Cole Cubelic didn’t waste any time sizing up the SEC after Week 8. The SEC Network analyst rolled out a team-by-team reaction Sunday night, taking a sharp look at the league’s winners, losers and the ones that simply put themselves through a grinder.
The first stop was Alabama, which shook off its October slump by coming back to beat Texas A&M at home, 31-20. Cubelic pointed to the Crimson Tide’s quarterback play as a major reason the comeback came together.
“Another comeback win. QB helped find a way,” he wrote.
Tennessee’s collapse in Columbia landed in the exact opposite bucket. The Volunteers were in control before South Carolina ripped the game away in a 27-24 upset, and Cubelic didn’t sugarcoat the feeling.
“Gut wrenching,” he wrote.
South Carolina, on the other hand, got the kind of praise that comes with a wild finish. Cubelic opened his note on the Gamecocks with a simple pair of words:
“Electric win,”
Texas also earned a clean, confident assessment after its primetime battle with Ole Miss. The Longhorns got back in the win column with a 34-27 home victory, and Cubelic called it:
“Much-needed win. Gutsy,”
LSU joined the SEC winners’ list with a road win at Auburn in a battle of Tigers, and Cubelic highlighted that one too.
“Nice conference win on the road,”
Beyond those headline results, Cubelic’s full Sunday rundown touched every SEC team in action, from Kentucky’s patient approach to Mississippi State’s early loss of a player who changed the feel of the game. He praised Kentucky’s patience and creativity in the run game, noting, “Their best attribute is their patience & it showed again.”
On Mississippi State, he wrote, “Tough losing 1 early. Gives them a different presence.”
Ole Miss drew a mixed review after a road loss in Austin, with Cubelic noting the Rebels had chances but didn’t get enough from the offensive line or in pass protection. Tennessee’s entry was just as pointed, with Cubelic calling the defeat “Guy wrenching” in his posted note, while also saying the Vols’ quarterback “looked calm, composed.”
Texas A&M’s night was defined by mistakes that dug a hole early, including a fumble on fourth-and-1 and a pick-six. Cubelic called it a “Tough one” and said the Aggies still had chances. Vanderbilt’s offense also earned mention for an early plan that used jet sweeps, a moved pocket and designed quarterback runs, though Cubelic pointed out the operation still had issues.
Here is Cubelic’s full social media blitz from Week 8:
We do it each week, MY Sunday SEC takeaways…
ALABAMA: Another comeback win. QB helped find a way.
Missed a few throws. QB designed runs helped.
Play action opened some things up. Made plays on scramble drill.
OL had some whiffs in the run game. TEs back to being super…
KENTUCKY: Nice win. Their best attribute is their patience & it showed again.
They don't force plays. They set things up @ marry them together well.
Some of the most creative pin/pull stuff in the run game I have seen in a while. 72 played great, good in combos, great pulling. 77…
MISSISSIPPI STATE: Tough losing 1 early. Gives them a different presence.
Loved the shot out of the gate. 15 grew up during this one. Good pocket awareness.
Better mobility than initially showed. Deep ball accuracy improved from start to finish.
Still had a few rough misses. 24…
OLE MISS: Had chances on the road. QB a bit off early.
OC did a nice job of force feeding 1 & giving him layups to get in rhythm. OL couldn't get to 2nd level.
That kept run game limited. Missed trigger blitzes.
Slide pro got busted. Got a little gap s gene going later. 5 ran…
TENNESSEE: Guy wrenching. Did some really nice things.
Thought QB looked calm, composed. Made some really nice throws.
Took freebies. Good job leaving pocket when required.
Not many misses. Had a drop or 2. 4 was great, loved the direct snap. 18 ran hard, so good pressing blocks…
TEXAS A&M: Tough one. Fumble a 4th & 1, pick 6 early.
Had chances. Liked the east/west stuff early on off.
Felt like the presentation had more variance. Would still like to see more formations, esp to help the run game. 0 ran hard, showed power.
QB mostly good in ZR game, got…
VANDERBILT: Liked plan early for the offense. Jet sweeps to hold the edges was effective.
Moved pocket. Used QB designed run.
Quick game. 16 good all around. Had some operation errors, snap count not timed up, hand offs, snaps off target.
Not a ton of yards after catch. Good job…
With Week 8 in the books, the SEC race keeps rolling toward December, when the conference title picture will finally come into focus.
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