We’re finally getting close to a full SEC slate, and Week 3 brings the first real flood of conference matchups. After Kentucky-Alabama served up a little appetizer in Week 2, this weekend jumps to five SEC-on-SEC games, plus a few others that range from background noise to genuine can’t-miss TV.
At the bottom of the board are the ones you can pretty much keep on in the background. Troy at Missouri kicks off at 7 p.m.
ET on SEC Network+, and the Tigers should be in control without much resistance. Kennesaw State at Tennessee follows at 7:45 p.m.
ET on SEC Network, and unless you’re fascinated by the Vols’ bench, there’s not a lot there either. Kennesaw State just dropped a home game by two touchdowns to Georgia State, so this one doesn’t exactly scream drama.
A couple of games land in the middle, mostly because of one interesting angle rather than the matchup itself. New Mexico at Oklahoma starts at 7:30 p.m.
ET on ESPN2, and while the Sooners shouldn’t have too much trouble, there is at least some curiosity about how their offense responds after that brutal showing against Michigan. UTSA at Texas, set for 8 p.m.
ET on SEC Network+, offers a similar kind of watchability. The Longhorns ought to have a relatively calm night, but the real question is how they handle the weight that comes with being the team wearing the crown.
From there, the schedule starts to get more appealing. Kentucky at Texas A&M at 3:30 p.m.
ET on ESPN gives us an early look at both teams in league play. Kentucky showed some life for about 2 and a half quarters against Alabama, but the Wildcats will need more than that to deal with the Aggies.
Texas A&M hasn’t exactly been sharp either, which leaves this one with a few real question marks. Georgia at Arkansas, airing at noon ET on ABC, is unlikely to be a thriller, but it’s still worth a look simply because it’s the conference opener for one of the SEC’s best teams and likely its worst.
The better viewing starts to show up in the 4-star tier. NC State at Vanderbilt, scheduled for 12:45 p.m.
ET on SEC Network, comes with a couple of eyebrow-raisers. The Wolfpack opened with an ugly Week 0 loss, and Vanderbilt has looked pretty unimpressive despite being 2-0.
Still, the real storyline is the Jared Curtis Era, which officially begins this week. The question is whether he can keep Vanderbilt from what looks like an almost inevitable dropoff from the Pavia era.
Florida State at Alabama at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC probably feels more like a 3-star game on paper, but there’s enough here to keep it in the upper tier.
Florida State already has a loss to SMU, Mike Norvell is hanging on by a thread, and an upset of Alabama might be the only thing that could save his job. There’s also the development of Keelon Russell, which adds another layer.
Then comes the top of the board, and this is where Week 3 really starts to cook. Mississippi State at South Carolina, set for 4:15 p.m.
ET on SEC Network, is one of the under-the-radar games worth your time. Mississippi State is a surprising 2-0, South Carolina is trying to separate itself from the middle of the pack, and the Kamario Taylor vs.
LaNorris Sellers quarterback matchup should be excellent.
Florida at Auburn at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN is another strong one.
Both teams are 2-0, both have new coaches, and both are trying to bank a win before the SEC schedule gets meaner. Florida may be getting a little more respect right now, but the Gators have been lousy on the road in recent seasons.
Auburn’s win over Baylor wasn’t flashy, but it’s still the most meaningful game either side has played so far.
And then there’s LSU at Ole Miss at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC, the clear headliner of the weekend.
Lane Kiffin gets another shot at home - or whatever home means this time - and Ole Miss is desperate for a win. This is the one that gets the calendar cleared and the phone ignored.
If you want the single game to circle, it’s LSU-Ole Miss. If you want the sneaky pick, it might be one of those 5-star under-the-radar games. Either way, Saturday has enough SEC action to make it worth settling in for a long one.
In Other News...
Ole Miss Just Landed A GameDay Guest Picker Fans Will Love
College GameDay is bringing a familiar face to Oxford for the Ole Miss-LSU spotlight, with actor Morgan Freeman set to serve as the celebrity guest picker. Freeman is a longtime Ole Miss fan and local resident, and the announcement lands like a natural fit for a program that has leaned on campus energy and big-game atmosphere all season.
Freeman has long had ties to the university, including past appearances at Ole Miss basketball games, and he recently popped back into the college sports conversation with a viral moment involving Auburn star Johni Broome. His presence adds another layer to an already high-profile broadcast, even before the cameras turn to what he might say when the picks get rolling. [Read more 🡒]
Ole Miss Just Landed A GameDay Moment Fans Will Love
With The Grove set to take center stage for Ole Misss SEC opener against LSU, the Rebels are getting a little extra star power on campus this weekend. ESPNs College GameDay will broadcast from Oxford for the Week 3 matchup, and the atmosphere should already be heavy enough before the first kick with one of the sports best pregame stages serving as the backdrop.
Morgan Freeman will add another layer to it as the guest picker, bringing a familiar face and an unmistakably Ole Miss connection to the show. The actor and longtime Rebels fan will join the hosts and analysts to make his picks during the broadcast, giving Saturdays spotlight a local twist fans will not need much convincing to enjoy. [Read more 🡒]
Ole Miss Walks Into LSU With One Pregame Controversy Hanging Over It
LSUs quarterback situation has added an unexpected edge to a showdown Ole Miss already knew would come with plenty of heat. Sam Leavitt was listed as doubtful on the injury report ahead of the game, and the placement immediately stirred questions around whether the Tigers were dealing with a real setback or playing a longer game against a top SEC opponent.
Inside Ole Miss circles, theres been skepticism about how much of that designation should be taken at face value. The Rebels are preparing for the possibility that this is as much about gamesmanship as health, with Lane Kiffin drawing the kind of pregame mind games that can linger right up until kickoff. Even before the first snap, the matchup already has a feel of one coach trying to get inside the others head. [Read more 🡒]