SEC Wrap-Up: A Look at Week Eight-Action in the SEC

OXFORD, Miss. – It was a short slate of games in the Southeastern Conference Saturday, but we learned a lot of things about some teams.

Or did we?

Saturday could be billed the “Yeah, we knew that already,” week in the conference.

TENNESSEE 65, UT-MARTIN 24: Yeah, we knew Tennessee would dominate this one. We knew the Vols would be able to empty its bench to the point where five players threw passes, ten players caught a pass and nine ran the ball.

But come on Josh Heupel, a reverse pass in the second quarterback when you are ahead by a zillion points?

LSU 45, OLE MISS 20: Yeah, we knew Ole Miss had not played much of a schedule this year. Yeah, we knew LSU is getting better each week. But we didn’t know it would go this way.

LSU QB Jayden Daniels exploded on the national scene by throwing for 248 yards, running for 121 more and accounting for five touchdowns. Suddenly the Tigers are atop the SEC West standings.

We also knew Ole Miss was banged up coming into the game. Zach Evans did not play, but that is no excuse. Nor is the loss of the top two Reb tacklers during the game – Troy Brown and A.J. Finley.

ALABAMA 30, MISSISSIPPI STATE 6: Yeah, we knew after Alabama lost last week it would take its frustration on the Bulldogs this week.

But on one play when Bryce Young had over ten seconds to throw the ball? No one knew that was going to happen.

We also knew Mississippi State was becoming a more balanced offense this season. But the Tide held the Dogs to just 62 yards. That total could have been more, but Will Rogers was sacked four times to subtract from the amount.

SOUTH CAROLINA 30, TEXAS A&M 24: We all knew Beamer Ball is a real thing. We also knew the Aggies’ preseason rating was way too high for expectations.

South Carolina returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown and that proved to be the winning margin. But Shane Beamer is building something in Columbia that maybe no one saw coming this fast into his tenure.

Carolina is now 5-2 and one game away from bowl eligibility.

On the other hand, the Aggies might be vying for the most disappointing team in college football this season award. If not for a missed field goal earlier this season, A&M could be 2-5. Looking at the schedule ahead, could Texas A&M miss a bowl game?

MISSOURI 17, VANDERBILT, 14: Yeah, we knew this was the least appealing game of the SEC weekend, but it was the most competitive.

Mizzou scored 17 first-half points to take the lead, but Vandy came back to score 14 in the second half to provide the three-point margin.

What we don’t know is if this will be the Tigers’ last win of the season. Sure, Mizzou plays New Mexico State, so maybe the better question would be is if this was Missouri’s last SEC win of the year.

We also know with South Carolina, Kentucky, Florida and Tennessee left on the schedule, Saturday was the last best chance for the Commodores to get another win this season.

Steve Barnes

Steve Barnes joins The Rebel Walk staff as a senior writer and brings a trifecta of journalistic experience. As a writer, he has covered college sports for Rivals.com, Football.com and SaturdayDownSouth.com as well as served as a beat writer for various traditional newspapers.

He has been a broadcaster for arena football and several national tournament events for the National Junior College Athletic Association as well as hosting various shows on radio.

A former sports information director at Albany (Ga.) State University and an assistant at Troy and West Florida, he has helped host many NCAA conference, regional and national events, including serving five years on the media committee of the NCAA Division II World Series.

Barnes, a native of Pensacola, Fla., attended Ole Miss in 1983-84, where his first journalism teacher was David Kellum. The duo has come a long way since that time.

He will bring a proven journalistic track record, along with a knack for finding the out-of-the-ordinary story angles to The Rebel Walk.

Barnes continues to reside in Pensacola a mere ten minutes from the beach because he does have taste and a brain.