The SEC game-changers for week ten include two teammates setting records, a struggling team finally having a positive performance, and the top team in the conference laying an egg.
Offensive Game Changers
Jaxson Dart QB / Jordan Watkins WR, Ole Miss
The Ole Miss offense has been up and down this year. On Saturday, it was way up. They destroyed Arkansas 63-31. Dart threw for 515 yards and six touchdowns, both school records. He was also the team’s leading rusher with 10 carries for 47 yards. The biggest recipient of his record-setting performance was Watkins. The receiver had eight catches for 254 yards and five of the six touchdown catches. This legendary day made them the ultimate SEC game-changers.
LaNorris Sellers QB / Raheim Sanders RB, South Carolina
South Carolina had by far the biggest win in the conference last week with their 44-20 win over 10th-ranked Texas A&M. It was hard to choose between these two. Both had excellent days, but also had slight negatives. Sellers threw for 244 yards, ran for 106 more, and produced three total touchdowns. But his completion percentage was under 50 percent. Sanders rushed for 144 yards and two touchdowns plus had another 92 yards receiving. But he did cough up a fumble. Both players were essential in one of the bigger upsets of the year.
Run Game, Mississippi State
The 1-7 Bulldogs are having a miserable season. They got their second win by beating up a lowly Massachusetts team 45-20. Their run game dominated with a total of 29 carries for 243 yards between five different rushers. Johnnie Daniels, Davon Booth, and Xavier Gayten each had a touchdown. Quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr. ran for two. There hasn’t been much to be excited about for the Bulldogs this year, so here’s to their second win.
Defensive Game Changers
TJ Dottery LB, Ole Miss
The story of this game was the incredible offense. But the domination started midway through the first quarter in a scoreless game. With the ball on their own one-yard line, Arkansas’ Taylen Green dropped back to pass in the end zone. Dottery bolted around the corner for a sack. Green fumbled and it was recovered for a touchdown. Dottery had six tackles in the game and two sacks plus the forced fumble that started the scoring for the Rebels.
CJ Allen LB, Georgia
Georgia was in a tight battle with a Florida team that was down their top two quarterbacks. With four minutes left in the game, Georgia had just scored a touchdown to take the lead by seven. The Gators were getting the ball back with a chance to tie it. On the first play from their own 17, third-string quarterback Aidan Warner rolled out of the pocket. He threw it and Allen leaped to snatch it out of the air. Two plays later, Georgia scored another touchdown to go up 14 points and ice the game. Allen also led the team in tackles.
Negative Game Changers
Defense, Texas A&M
This was a devastating team loss. The Aggies were first in the SEC and had three games remaining with the only hard one against Texas. They could have won that and guaranteed themselves the SEC title and a playoff spot. Now it’s all up in the air. Their defense completely shut down offenses like Missouri and LSU. But they allowed unranked South Carolina to put up 530 yards of offense and 44 points in a 44-20 stomping. The Aggies had controlled their own destiny, but now they have one conference loss just like four other teams.
