SEC News and Notes

Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.com) –

ALABAMA: It wasn’t exactly their most inspired effort of the season, but the top-ranked Crimson Tide did what they needed to do on their way to a 20-7 win over Mississippi State. Alabama churned out 383 yards in what was a sloppy performance, converting just 4-of-12 third-down attempts while committing four turnovers. A.J. McCarron completed 18-of-32 passes for 187 yards and two touchdowns, but he also threw two interceptions, marking just the third time in his career he has thrown multiple picks in a game. Despite the underwhelming performance, McCarron still became the program’s all-time leader in total offense, passing John Parker Wilson’s mark of 8,099 yards. T.J. Yeldon was a workhorse out of the backfield, turning 24 carries into 160 yards. The stout defense picked up the slack for the sluggish offense, as the unit held MSU to just 197 yards. Alabama (10-0, 7-0 SEC) will take on FCS foe Chattanooga this weekend before closing the regular season on Nov. 30 at Auburn in a contest that will decide the SEC Western Division champion.

ARKANSAS: The Razorbacks (3-7, 0-6 SEC) used their bye week to lick their wounds after suffering through a seven-game losing streak. They will try to halt the slide this Saturday in their final home game of the season versus Mississippi State.

AUBURN: The Tigers’ magical season continued over the weekend in the most unbelievable of ways, as Nick Marshall launched a Hail Mary pass on 4th-and-18 in the game’s final minute, which was tipped by a defender and found the grasp of Ricardo Louis, who ran in for a 73-yard touchdown to lift them to a 43-38 triumph. The miracle pass certainly helped Marshall’s final line, as he completed 15-of-26 passes for 229 yards with that touchdown, and he was also active on the ground with 89 yards and two touchdowns. As usual, the Tigers’ rushing attack was in full force, gaining 323 yards and accounting for four touchdowns, with Tre Mason (27 carries, 115 yards, TD) leading the way. Louis finished with four receptions for 131 yards. The offense was able to mask a poor performance by the defense, which allowed UGA to amass 532 yards. Auburn (10-1, 6-1 SEC) saves its biggest test for last, as it closes out the regular season with a home matchup versus No. 1 Alabama on Nov. 30.

FLORIDA: The Gators’ miserable season continued, as they fell to nationally- ranked South Carolina at home, 19-14, for their fifth straight loss, their longest slide since their winless campaign way back in 1979. Taking the place of an injured Tyler Murphy, Skyler Mornhinweg made his first career start under center, completing 10-of-13 passes for 107 yards and was intercepted late in the fourth quarter with his team driving toward a go-ahead touchdown. Kelvin Taylor impressed on the ground, racking up 96 yards on 21 carries while scoring the team’s only two touchdowns. Defensively, the Gators impressed as usual, holding South Carolina to 377 yards with two sacks, but the unit failed to create a turnover. Florida (4-6, 3-5 SEC) is in jeopardy of missing the postseason for the first time since 1986, and it’ll need to win each of its next two games at home against FCS foe Georgia Southern this week, and second- ranked Florida State on Nov. 30 to become bowl eligible.

GEORGIA: The Bulldogs appeared on their way to an upset victory at Auburn, as they led by one in the final minute with the Tigers facing a 4th-and-long deep in their own territory, but after a miraculous Hail Mary pass ended in an Auburn touchdown, the Bulldogs found themselves on the wrong end of a 43-38 final. Aaron Murray was nothing short of outstanding, as he completed 33-of-49 passes for 415 yards while accounting for four touchdowns (two rushing) and an interception. Three of those scores came in the fourth quarter to dig his team out of a 37-17 hole. Todd Gurley racked up 79 rushing yards and a score on 15 carries, and he was also the team’s leading receiver with 10 catches for 77 yards. Michael Bennett (seven receptions, 89 yards), Rantavious Wooten (five catches, 99 yards, TD) and Arthur Lynch (four receptions, 75 yards, TD) also benefitted from Murray’s big day. The defense had no answer for the Auburn rushing attack, which totaled 323 yards. Georgia (6-4, 4-3 SEC) will play its final conference game of the season this Saturday at home versus Kentucky.

KENTUCKY: The Wildcats’ run of futility in the SEC continued at Vanderbilt over the weekend, as they suffered a 22-6 setback. The offense couldn’t get anything going, amassing just 262 total yards. Jalen Whitlow struggled mightily under center. Not only did he complete only half of his passes (14- of-28) for 120 yards, but he also threw four interceptions. Whitlow managed to make some things happen with his legs, picking up a team-high 69 rushing yards. Raymond Sanders tallied 60 yards on 14 carries, while Jojo Kemp (seven carries, 20 yards) scored the team’s only touchdown. The defensive effort was solid considering the poor field position it had to deal with throughout the game, as it held Vandy to 313 total yards. Donte Rumph led the unit with 10 tackles. Kentucky (2-8, 0-6 SEC) visits Georgia this Saturday.

LSU: The Tigers (7-3, 3-3 SEC) lost for the second time in three games on Nov. 9 at No. 1 Alabama, and enjoyed a bye this past weekend as they try to regroup. They will close the season with back-to-back games at Tiger Stadium, starting with this Saturday’s visit from Texas A&M.

MISSISSIPPI STATE: The Bulldogs defense played very well against the nation’s No. 1 team, forcing Alabama to commit four turnovers, but unfortunately the offensive effort (197 yards) could not pick up the slack as they fell at home, 20-7. With Dak Prescott out with an elbow injury, Tyler Russell took most of the snaps, finishing with 144 yards and an interception on 15-of-24 passing. Malcolm Johnson led all receivers with six receptions for 84 yards. The rushing attack was bottled up, netting just 53 yards on 29 attempts. The team’s only touchdown came when offensive lineman Charles Siddoway recovered a Russell fumble in Alabama’s end zone. Kendrick Market (10 tackles, FF) and Taveze Calhoun (two INTs) shined on defense. MSU (4-6, 1-5 SEC) plays at Arkansas this Saturday.

MISSOURI: The Tigers (9-1, 5-1 SEC), who sit alone in first place in the SEC East, had off this week. They hope to secure a spot in the SEC Championship Game after closing out the regular season with games at Ole Miss this Saturday, and versus Texas A&M on Nov. 30.

OLE MISS: The Rebels were able to extend their winning streak to a season-high four games with a convincing 51-21 triumph over non-conference foe Troy. The offense amassed a school-record 751 yards in the victory and was led by Bo Wallace, who completed 17-of-26 passes for 272 yards and three touchdowns, while also rushing for 66 yards and a score. Two of Wallace’s TDs found the grasp of Laquon Treadwell, who finished with four receptions for 53 yards. Jaylen Walton had a big day both rushing (62 yards, TD) and receiving (three catches, 81 yards, TD). The rushing attack churned out 382 yards, and while no one had more than Wallace, seven players rushed for at least 46 yards. Backup QB Barry Brunetti saw some work in the blowout, going 3-of-4 for 97 yards and a score, to go along with 47 rushing yards. Ole Miss (7-3) has a tough task ahead, as nationally-ranked Missouri comes to town.

SOUTH CAROLINA: The Gamecocks defended their home turf against Florida, as they overcame an 14-6 halftime deficit to win, 19-14. Connor Shaw has had much better days, as he completed just 14-of-28 passes for 213 yards and rushed for only three yards on eight attempts, but he went without a turnover and tossed a 32-yard touchdown to Bruce Ellington (four receptions, 67 yards) in the third quarter. Elliott Fry knocked through a pair of field goals (22, 43) in the fourth quarter to put the team ahead for good. Shon Carson had a big day out of the backfield, rushing for 102 yards on 13 carries, outproducing Mike Davis (54 yards) on the same number of attempts. The defense held Florida to just 307 yards, and Jimmy Legree picked off a pass late in the fourth quarter to help in the final outcome. South Carolina (8-2, 6-2 SEC) will try to win its fourth straight game this Saturday when it hosts FCS foe Coastal Carolina.

TENNESSEE: The Volunteers (4-6, 1-5 SEC) lost three straight heading into their bye week. They hope to right the ship this Saturday in their final home game of the season versus Vanderbilt.

TEXAS A&M: The Aggies (8-2, 4-2 SEC) enjoyed a bye over the weekend, that well-deserved rest coming on the heels of three consecutive wins. They will close the regular season with a pair of matchups against nationally-ranked foes on the road, taking on LSU this Saturday, and Missouri on Nov. 30.

VANDERBILT: The Commodores became bowl eligible for the third straight season for the first time in school history following a 22-6 home win over Kentucky. Austyn Carta-Samuels returned from injury to complete 19-of-24 passes for 184 yards, although it was Patton Robinette who completed the team’s lone touchdown pass on his only attempt of the game, a 13-yarder to Kris Kentera. Jordan Matthews continued his outstanding season at receiver, hauling in 12 passes for 141 yards, and in the process became the first Commodore ever to record back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving campaigns. Jerron Seymour paced the Vandy rushing attack with 77 yards on 21 carries. The defense was outstanding as well, holding Kentucky to 262 yards while intercepting Wildcats QB Jalen Whitlow four times. Vanderbilt (6-4, 3-4 SEC) will try to pull even in conference play this Saturday when it travels to Knoxville to take on Tennessee.

Categorized in: NCAA Football