The SEC game changers for the final week of the regular season decided an eight overtime game, a top 15 matchup, and the SEC championship contender.
Offensive Game Changers
Nico Iamaleava QB, Tennessee
Tennessee needed a win to punch their ticket to the college football playoff. Things looked a little dicey when Vanderbilt jumped out to a 14-0 lead. Iamaleava had thrown a touchdown to cut the lead to 14-7. They trailed 17-7 when he made his one mistake in the game, an under-thrown deep ball that was intercepted. After that, he led two 90-plus-yard touchdown drives while the Volunteers outscored the Commodores 29-6 the rest of the way. Iamaleava finished 18 for 26 for 257 yards and four touchdowns as the Volunteers guaranteed their spot in the playoff.
Quintrevion Wisner RB, Texas
It’s rare that a player can truly be one of the SEC game-changers without scoring a touchdown. But Wisner managed to pull it off in the Longhorns’ 17-7 win over the Aggies that punched their ticket to the SEC championship game against Georgia. Wisner had a career day with 33 carries plus two catches for 207 total yards. Texas dominated the time of possession by almost 10 minutes and that’s only possible when you have a running back who can carry that kind of load. Wisner certainly did and because of that his team has a chance at the SEC title.
Garrett Nussmeier QB, LSU
The Oklahoma defense completely shut down Jalen Milroe and the Alabama offense two weeks ago, but they weren’t as fortunate with LSU last week. Nussmeier was questionable to even play in the game with a shoulder injury. But he managed to suit up and played excellently in LSU’s 37-17 thumping. He completed 22 of his 31 attempts for 277 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. He did have a fumble returned for a touchdown, but his 90.9 QBR made up for it.
Defensive Game Changers
Demetrius Knight Jr. LB, South Carolina
Fifteenth-ranked South Carolina was in a battle with 12th-ranked Clemson. LaNorris Sellers gave the Gamecocks a three-point lead with an incredible 20-yard touchdown run. But Clemson drove the ball down to the South Carolina 18 yard line with 12 seconds left. Quarterback Cade Klubnik threw the ball behind his receiver. He tipped it and Knight Jr. made a diving interception to win them the game. He also led the team with 10 tackles. It was potentially a season-changing play for a Gamecocks team fighting to make the college football playoff.
Dan Jackson DB, Georgia
In one of the craziest games of the year, Georgia came back to beat Georgia Tech 44-42 in eight overtimes. The Bulldogs were down 20-6 in the fourth quarter. The offense woke up, but Georgia still trailed 27-20 with two minutes to go. Georgia Tech had the ball on a third and one. Haynes King ran a quarterback sneak and appeared to get the first down. But Jackson hit King jarring the ball loose and Georgia recovered. They scored a touchdown forcing it to all of the overtimes. Jackson creating that fumble was the ultimate game-changer and the Bulldogs probably don’t have a chance to win without it.
Negative Game Changers
Cutter Boley QB / Jamarion Wilcox RB, Kentucky
The Wildcats’ once-promising season has crumbled around them. They lost six out of their last seven games and this one was as ugly as they come. Louisville smoked them 41-14. Boley got the start after finishing the game last week and he was horrible. He completed only six of his 15 pass attempts for 48 yards and two interceptions before being benched. He had a QBR of 0.8 for the game, which I didn’t even know was possible. He also fumbled, though Kentucky recovered. Wilcox didn’t help at all losing two fumbles of his own. Kentucky had five turnovers in the game as their season mercifully came to an end.
