SEC Overview Following Week Three

The 2024 football season is constantly unfolding with new stats, highlights, and unique moments each week. Unlike any other, the Southeastern Conference continues to bring in a lot of attention. Amongst the top 25 ranked football teams, the SEC leads the way with nine teams ranked. More than any conference.

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Curious to know what's happening in the SEC? Below is a summary of each team and how they performed during week three.

Alabama Vs Wisconsin Badgers (W) 42-10 - Jalen Milroe: 

Milroe and the Tide delivered a stunning home invasion over the Badgers. With consistent improvements each week, the Tide has maintained an undefeated streak. The offensive line made significant strides last week, greatly benefiting Milroe and his receiving corps. He wrapped up the game with an impressive 12/17 completions, 271 total yards (196 passing and 75 rushing), along with three passing and two rushing touchdowns. This outstanding display has propelled the Tide to the top of the nation with 11 touchdowns of 25 yards or more, earning them recognition as one of the most explosive offense's in college football. On the defensive side, the team also shone, making crucial stops and limiting the Badgers to just 10 points. As the season continues, Milroe continues to bolster his Heisman campaign.

Arkansas- Vs UAB (W) 37-27 - Taylor Green 

Green and the Razorbacks faced a tough challenge against the Blazers, initially trailing 17-3 before rallying to tie the game at 20-20 just before halftime. In the first half, Green struggled, completing only 3/14 passes for 53 yards and throwing an interception. However, he found his rhythm in the second half, completing 8/12 attempts. The Razorbacks excelled on the ground, with Ja'Quinden Jackson leading the charge with 147 yards on 15 carries. Green also contributed significantly, rushing for 96 yards on 17 carries, including a remarkable 14-yard touchdown run and a game-winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter. The defense, however, raised concerns, allowing 20 points in the first half before tightening up after the half. A failed onside kick by the Blazers also provided the Razorbacks with advantageous field position, although it only resulted in the field goal. Green concluded the game with 11/26 completions for a total of 257 yards (161 passing and 96 rushing), along with an interception and two rushing touchdowns.

Auburn - Vs New Mexico (W) 45-19 - Hank Brown

The Tigers opted for a quarterback change before their game against the Lobos, substituting Payton Thorne with Brown, who had a promising debut as a starter. Although Brown faced challenges in the first half, he turned things around after halftime, throwing for three touchdowns. The Tigers found it tough to secure a win against the Lobos until the second half. The Lobos entered the game as 24.5- point underdogs but only trailed 17-13 at halftime. Brown had previously completed 3/5 passes for 96 yards, with two touchdowns and no interceptions. He concluded the game with 17/25 completions for 235 yards, achieving four touchdowns without any significant errors, solidifying his position as the starting quarterback as the Tigers head into SEC play.

Florida Gators- Graham Mertz & DJ Lagway Vs Texas A&M - Marcel Reed (L) 33-20- 

The Gators were in dire need of a victory to keep their season alive, but they ultimately fell short due to a significant offense, critical defensive errors, and an overall struggle to build any momentum. This defeat marked their first 1-2 start since 1992. In an effort to shake things up, the Gators rotated quarterbacks every possession, but neither Mertz nor Lagway could establish a rhythm. The ground game was equally failed, as they managed only 52 rushing yards. Mertz completed 12/15 passes for 195 yards, throwing one touchdown and one interception, while Lagway went 6/13 for 94 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions. The Aggies outperformed the Gators offensively, racking up 488 yards to the Gators 301, and executing seven plays of over 20 yards compared to just three for the Gators. This was particularly impressive given the Aggies were missing their starting quarterback and had more penalties. Reed, along with a powerful rushing attack, consistently challenged the Gators defense. The Aggies running backs, Le'Veon Moss and Amari Daniels, combined for 310 rushing yards, averaging 5.6 yards per carry. One of the standout moments of the game was Reed's impressive 99-yard touchdown drive, capped off by a one-yard rushing touchdown. He finished the game with 11/17 completions  for a total of 261 yards (178 passing and 83 rushing) and three touchdowns (two through the air and one on the ground).

Georgia- Carson Beck Vs Kentucky- Brock Vandagriff (W) 13-12- Carson Beck:

It was indeed an SEC clash to remember. The Bulldogs, who once held the No.1 ranking, found themselves slipping to No. 2 after a whirlwind of events. Struggling to maintain momentum on both offense and defense, they fell behind 9-3 early in the third quarter. However, a late 30-yard field goal by Peyton Woodring brought them within three points. Shortly after, the Bulldogs executed their longest drive of the evening at a crucial moment. Trevor Etienne and his skills managed a 12-yard run, an 11-yard catch, and an 8-yard run, advancing the team to the Wildcats' 29-yard line. He then made a swift 17-yard run to the 11, narrowly stepping out of bounds as he aimed for the end zone. Three plays later, Branson Robinson powered through for Georgia's first lead at 13-9. Yet, the Wildcats weren't done fighting; Alex Raynor's impressive 51-yard field goal gave them an early lead, followed by two more successful kicks from 32 and 40 yards, maintaining their advantage for over three quarters-though it wasn't enough to secure a win against Georgia. With just 9 seconds left, Kentucky had one last chance starting at their own 20-yard line but could only muster 17 yards on two plays before the clock expired. Beck completed 15/24 passes for 160 yards without a touchdown for the Bulldogs, while Vandagriff went 14/27 with 114 yards and no touchdowns.

Louisiana State- Garret Nussmeier University Vs South Carolina - LaNorris Sellers & Robby Ashford (W) 36-33-

This SEC showdown had it all, showcasing the wild unpredictability of college football. The Tigers faced a tough challenge against the Gamecocks, who jumped out to a commanding 17-0 lead in the first quarter. Throughout the game, the Gamecocks' defense relentlessly pressured the Tigers. However, some observers felt the Tigers benefited from a few dubious officiating decisions, especially with the Gamecocks quarterback sidelined in the second half. The fourth quarter proved to be the decisive moment, as it often is, with the potential to either secure victory or seal defeat. Hope flickered for Nussmeier when two pick-sixes were nullified by penalties, including a particularly controversial interception in the red zone while the Tigers trailed by four. The Gamecocks aimed for their biggest upset in two years, forcing two turnovers in the final quarter to keep their hopes alive. Yet, when it came time for the Gamecocks to capitalize on their offensive opportunities, they fell short of reaching the end zone and opted for a field goal instead. Unfortunately, their attempt to tie the game and push it into overtime was unsuccessful. Nussmeier ended the game with 24/40 completions  for 285 yards, throwing two touchdowns and one interception, while Sellers recorded 9/16 attempts for 201 total yards (113 passing and 88 rushing) along with two rushing touchdowns.

Mississippi State Vs Toledo (L) 41-17-  Blake Shapen

The Rockets surged ahead early, dominating the game with a powerful 21-point lead in the second quarter, leaving the Bulldogs unable to mount a comeback. The Rockets amassed 454 yards and five touchdowns, resulting in a decisive 41-17 victory. The Rockets found the end zone on four of their five first-half possessions, while their defense stifled the Bulldogs, allowing only three points and establishing a commanding 28-3 lead by halftime. Over the past two weeks, the Bulldogs have been outscored 55-6 in the first half against their opponents. It wasn't until the second half that the Bulldogs managed to surpass 10 rushing yards. Shapen ended the game with 28/39 completions for 319 yards, contributing two touchdowns, but also recorded an interception and a fumble.

Missouri Vs Boston College (W) 27-21 - Brady Cook:

After falling behind by double digits early in the game, the Tigers rallied to score 24 unanswered points, clinching a thrilling 27-21 comeback victory over the Eagles. This win keeps the Tigers undefeated, marking their second consecutive season start at 3-0. The Eagles initially led 14-3 with less than 10 minutes left in the first half, but the Tigers surged back, netting the last 14 points of the half to take a 17-14 lead into halftime. Kicker Blake Craig narrowed the gap with a 38-yard field goal, and wide receiver Luther Burden Ill made a spectacular 19-yard catch and run, followed by a successful two-point conversion to tie the game at 14. Craig then capped off the half with a career-best 56-yard field goal as time expired. Notably, the Tigers have only allowed 21 points this season, the fewest they've given up after three games since 1973. Cook completed 21/30 passes for 264 yards and one touchdown, bringing his career totals to 7,198 passing yards and 1,076 rushing yards, making him one of only two Missouri quarterbacks to achieve over 7,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards, alongside Brad Smith.

Oklahoma Vs Tulane  (W) 34-19 - Jackson Arnold:

The Sooners had an opportunity to refine their performance in their final non-conference game before entering SEC competition. Their offense showed marked improvement against the Waves, scoring three touchdowns in the first half. They increased their tempo, integrated Arnold into the running game, and gave the dynamic Taylor Tatum more opportunities, resulting in two first-half touchdowns. Additionally, they converted 6 out of 8 third-down attempts, a significant improvement after ranking 131st in the nation in that area last week. Although Arnold threw an interception in the fourth quarter, allowing the Waves to narrow the score to 24-19, the Sooners held strong and secured the win. Arnold completed 18/29 passes for 169 yards, including a touchdown to Tatum, and led the team with 97 rushing yards and two touchdown runs. His role as a runner transformed Seth Littrell's offense, which had previously struggled with the ground game.

Ole Miss Vs Wake Forest (W) 40-6 - Jackson Dart:

Ole Miss jumped out to a commanding 20-3 lead in the first quarter and maintained their momentum throughout the game. However, it wasn't a flawless performance from Lane Kiffin's squad, as they faced 11 penalties totaling 114 yards and committed two turnovers. Despite these unusual errors, the Rebels dominated the game, outpacing the Demon Deacons in total yardage. Dart delivered another Heisman-worthy performance, completing 26/ 34 passes for 413 yards (377 through the air and 36 on the ground) along with three touchdowns. The defense also shone, making crucial stops, tackles, and pressuring the quarterback to secure the victory over the Demon Deacons

Tennessee Vs Kent State (W) 71-0  - Nico lamaleava:

The Volunteers are currently making waves across the nation, with lamaleava at the forefront, as they aim to send a strong message to both pollsters and their SEC rivals. They showed no mercy during the first half, setting new records for the program with the highest scoring quarter (37 points), the second-highest quarter (28 points), and the best scoring half (65 points) against the Golden Eagles. The Volunteers were so determined to assert their dominance that they executed an onside kick with 3:30 left in the first quarter, which they successfully recovered. They also attempted a fourth-down conversion on their final possession of the game while leading 71-0, though they were unable to convert. The Gold Eagles offense struggled significantly, finishing the first quarter with -31 yards and totaling just 112 yards for the game. Defensively, the Golden Eagles had no answers for the Volunteers, allowing 9 out of 15 third-down conversions and 3 out of 4 fourth-down attempts, managing to force only two field goals in the second half. With a series of pass break-ups, sacks, and quarterback pressures, the Golden Eagles could never find their rhythm. lamaleava ended the game with 10/16 attempts for a total of 204 yards (173 passing, 31 rushing) and one touchdown.

Texas Vs UTSA  (W) 56-7 - Quinn Ewers & Arch Manning:

The Longhorns' offense ignited with an impressive 8-play, 84-yard drive, culminating in a touchdown pass from Ewers to Isaiah Bond. After the defense forced a turnover on downs in their own territory, Ewers orchestrated a 12-play, 69-yard drive, finishing with a 19-yard touchdown pass to Johntay Cook Il, extending the lead to 14-0. With his 45th career touchdown, Ewers surpassed Vince Young on the Longhorns' all-time touchdown list, moving into sixth place. Unfortunately, he had to leave the game early in the second quarter due to an abdominal injury. During his time on the field, he completed 14/16 passes for 185 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Manning stepped in and delivered a stellar performance, so impressive that he overtook Ewers in the Heisman Trophy race. He completed 9/12 passes for 223 yards and threw four touchdown passes, including a remarkable 67-yard touchdown.

Vanderbilt Vs Georgia State (L) 36-32- Diego Pavia:

The Commodores faced their first defeat of the season in a fierce battle against the Panthers. Despite a remarkable 22-point rally in the fourth quarter, they fell short, losing 36-32 due to a last-minute touchdown in their final game before entering SEC play. Struggling initially, the Commodores only managed three points until late in the second quarter, when they finally found the end zone, narrowing the gap to 12-10. It wasn't until the third quarter that they struck again, with Pavia connecting with Eli Stowers, who powered through multiple tackles for a touchdown. They aimed to build on this momentum, scoring again to bring the score to 29-24. With just over two minutes remaining and no timeouts left, Vanderbilt forced a punt and took over at Georgia State's 39-yard line. They quickly scored another touchdown, highlighted by Sedrick Alexander's rushing effort, followed by a successful two-point conversion pass to AJ Newberry. However, despite their late-game push for victory, the Commodores made too many errors, missing the chance to achieve their first 3-0 start since 2017. Pavia ended the game with 18 completions on 33 attempts, totaling 310 yards (270 passing, 40 rushing) and throwing two touchdowns.