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Week 6 in the SEC saw a number of notable moments, particularly through the running game. Teams such as South Carolina and LSU also circled the wagons in a big way, possibly keeping their seasons from going off the rails.
Here are some interesting numbers to come out of the weekend in the SEC.
Vanderbilt: 459.5 rush YPG allowed in last 2 home games
While the obvious (and fair) argument can be made that Vanderbilt’s last two opponents were a pair of top-5 teams (No. 1 Alabama and No. 5 Georgia), we are also not just talking about allowing 200 or 300 rushing yards to these opponents.
The Commodores have allowed nearly 1,000 rushing yards combined against these teams (919) and 10 rushing TDs.
Consider that Vanderbilt’s first two opponents this season rushed a combined 58 times, averaging 1.9 yards a carry. (Yes, I get it, the teams were Middle Tennessee & Alabama A&M.)
Vanderbilt’s last two home opponents AVERAGED 60 rush attempts and 7.7 yards a carry.
Stephen Johnson: 61% completion rate
Johnson had a career-high 36 pass attempts in Saturday’s win over Missouri and still managed to complete over 60 percent of his throws.
It was the fifth game this season Johnson has completed at least 60 percent of his attempts, which leads all SEC quarterbacks. Not even Auburn’s Jarrett Stidham, who leads the SEC in completion rate (71%) can match Johnson’s number.
All this from a player who completed 54.7% of his throws a season ago and had only two games with at least a 60% rate.
Missouri: 7.5 yards per play
In the loss to Kentucky, Missouri’s offense once again was clicking, piling up 568 yards, its highest total since its season opener against Missouri State (815 yards).
Missouri averaged 7.5 yards per play, yet still came up on the wrong end of the final score. The Tigers became just the second Power 5 school this season to average at least 7.5 yards per play and still lose. The other? UCLA against Stanford (7.9).
A.J. Brown: 10 receptions
Most of the headlines surrounding the Ole Miss offense focus on quarterback Shea Patterson and his average of over 360 passing yards a game.
But it’s worth noting that his favorite target this season is sophomore wide receiver A.J. Brown. Brown is the only SEC player averaging at least 100 receiving yards a game, and he was at it again against Auburn, catching 10 balls for 109 yards.
Not only was it a career high for receptions in a game for Brown, he became the first Ole Miss player to have 10 receptions against an SEC opponent since Laquon Treadwell also had 10 catches in 2014.
The opponent that day? Auburn.
Damien Harris: 124 rush yards
In Alabama’s win over Texas A&M, Harris came up with his sixth career 100-yard rushing game. It was another big game away from Tuscaloosa for Harris.
He has had five of his six career 100-yard games away from home, including both this season (151 yards at Vanderbilt two weeks ago). And since Harris became one of the feature backs for Nick Saban’s team last season, Harris is averaging 94.5 rush yards per game away from home, but just 49.8 at home.
South Carolina: 3 defensive touchdowns
When the Gamecocks needed it most, their defense came up with a big day against Arkansas, allowing a season-low 330 total yards in a 48-22 victory.
The Gamecocks returned a pair of interceptions for touchdowns and returned a fumble for another score.
The last time an SEC team had at least one TD off an INT return and a TD off a fumble recovery was Alabama last season.
The opponent? Arkansas.
The date? October 8.
LSU: 5 sacks
The Tigers, in desperate need of a victory, got a big one on the road over Florida. The defense came up with five sacks, which tied a season high for LSU.
LSU’s defense has enjoyed playing in Gainesville over the years. The last three occurrences in which the Tigers have had four or more sacks in a road game have all come at Florida (2014, 2012).
Saturday’s performance also extended a win streak for LSU. The Tigers have now won their last 11 games in which they’ve had four or more sacks. The last time they lost such a game was the 2012 Chick-fil-A Bowl against Clemson.
Alabama: 232 rush yards
Alabama maintained its lead in the SEC for rushing offense, thanks to 232 yards on the ground in the win over Texas A&M.
Alabama has now won 14 straight SEC games when it gains at least 200 yards on the ground. The last time the Crimson Tide lost an SEC game despite a 200-yard rushing game was 2015 against Ole Miss.
In fact, Alabama is an incredible 44-2 in its last 46 SEC games when it rushes for at least 200 yards. The only other loss during the stretch besides the Ole Miss game was the 2013 Iron Bowl against Auburn, which featured the famous “Kick Six” finish.
Kerryon Johnson: 3 rushing touchdowns
Johnson continues to be the most productive back in the SEC in terms of getting the ball in the end zone. Against Ole Miss, Johnson rushed for a career-high 204 yards and three touchdowns, his third straight game with at least three rushing TDs.
Johnson is the only player in the FBS this season with three games of three rushing touchdowns this season, and his have come in a row.
The last time a Power 5 player had three straight games with at least three rushing TDs was 2014, when two players — Pittsburgh’s James Conner and Michigan State’s Jeremy Langford — pulled off the feat.
Chubb & Michel: 288 rush yards
It was a memorable game all-around for Georgia on Saturday. Along with holding a sixth straight opponent under 20 points, the Bulldogs rushed for 423 yards, led by their dynamic duo of Nick Chubb and Sony Michel.
For just the second time in their careers, Chubb and Michel each had 100 rush yards in the same game (also did it last season vs. South Carolina). Combined, the two finished with 288 rushing yards, the most they’ve ever had combined in a game.
Michael covers SEC football for Saturday Down South.
