Top 5 SEC teams after Week 1
STARKVILLE, Miss. (BVM) — SEC football returned with some great games, blowouts, and even a record-breaking performance. Let’s break down the weekend action and give you the Top 5 SEC teams after Week 1.
5 – Georgia (1-0, beat Arkansas 37-10)
With a lot of preseason hype surrounding Georgia and new transfer quarterback J.T. Daniels, head coach Kirby Smart opted to start freshman quarterback D’Wan Mathis after Daniels had not been cleared to play. Junior Stetson Bennett took over for Mathis and provided a much-needed spark to Georgia’s offense. With that being said, the score does not show how close the game really was. Next week should shed more light on if the Bulldogs are a legitimate contender or not.
4 – Auburn (1-0, beat Kentucky 29-13)
It was all about the second half for the Tigers. With an 8-7 lead, the Tiger offense leaned on quarterback Bo Nix and wide receiver Seth Williams to manage the workload. The Tigers exploded for 21 points in the second half and pulled away from the Wildcats. Nix tossed for 233 yards and three TDs. Seth Williams caught two of Nix’s touchdown passes in the second half and finished with six catches and 112 receiving yards. Next week will prove to be a test as the Tigers and Bulldogs meet between the hedges.
3- Mississippi State (1-0, beat LSU 44-34)
After finishing 3-5 in the SEC last season, the Mississippi State Bulldogs hired new head coach Mike Leach and implemented the air raid offense. With a new head coach and a new offense, the Bulldogs started the 2020 season off with a bang, defeating the defending national champion LSU Tigers in Death Valley. It was the first time since 1998 that a defending champion opened a new season with a loss. It’s also worth noting that senior quarterback K.J. Costello threw for an SEC-record 623 yards in the upset. Next up, the Bulldogs host the struggling Razorbacks in what should be an easy win for Mississippi State.
2 – Florida (1-0, beat Ole Miss 51-35)
A top-five team giving up 613 total yards? Not ideal. But with Kyle Trask at the quarterback position, Florida was able to separate from Ole Miss after early struggles. Trask, a redshirt senior, set the tone with a completion percentage of 71, 416 passing yards and six touchdown passes. Tight end Kyle Pitts also caught eight passes for 170 yards and hauled in four of Trask’s six touchdown passes. The Gators are set to host South Carolina this week.
1 – Alabama (1-0, beat Missouri 38-19)
It was business as usual for Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide. Powered by the trio of quarterback Mac Jones, wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, and running back Najee Harris, Alabama opened up with a strong first half and coasted through the second half. The Crimson Tide proved they belong at the top of the SEC. Alabama hosts the No. 13-ranked Texas A&M Aggies next.
