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The SEC had a much better weekend overall in Week 2, but that doesn’t mean there weren’t any letdowns.
It’s still very early in the season, but already we are starting to see who really has what it takes to put together a magical year. For the rest, well, there could be a few disappointments along the way.
Here are the things that disappointed us most about the SEC in Week 2.
Georgia: The Bulldogs began Kirby Smart’s tenure with an impressive victory against a ranked North Carolina team, but took a step back against an FCS school.
Whether the players were already looking ahead to this weekend’s matchup with Missouri or still savoring their season-opening win, they certainly didn’t look prepared to play Nicholls. Georgia was pushed to the limit multiple times throughout the game, before squeaking out a two-point win at home.
They say that the wins are never as good as they appear and the losses never as bad, but this was a victory that looked pretty darn bad.
Kentucky: Mark Stoops might be rethinking several life choices after Kentucky’s 45-7 loss at Florida, the program’s 30th consecutive loss to the Gators.
The Wildcats mustered only 55 yards through the air, with starting quarterback Drew Barker throwing for only 10 yards, and turned the ball over four times. Kentucky didn’t score until midway through the fourth quarter.
Kentucky’s offense looked strong in the first half against Southern Mississippi, but has gone in the completely wrong direction since then. Basketball season can’t get here soon enough.
Weather delays: All across the Southeast, games were being delayed due to lightning in the area.
Now, nobody is disappointed in the officials for doing their jobs and keeping players safe. Instead, we are disappointed in Mother Nature herself. Football season is finally here! Can’t you just keep the skies clear on Saturdays so we don’t have to pause for an hour in the middle of a game?
Will Muschamp’s offense: In his first bout as an SEC head coach, Will Muschamp was largely undone by his inability to create a dangerous offense.
Kurt Roper spent a season on Muschamp’s staff as Florida’s offensive coordinator and is operating in the same capacity for the Gamecocks. Through two games, however, there hasn’t been much indication that these two will have better luck at their new school. South Carolina was shut out in the first half against Mississippi State and managed to gain only 34 yards on the ground in the 27-14 loss.
Quarterback Brandon McIlwain looked better in the second half for the Gamecocks, and provided them with their only offensive spark, but this is still very much a work in progress.
SEC’s poll performance: Alabama did its job and held on to the No. 1 spot in the latest AP Poll, but there is a large drop from there.
Tennessee is the next-highest team in the Poll at No. 15 and then there is a logjam of SEC programs. Six teams fall after the Vols, which is nice in terms of quality, but far below the SEC’s quality standards.
With SEC play about to begin, the annual attrition might make it hard for there to be an abundance of teams near the top of the polls.
