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While several teams enjoyed Cupcake Week in the SEC, piling up points against vastly inferior opponents, some SEC teams had conference games to deal with.
Two teams seeking bowl eligibility met in Columbia, Missouri, and the host Tigers prevailed over visiting Florida in overtime. So, once again, cue much teeth-gnashing in Gator Nation:
Big fan Jim, but can you not draw more attention to my sad Gators?
I'll hang up and listen. pic.twitter.com/0YsP3aOGR9
— Definitively Dawson | Gator Enthusiast (@officialEDawson) November 21, 2021
The criticism of UF coach Dan Mullen did not abate with this result, especially after the Gators chose to play for OT late in the 4th quarter:
One more time, so I’m clear:
* You get a huge break when they miss the FG.
* You need to go about 40 yards in 1:04.
* In college ball, where clock stops on 1st downs.
* Against 118th ranked defense.
Instead, you run out clock and play for OT.
No words. https://t.co/Yfa75KoPtq
— Frank Frangie (@Frank_Frangie) November 21, 2021
This sets up a situation where 5-6 Florida faces 5-6 Florida State next week, with the winner (barely) attaining bowl eligibility. Those of you old enough to remember when this was a top-10 or even top-5 matchup every year might have to rub your eyes and look at those records again:
https://twitter.com/Verycreative13/status/1462252141524000772?s=20
Auburn fans also had to deal with huge disappointment, as their Tigers squandered a 14-0 lead in a loss to South Carolina, extending Auburn’s losing streak to 3 games:
— no context college football (@nocontextcfb) November 21, 2021
The end of the season is not bringing much joy to Auburn fans:
This is nonsense. It’s all nonsense
— ?She wore a ?️EARL necklace (@lucyvan_pelt) November 21, 2021
On the opposite end of the spectrum from Auburn’s feelings about being 6-5, South Carolina fans have a right to be downright giddy over having the same record, especially because the Gamecocks have knocked off Florida and Auburn in recent weeks:
Gamecocks feeling cocky after their 21-17 win over Auburn! pic.twitter.com/Sw44k1W2c0
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) November 21, 2021
As for the teams like Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky and Texas A&M who routed weaker foes, it was an easy day. And at Mississippi State, it was even time for a siesta for at least one fan:
.@nocontextcfb pic.twitter.com/3KvzxgS7zb
— Joey Knish (@JoeyKnish22) November 20, 2021
Elsewhere around the country, our old friend #Surrender Cobra appeared at the Oklahoma-Iowa State game, though the Sooners did hang on:
— no context college football (@nocontextcfb) November 20, 2021
Out west, Utah routed Oregon to kill off any chance the Ducks had of making the College Football Playoff:
Utah is up 28-0 and Oregon is now an Adidas school
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) November 21, 2021
Much like Florida, a once-mighty power in the Pac-12 is having an awful season. USC was walloped by rival UCLA, dropping the Trojans to 4-6:
— no context college football (@nocontextcfb) November 21, 2021
And Northwestern, which went to the Big Ten title game last season, has sunk to the basement in the B1G West Division. Saturday’s loss to Purdue at Chicago’s famed Wrigley Field was the latest blow for the Wildcats, though considering how badly the Cubs fell off this summer, perhaps the site was fitting:
https://twitter.com/Johnfitzgibbon3/status/1462163831812149253?s=20
"Dead & Company at Wrigley" is also shorthand for Northwestern football and its fans currently.
— austin (@bainard) November 20, 2021
Finally, we had a pretty irresistible kicking matchup (how many times have you ever had that thought?). The Big 12 matchup between West Virginia and Texas gave us this gem:
— no context college football (@nocontextcfb) November 20, 2021
Legg the leg? Hey, reminds us of turkey legs. So Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
Longtime newspaper veteran Jim Tomlin is a copy editor and writer with SaturdayDownSouth.com.
