The SEC game changers for Week 12 featured quarterbacks leading their teams to the biggest wins of the weekend, a dominant defensive performance with too many standouts to choose just one, and a coach making it for the wrong reasons.
Offensive Game Changers
LaNorris Sellers QB, South Carolina
I was getting ready to insert Luther Burden in this spot when he made a one-handed touchdown catch on 4th and 5 to give Missouri a three-point lead with 1:10 left in the game. That was before Sellers led a six-play, 70-yard touchdown drive in just 47 seconds. Sellers accounted for all the yards on the drive. His touchdown pass to Raheim Sanders with 15 seconds left sealed the game. The performance on the last drive would be enough for him to be one of the SEC game changers. But his total numbers were 21 of 30 for 353 yards, 45 rushing yards, and five touchdowns. He single-handedly killed the Tigers’ season.
Carson Beck QB, Georgia
Beck’s preseason stock has plummeted as of late with his rash of interceptions. Tennessee hopped out to a 10-0 lead in this game and Beck started three of 10. He was surgical the rest of the way. The Bulldogs outscored the Volunteers 31-7 after the first quarter on their way to a 31-17 victory. Beck finished the game 25 of 40 for 347 yards and two touchdowns. He also added 32 yards rushing and another touchdown on the ground. The biggest number of all might have been zero, which was the amount of interceptions he threw.
Payton Thorne QB, Auburn
It’s been a rough year for the Tigers with only a 4-6 record. They were playing a lame-duck opponent in UL Monroe, but Thorne went nuts. He was 22 of 32 for 286 yards and a career-high five touchdowns. Cam Coleman deserves some love having caught three of them. Thorne has been up and down all season, even getting benched at one point. But he was a game changer last week in a much-needed win for the school.
Defensive Game Changers
Defense, Texas
It was a dominant performance in the Longhorns’ 20-10 win over Arkansas. They sacked Taylen Green six times and held him to negative four yards on 16 carries. There were too many standout performances to select just one. Jahdae Barron has seven tackles, a sack, and an interception. Alfred Collins had seven tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble. Michael Taaffe led the team with eight tackles and had a fumble recovery. Colin Simmons had two sacks. It was an incredible team effort in a huge SEC win.
Jordan Lovett DB, Kentucky
Kentucky beat up a bad Murray State team 48-6 on Saturday. But the blowout didn’t happen right away. Murray State was moving the ball on the opening drive when Lovett made his first interception of the day near mid-field. Kentucky went down and scored to go up 7-0. It was 17-0 late in the first half and the Racers were at the Wildcats 22 with a chance to make it a game. Lovett yet again intercepted the ball. Kentucky scored a touchdown right before half and the game was over.
Negative Game Changers
Brian Kelly, LSU Tigers
I only bestowed this distinction on Kelly because this was a team loss and that falls on the coach. LSU was in the driver’s seat in the SEC a few weeks ago before getting dragged by Texas A&M, Alabama, and now Florida. The Gators have been a mediocre team and they beat up the Tigers. Praise goes to Billy Napier. He seemed to be a dead coach walking early in the season. Now he will be back and has a talented team coming with him led by freshman quarterback DJ Lagway. But that’s no excuse for LSU to lose a game they desperately needed to keep the season alive. Now they are looking towards next season, just like the Gators.
