What a weekend it was for Week 5! We knew there would be some intriguing matchups this weekend, and most went as suspected, on the scoreboard, but it is a slim chance anyone knew just how many twists and turns we would have getting to those results. Let’s dive in.
Three Takeaway Games
Kentucky 20, (6) Ole Miss 17: We had discussed in our weekly SEC discussions about how Ole Miss has not been truly tested yet. Lane Kiffin himself commented after the loss how the previous opponents had not prepared his team for the SEC schedule.
Granted, given the moderate level of success Wake Forest has had in recent history, there is always the possibility the schedule makers were under the assumption the Demon Deacons would be a tougher warm-up for the Rebels. For anyone with that mindset, the talent of Ole Miss proved them wrong. But that is just it; Ole Miss is very talented, and they are well-coached.
We made it a talking point to state Kentucky had the potential to jump up and bite anyone in the SEC expecting a win over the Wildcats. It’s not their loss to an underrated South Carolina team, but the final score which creates doubt in the minds of people when the Wildcats are mentioned. Consider that lack of certainty erased, especially within the borders of Mississippi given this upset took place in Oxford.
Ole Miss will recover. They will still have a fantastic season, and they should still make the playoffs. As for now, no other major losses need to take place to ensure that; however, the Rebels cannot afford another loss, and definitely not one to another unranked team. Kentucky may not squeeze into the Top 25, but they will be on the list of those receiving votes.
(4) Alabama 41, (2) Georgia 34: What a boring first half … But, oh man, what an exciting finish. Mark your author here down as someone who checked out early to midway in the third quarter. After all, Alabama had just gotten a safety on Georgia to go into halftime with a 30-7 lead over the Bulldogs.
Add to it, Georgia did not even score in the third until there was 5:06 left to play. Bama closed out the third with a field goal to lead it 33-25.
Without doing a web search, “Not since Matt Jones at Arkansas” could we recall anyone having such a comeback against the Crimson Tide, and this team is far too talented and hot to allow something like that to happen again. Enter Carson Beck and the Georgia Bulldogs into the fourth quarter.
Three straight touchdowns (and a failed 2-point conversion later), Georgia had a 34-33 lead with 2:31 left to play. But then, just 13-seonds later, I saw one of the coolest plays I have seen all season. Bama receiver Ryan Williams catching a pass from Jalen Milroe and “pirouetting” not once but twice to complete a 75-yard touchdown. The Tide were successful with their 2-point conversion, and no further points were needed as the Bama defense held true and kept the Bulldogs from scoring.
Some might say this was the most impactful game in the SEC this week, but, in all fairness, it is not. As long as the score stayed close, neither team was going to drop far in the polls. In fact, they might even switch spots. Bama will definitely jump to No. 2, and the Bulldogs should remain within striking distance no farther back than No. 6.
The question is, will the pollsters leap the Tide over Texas for that coveted No. 1 ranking? And, this is just an opinion, but Georgia and Alabama will most likely play each other again this season.
(24) Texas A&M 21, Arkansas 17: Perhaps the reason for this being a key game in the SEC is because it exposes the flaws of both teams. Arkansas’s defense looked great until it didn’t. And A&M showed they need help in the passing game if Conner Weigman cannot get healthy.
The last one reflects another problem for the Hogs as well. If Arkansas cannot defeat an Aggie team who is ranked far too high, they are not going to do much more than serve as a launching pad for Tennessee this weekend.
Neither team will compete for the SEC Championship, and to even mention the word “playoffs” in regards to one or both would be either stating the obvious that neither are going to sniff it, or saying they have a chance would be career suicide for anyone putting such speculation into print.
Yet there is a subtle thought that A&M can use this game to correct its wrongs in time to have a decent season. Perhaps Arkansas can as well.
Remaining SEC Results for Week 5
(21) Oklahoma 27, Auburn 21: Most people seemed to think the Tigers would pull the upset here. In fact, so many people picked it, an Auburn victory may not have even been considered an upset. For a little over three quarters, it looked as though so many of us were right in thinking the Tigers would end the day with a win over a Top 25 team. When Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne found Luke Deal in the endzone putting the Tigers up 21-10 with 14:12 left in the ballgame, it seemed like there was no way a down and out Sooners team could recover. They did… with two touchdowns of their own and a field goal to get their first ever SEC victory.
Mississippi State 13, (1) Texas 35: The only really key note on this game is Texas Quarterback Arch Manning started his first SEC game with Quinn Ewers still out with an injury. Manning did well, completing 26 out of his 31 passes and throwing for two touchdowns. The outcome of the game was as expected and has no bearing on the conference for the remainder of the season.
(14) LSU 42, South Alabama 10: South Alabama may be a great team in their conference and their division, but they were put in a no-win situation with LSU in Death Valley. Unfortunately for the Tigers, their win over the Jaguars does nothing to assist their playoff aspirations, but they will hold a spot in the Top 15 for another week.
The upcoming Week 6 has some matchups which on paper seem like easy picks, but this is the SEC, and no victory is guaranteed, just ask Ole Miss. Be sure to enjoy Hit That Line all week. and also join us Sunday as we recap how your favorite (or least favorite) SEC team fared.
