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Nearly every team in the SEC has now played at least one conference game, and the division races have begun to take shape. Ole Miss and Alabama played yet another wild, high-scoring game. This time it was the Tide that scored enough points to come away with a victory.
Here are the top 10 performances by SEC teams for the week:
1. NO. 1 ALABAMA 48, NO. 19 OLE MISS, 43
Star Player: QB Jalen Hurts
Key Stat: Alabama: three non-offensive touchdowns
Why: Alabama broke a two-game skid to Ole Miss by scoring two defensive touchdowns and another on special teams. The Tide overcame an early 24-3 deficit, rolling up 31 second-half points.
2. NO. 16 GEORGIA 28, MISSOURI 27
Star Player: WR Isaiah McKenzie
Key Stat: Turnovers: Missouri 5, Georgia 1
Why: Georgia QB Jason Eason, who threw for 308 yards and 3 touchdowns, fired a 20-yard touchdown pass to McKenzie in the waning moments to overcome an early 10-0 deficit in a game with five lead changes.
3. NO. 17 TEXAS A&M 29, AUBURN 16
Star Player: QB Trevor Knight
Key Stat: Texas A&M: 478 yards of total offense
Why: After spotting Auburn an early 7-0 lead, the Aggies scored 16 unanswered points, then scored the first 13 points of the second half to win their SEC opener on the road.
4. NO. 20 LSU 23, MISSISSIPPI STATE 20
Star Player: RB Leonard Fournette
Key Stat: Time of possession: LSU 32:44, Mississippi State 27:16
Why: LSU was dominant in taking a 23-3 lead at halftime. The Tigers then relied on their defense to hold onto that lead, which it did, but just barely.
5. NO. 23 FLORIDA 32, NORTH TEXAS 0
Star Player: QB Luke Del Rio
Key Stat: North Texas rushing yards: minus-13
Why: The Gators dominated North Texas, outgaining the Mean Green 471-53. But it could be a costly one because Del Rio suffered a knee injury, and he won’t be playing in next week’s game at Tennessee.
6. NO. 24 ARKANSAS 42, TEXAS STATE 3
Star Player: QB Austin Allen
Key Stat: Total yards: Arkansas 467, North Texas 105
Why: Allen completed 16-of-21 passes for 241 yards and 2 touchdowns as the Razorbacks opened up a 35-0 lead at halftime before cruising to their third consecutive victory to start the 2016 season.
7. NO. 15 TENNESSEE 28, OHIO U. 19
Star Player: QB Josh Dobbs
Key Stat: Dobbs: 203 passing yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 rush TD
Why: The Vols battled the Bobcats for four quarters, finally earning some breathing room with a fourth-quarter touchdown pass from Dobbs to Josh Malone. It was Malone’s second touchdown catch of the game.
8. SOUTH CAROLINA 20, EAST CAROLINA 15
Star Player: QB Brandon McIlwain
Key Stat: McIlwain: 195 passing yards (16-for-28), 2 rush TDs
Why: The Gamecocks raced out to a seemingly comfortable 17-0 first-quarter lead before needing their defense to force four turnovers in order to hold on and improve to 2-1 for the season.
9. KENTUCKY 62, NEW MEXICO STATE 42
Star Player: QB Stephen Johnson
Key Stat: Time of possession: Kentucky 34:12, New Mexico State 25:48
Why: In a game that featured the two teams combining for 1,192 total yards, it was the Wildcats who broke a 35-35 tie at halftime with a 27-7 run over the final two quarters.
10. NO. 19 OLE MISS 43, NO. 1 ALABAMA 48
Star Player: QB Chad Kelly
Key Stat: Kelly: 421 passing yards, 3 TDs, 48 rushing yards
Why: Even in defeat, Ole Miss’ performance was one of the best on Saturday. Jumping out to a 24-3 lead, it appeared certain that the Rebels would make it three in a row over Alabama. But the Tide reeled off a 45-6 run to grab the momentum.
Glenn Sattell is an award-winning freelance writer for Saturday Down South.
