Week 2 didn’t give the SEC the clean sweep it wanted, but the league still walked away with plenty to brag about.
The biggest headline belonged to No. 3 Texas, which answered the pressure with a win over top-ranked Ohio State at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium.
Arch Manning led the way, and Texas backed him with a defense that made life miserable for the Buckeyes. The Longhorns kept Heisman Trophy contender Jeremiah Smith largely under wraps and turned the matchup into a clear statement about where they belong in the national picture.
Alabama also made a loud entrance into SEC play. No.
12 Alabama went on the road and beat Kentucky 45-17 behind a defense that did damage in every direction. The Crimson Tide piled up four sacks, forced three fumbles, returned one for a pick-6 and delivered a crucial fourth-down stop in the third quarter when it shut down a fake punt attempt.
Keelon Russell had to work through some adversity, but he still finished with 188 passing yards and a 5-yard touchdown to Rico Scott.
Not every SEC result came with that same shine. No.
10 Oklahoma had a chance late at Michigan, but the Wolverines closed the door in Ann Arbor and handed the Sooners a 17-10 loss. John Mateer struggled through the afternoon against Michigan’s defense, going 17 of 33 for 189 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
The turnover came on a third-and-9 in the fourth quarter and set up the go-ahead score for Michigan.
The rest of the league mostly handled business. No.
9 Texas A&M knocked off Big 12 foe Arizona State, while No. 23 Missouri did the same against Kansas.
No. 18 Tennessee and Mississippi State each moved to 2-0, with Tennessee beating Georgia Tech and Mississippi State getting past Minnesota.
Kamario Taylor has been a bright spot for Mississippi State, piling up four touchdowns and 354 passing yards through two games.
Those results helped shape the Week 3 US LBM Coaches Poll and AP Top 25, with SEC teams sprinkled throughout both rankings.
US LBM Coaches Poll Texas (42)
Georgia (15) Notre Dame (4)
Indiana (10) Miami (2)
Ohio State LSU (1)
Texas A&M Ole Miss
Alabama USC
Texas Tech BYU
Tennessee Penn State
SMU Utah
Oregon Michigan
Iowa Oklahoma
Missouri Houston
Washington Virginia
AP Top 25 Texas (56)
Georgia (3) Notre Dame (1)
Indiana (3) Miami (4)
Ohio State LSU (1)
Ole Miss Texas A&M
Alabama BYU
USC Texas Tech
Penn State Tennessee
SMU Utah
Iowa Michigan
Missouri Oregon
Houston Louisville
Oklahoma Virginia
In Other News...
Mississippi State Just Took A Step Toward The Rankings
Mississippi States early-season progress got a little more attention this week, as the Bulldogs earned their first votes of the year in the latest US LBM Coaches Poll. The boost came after a 38-13 win over Minnesota, a result that gave the program a more visible foothold as it tries to climb back into the national conversation.
The Bulldogs are still outside the top 25, so there is work left to do before any ranking becomes real. The next chance to build on that momentum comes Sept. 19, when Mississippi State opens SEC play at South Carolina in what should be its first true measuring stick of the season. [Read more 🡒]
Kamario Taylor Just Gave Mississippi State Real SEC Momentum
Mississippi States 38-13 win over Minnesota in Week 2 looked less like a one-off hot afternoon and more like the kind of performance that can settle a team into the SEC season. The Bulldogs piled up 479 total yards, moved the ball with confidence and finally had the kind of rhythm on offense that makes a September game feel a little bigger than it should.
Kamario Taylor was at the center of it, steering the offense through the air and on the ground while giving Mississippi State a dual-threat edge Minnesota never really solved. Fluff Bothwell also kept the pressure on with a strong night running the ball, and together they gave the Bulldogs a clear offensive identity to build on as the schedule tightens. [Read more 🡒]