During rivalry week, the SEC only had three inter-conference games with two of those being the best games of the week. The SEC game changers were a couple very familiar names, a couple not-so-familiar ones, and one team that’s falling fast.
Offensive Game Changers
Jalen Milroe QB, Alabama
Milroe was basically the entire offense for the Crimson Tide in their dominating 42-10 win over a usually competitive Wisconsin team. Milroe was 12 of 17 for 198 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions. But he was also the team’s leading rusher with 14 carries for 75 yards and two more touchdowns. Just a dominant performance.
Luther Burden III WR, Missouri
The preseason All American played like it in the Tigers’ 27-21 nail-biter over 24th-ranked Boston College. Burden III had six catches for 117 yards and a 19-yard touchdown catch where he juked one defender and split three others to tie the game at 14. Missouri had trailed 14-3, but scored 24 straight points to hold off the Eagles.
Hank Brown QB, Auburn
Coach Hugh Freeze made a change at quarterback after Payton Thorne threw four interceptions last week. Even playing a defeated team like New Mexico can be challenging for a first time starter, but Brown was up to the task. He was 17/25 for 235 yards and four touchdowns, most likely cementing himself as the starter for the rest of the year.
Defensive Game Changers
Bradyn Swinson DE, LSU
In the SEC game of the day, LSU held off South Carolina in a comeback 36-33 victory. Swinson was the defensive star of the game with three sacks, after only having two sacks all of last year, plus a forced fumble. In a game LSU desperately needed, Swinson came up huge.
Billy Bowman Jr. DB, Oklahoma
With over eight minutes left in the game, Oklahoma was only up 24-19 on Tulane and were in danger of being upset. Tulane had third-and-one when a tipped pass was picked off by Bowman Jr. That interception led to a 43-yard touchdown drive that iced the game for the Sooners.
Negative Game Changers
Run Offense and Run Defense, Florida
Florida didn’t show up again in a massive game. Texas A&M played bad in a loss to Notre Dame in week one. Northern Illinois’ upset win over Notre Dame in week two made that loss seem even worse. But the Aggies still beat up on Florida 33-20 in a game where the Gators could only muster 52 yards rushing, averaging just over two yards per carry. Texas A&M rushed for 310 yards on 55 carries helping them dominate time of possession by over 15 minutes.
Kyle Kennard LB, South Carolina
Kennard erased what would have been a pick-six with an unnecessary hit on the quarterback during the return that wouldn’t have affected the play. That would have put the Gamecocks up 11, but they ended up punting. Then on what would have been a fourth down incompletion that should have won the game for South Carolina, it turned into a first down when Kennard jumped offsides. LSU scored the game winning TD on that drive. Brutal week for Kennard.
