWNS |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Arkansas | 297 | 1 |
| 2. Florida | 293 | 3 |
| 3. Alabama | 250 | 1 |
| 4. Vanderbilt | 242 | 0 |
The Gators are also hoping to continue their magic on fourth downs. Florida is a perfect 10-for-10 so far this season. You’d figure that would be the best in the FBS, but here’s a look at just how much better the Gators are than the next-best teams. There are only six teams left that are still perfect on fourth down, and the other five teams combined are just 8-for-8.
1. Florida — 10-for-10
2. Clemson — 3-for-3
3. Nebraska — 2-for-2
4. Oklahoma State — 1-for-1
5. Wisconsin — 1-for-1
6. Cincinnati — 1-for-1
However, the only problem is Ole Miss leads the SEC in opponent fourth down conversion percentage (22.2 percent), only allowing 2 of 9 conversions this season.
No. 21 MISSISSIPPI STATE at No. 14 TEXAS A&M
If the Bulldogs pull the upset at the Aggies on Saturday, we’ll likely be talking about QB Dak Prescott’s efficiency. The senior hasn’t thrown an interception in 191 consecutive passes, which is the sixth-longest streak in SEC history. However, Prescott can potentially climb all the way to third on that list if he throws at least 24 passes without a pick today. Here’s the list of the longest streaks in league history with the seasons in which they occurred off to the right.
| PLAYER | CONSECUTIVE PASSES | SEASONS |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Andre Woodson, UK | 325 | 2006-07 |
| 2. A.J. McCarron, ALA | 291 | 2011-12 |
| 3. David Greene, UGA | 214 | 2004 |
| 4. Tim Tebow, FLA | 203 | 2008 |
| 5. Stewart Patridge, MISS | 200 | 1997 |
| 6. Dak Prescott, MSST | 191 | 2014-present |
Prescott has thrown for 1,069 yards to go with seven touchdowns and no interceptions. The only other FBS player to throw for at least 1,000 yards with no interceptions to this point is Memphis QB Paxton Lynch, who has thrown for 1,535 yards, 10 TDs and no picks.
Meanwhile, Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin will try to get a lingering monkey off his back today. Sumlin is 0-5 at home against ranked teams in his time in College Station. Here’s a look at those matchups with the opponent and final score:
| SEASON | OPPONENT | RESULT |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | No. 24 Florida | Lost 20-17 |
| 2012 | No. 6 LSU | Lost 24-19 |
| 2013 | No. 1 Alabama | Lost 49-42 |
| 2013 | No. 24 Auburn | Lost 45-41 |
| 2014 | No. 3 Ole Miss | Lost 35-20 |
If the Aggies do win, freshman phenom Christian Kirk will likely have a lot to do with it. Kirk has 805 all-purpose yards this season, which leads LSU’s Leonard Fournette by 158 yards despite Fournette only playing in three games. In fact, Kirk’s total is fourth-best in the FBS. And the guy at the top of the list faces Auburn this week.
Tyler Ervin, SJSU — 908
Christian McCaffrey, STAN — 889
Jahad Thomas, TEM — 834
Christian Kirk, TAMU — 805
Born and raised in Gainesville, Talal joined SDS in 2015 after spending 2 years in Bristol as an ESPN researcher. Previously, Talal worked at The Gainesville Sun.
