The story of the SEC this week was upsets with three top-ten teams losing conference matchups. Only one game changer has made the list before and the rest are newcomers.
Offensive Game Changers
Diego Pavia QB, Vanderbilt
Pavia led the Commodores to the biggest upset of the year last week knocking off top-ranked Alabama 40-35. He set the tone for the whole team leading long drive after long drive. He finished the game 16 for 20 for 252 yards and two touchdowns. The offense had no turnovers. He ran it 20 times for 56 yards which isn’t an impressive yards-per-carry. But his threat of his running kept the Crimson Tide on their heels throughout the game.
Conner Weigman QB / Le’Veon Moss RB, Texas A&M
It wasn’t the biggest upset of the week but the most impressive win might have been Texas A&M destroying ninth-ranked Missouri 41-10. The quarterback controversy has been an issue for the Aggies all season. It was looking like Marcel Reed might have seized the starting job even with some inconsistent play. But Weigman got the call this week. He impressed with an efficient 18 for 22 for 276 yards and a 93.7 rating. Moss was a touchdown machine scoring three times including a 75-yard run to start the second half that put the game out of reach.
Carson Beck QB, Georgia
Beck had a disastrous first half last week against Alabama and led a huge comeback in the second half, so it was hard to know how he would respond this week. He dazzled as Georgia beat up Auburn 31 to 13. Beck threw for 240 yards and two touchdowns while completing 79 percent of his passes.
Defensive Game Changers
TJ Dottery LB, Ole Miss
Coming off a huge upset to Kentucky last week, Ole Miss was out to prove they are still one of the best teams in the country. They did that by completely shutting down a respectable South Carolina team 27-3. The defense was led by Dottery who did a little bit of everything for the Rebels. He filled up the stat sheet with 13 tackles, 11 solo, plus a sack, two tackles-for-loss, and a pass defended.
Defense, Texas A&M
The Aggies defense deserves a lot of credit for halting the Missouri offense. They held a team that was averaging 36.5 points per game to only ten. Missouri quarterback Brady Cook had a miserable day completing only 13 of his 31 attempts and finishing with a 25.6 rating. The Aggies defense sacked him six times. They held the Tigers’ running backs to a combined 68 yards on 30 carries and controlled elite receiver Luther Burden III limiting him to 82 yards and no touchdowns.
Negative Game Changers
Nico Iamaleava QB, Tennessee
The Volunteers were the other top-ten team to get upset last weekend in their 19-14 loss to Arkansas. Heisman candidate Iamaleava couldn’t get much going in this game. He was 17 of 29 for 158 yards, no touchdowns, and a poor 39.5 rating. He couldn’t really chip in on the run game either with 11 carries for only 17 yards. The team was still able to run the ball well overall, but Iamaleava’s performance fell short and so did the Volunteers.
