Week 3 shook up the SEC in a hurry, but the top of the league still looks familiar.
Georgia kept the No. 1 spot after handling Arkansas on the road, while Texas stayed right behind the Bulldogs with another convincing win. Ole Miss’ statement victory over LSU in Oxford made plenty of noise, and Florida, Mississippi State and Kentucky all climbed after big results that changed the shape of the conference picture entering Week 4.
At the bottom, Arkansas is still searching for answers after another lopsided loss, and South Carolina, Auburn and Texas A&M all took hits in a weekend that exposed a few cracks. Here’s how the SEC stacks up after Week 3.
- Georgia Bulldogs
Georgia (3-0, 1-0) stayed on top after a 45-17 road win at Arkansas. Chauncey Bowens powered the offense with three rushing touchdowns, and the Bulldogs piled up 254 yards on the ground. The defense was just as punishing, holding the Razorbacks to 17 rushing yards.
Week 4 brings Georgia’s toughest test so far, with Oklahoma coming to Athens.
- Texas Longhorns
Texas (3-0, 0-0) remained unbeaten with a 30-6 win over UTSA. Arch Manning threw two touchdown passes, and both went to Cam Coleman.
The Longhorns will leave home for the first time this season in Week 4, traveling to Tennessee.
- Ole Miss Rebels
Ole Miss (3-0, 1-0) won the SEC’s marquee game of the week by beating LSU 32-24 in Oxford. Trinidad Chambliss was the difference, accounting for three total touchdowns, including the late score that sealed it in the fourth quarter.
The Rebels now head to Florida for their first true road game.
- LSU Tigers
LSU (2-1, 0-1) dropped its first game of the season in Oxford, but the Tigers didn’t go quietly. Sam Leavitt threw two touchdown passes, and LSU made it a game late by rallying to tie it before Ole Miss pulled away.
Lane Kiffin’s Tigers return home in Week 4 for a showdown with Texas A&M.
- Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama (3-0, 1-0) delivered one of the weekend’s biggest nonconference wins, taking down Florida State 50-36 at home. Keelon Russell accounted for four touchdowns, and Alabama rolled up 567 yards of offense.
The Crimson Tide are back in SEC play next week with South Carolina coming to Tuscaloosa.
- Tennessee Volunteers
Tennessee (3-0, 0-0) wrapped up nonconference play with a 42-9 win over Kennesaw State. The Vols ran for 268 yards and got two touchdowns from quarterback Faizon Brandon.
Now comes a much bigger stage: Texas visits Knoxville on Saturday.
- Texas A&M Aggies
Texas A&M (2-1, 0-1) took a surprising 31-21 loss at home to Kentucky. The Aggies couldn’t recover from Kentucky’s big third quarter, and Marcel Reed’s two interceptions were costly.
The road gets no easier in Week 4, with a trip to Baton Rouge up next.
- Florida Gators
Florida (3-0, 1-0) picked up an early statement win in the Jon Sumrall era, going into Jordan-Hare and beating Auburn 44-39. The Gators led most of the way, and Jadan Baugh turned in a huge night with 162 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
Florida returns home for a high-profile matchup with Ole Miss.
- Mississippi State Bulldogs
Mississippi State (3-0, 1-0) stayed unbeaten by going to South Carolina and winning 41-34. Kamario Taylor threw four touchdown passes, and the Bulldogs took control late with a strong second half.
Missouri comes to Starkville next in what shapes up as a major test.
- Oklahoma Sooners
Oklahoma (2-1, 0-0) survived with a 14-6 home win over New Mexico, but it was a shaky performance. The Sooners turned it over three times, including two John Mateer interceptions.
Their SEC opener is a tough one, with a trip to Georgia in Week 4.
- Missouri Tigers
Missouri (3-0, 0-0) finished nonconference play with a 27-17 home win over Troy. The Tigers posted 230 total yards and leaned on a strong second quarter and a productive day from Jamal Roberts on the ground.
Mississippi State is next.
- Kentucky Wildcats
Kentucky (2-1, 1-1) turned in one of the weekend’s biggest surprises with a 31-21 upset at Texas A&M. The Wildcats used a big third quarter to seize control, and Kenny Minchey and CJ Baxter each scored two touchdowns.
South Alabama visits Lexington in Week 4.
- Vanderbilt Commodores
Vanderbilt (3-0, 0-0) closed nonconference play with a 35-31 home win over NC State, finishing it in dramatic fashion by recovering a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown. Jared Curtis threw three touchdown passes, though the Commodores also dealt with three turnovers and 13 penalties.
Auburn is next as Vanderbilt opens SEC play on the road.
- Auburn Tigers
Auburn (2-1, 0-1) took its first loss of the season, falling 44-39 at home to Florida. Byrum Brown threw four touchdown passes for the Tigers, but the defense had no answer and allowed 495 total yards.
Vanderbilt comes to Jordan-Hare in Week 4.
- South Carolina Gamecocks
South Carolina (2-1, 0-1) lost 41-34 at home to Mississippi State. The Gamecocks were ahead at halftime, but the second half belonged to the Bulldogs, who outscored them 27-11.
Next up is a difficult trip to Alabama.
- Arkansas Razorbacks
Arkansas (1-2, 0-1) was beaten soundly at home by Georgia, 45-17. The Razorbacks didn’t reach the end zone until the fourth quarter, and the Bulldogs controlled the line of scrimmage from start to finish, rushing for 254 yards while holding Arkansas to 17.
Tulsa visits Fayetteville in Week 4.
In Other News...
Danny Kanell Takes Another Shot At Alabama Over Weather Delay
Saturday nights Alabama-Florida State opener spent as much time in limbo as it did on the field, with multiple lightning delays forcing everyone to wait out the weather. The pauses quickly became part of the story, especially once CBS Sports analyst Danny Kanell jumped on social media to question whether the second delay was really necessary. His comments tapped into a familiar chord around Alabama, where outside takes on the Tide tend to travel fast and draw even faster reaction.
The bigger issue, though, was the standard being applied, not the optics of the moment. Weather professionals later stepped in to explain how lightning-related suspensions are handled, underscoring that these calls are made with safety in mind rather than on a feel test from the stands or a television studio. For Alabama, it was one more odd wrinkle in a season opener that already had enough drama before anyone could settle in. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Gets An Early SEC Reality Check In New AP Poll
The AP top 25 shifted in a big way entering Week 4, and the SEC made its usual presence felt. Ole Miss got a major lift by beating LSU, a result that sharpened its case as a real contender in the league race, while Florida played its way into the rankings after a win at Auburn. Around the conference, the weekend reminded everyone how quickly the pecking order can change once league play starts to bite.
For Alabama, the new poll offered an early reality check on how unforgiving the SEC can be once the schedule toughens. Texas A&M took a hit after a loss to Kentucky, a setback that raised more questions about the Aggies consistency on both sides of the ball, and the broader movement around the rankings underscored how little margin separates the conferences top teams from the ones trying to chase them. [Read more 🡒]
Alabamas Defensive Turnaround Put One Wommack Question Front And Center
Yhonzae Pierre was one of the players who helped Alabama settle in after a rocky start against Florida State, finishing with five tackles in the Crimson Tides 50-36 win. The linebacker pointed to defensive coordinator Kane Wommacks halftime message as a key reset, with the emphasis on staying united and keeping the energy up when the game was still hanging in the balance.
The second-half response was noticeable enough that head coach Kalen DeBoer singled out the defenses improvement, and that puts Wommacks role in an interesting light as Alabama moves deeper into the season. The Tide got the result they needed, but the bigger question now is whether that halftime adjustment was a one-game fix or the first sign of a defense finding its footing. [Read more 🡒]