HotFootballTake: SEC Weekend Wrap-Up
Auburn Wrecks Ball State 42–3: Balance, Bruising, and the Breakout of Jeremiah Cobb
It’s hard to learn much from beating Ball State, but Auburn made sure we learned something anyway.
With Damari Alston sidelined, Jeremiah Cobb stepped in and showed he is SOLID. Cobb ripped off touchdown runs of 46 and 45 yards, finishing with a career-best 121 yards on the ground. Every time he touched the ball, it looked like Ball State wanted no part of tackling him. He’s a big dude! I wouldn’t want to be in his way. Auburn fans were looking for signs of a real rushing identity this year, and Cobb provided relief.
The other half of the offensive balance came from Jackson Arnold, who took a serious step forward through the air. After a run-heavy game plan in Week 1, Auburn let Arnold spin it a little — and he delivered. 251 yards and 3 touchdowns, including two to Eric Singleton, who did what he does best — making big plays as part of one of the most dangerous wide receiver duos in college football. Arnold’s pocket presence was clean, and he looked fully in control. This was the version Auburn fans were waiting for.
Then there was the defense, which didn’t just dominate — it humiliated. Negative rushing yards allowed (-3, to be exact), 14 tackles for loss, and six sacks. It was a jailbreak on every Ball State possession.
And let’s not forget the future: true freshman QB Deuce Knight finally saw the field and made the most of it, scrambling for a first down on a third-and-long to keep a late drive alive. Not to be outdone, freshman back Durell Robinson finished the game with a 54-yard touchdown run that had the crowd losing its mind.
This was Auburn doing exactly what it was supposed to do — but doing it with style, depth, and a message. The Tigers are deep, they're physical, and they're just getting warmed up.
Oklahoma Smothers Michigan 24–13: Defense Leads the Way in Statement Win
Welcome to the SEC, Michigan.
In the biggest non-conference showdown of the weekend, #18 Oklahoma showed the world they’re not just joining the big leagues — they already belong. The Sooners beat #15 Michigan with a performance that was as physical as it was disciplined, controlling the game on both sides of the ball in a 24–13 win that’s going to reverberate across the playoff conversation.
The story was the defense, full stop. Oklahoma held Michigan to just 288 total yards, kept them off the scoreboard for the entire first half, and made highly touted freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood look every bit the rookie. Underwood managed just 9 completions on 24 attempts for 142 yards, and he never looked comfortable. The Sooners brought pressure all night, forcing two turnovers and giving Underwood nowhere to go with the ball.
Michigan's only real spark came on a 75-yard touchdown run by Justice Haynes early in the second half, briefly cutting the lead to 14–7. But that was it — one play. The rest of the game was all crimson and cream.
John Mateer didn’t put up video game numbers, but he didn’t have to. He was poised, efficient, and lethal in the red zone. Mateer accounted for all three Oklahoma touchdowns, throwing one and running for two more. When Michigan tried to make a late push, Mateer calmly engineered a 16-play, 78-yard drive that drained more than eight minutes off the clock, ending in a game-sealing field goal.
This wasn’t flashy. It was physical. It was smart. It was SEC football.
Oklahoma didn't just beat Michigan — they outclassed them. They showed a toughness that Michigan couldn’t match and a level of execution that signals they’re ready to contend now. For a program still adjusting to life in the SEC, this was the first shot across the national bow.
Mississippi State Stuns No. 12 Arizona State 24–20 in Starkville Thriller
If you didn’t believe in the Jeff Lebby era at Mississippi State before Saturday, maybe you should think about it.
In what may go down as one of the most gutsy, chaotic, and pulse-pounding wins of Week 2, the Bulldogs took down No. 12 Arizona State 24–20 in Starkville, delivering a jolt to the national landscape and giving Lebby his first signature moment just two games into his tenure.
The game had everything — explosiveness, collapse, and redemption, all wrapped into sixty minutes of madness.
Mississippi State couldn’t have scripted a better start. Quarterback Blake Shapen came out dealing, hitting Anthony Evans III for a 48-yard strike and then finding Brenen Thompson deep again on a 47-yard touchdown. It was 17–0 in a flash, and Arizona State looked completely overwhelmed.
But then came the second half. And the Sun Devils brought the thunder.
Arizona State ripped off 20 unanswered points, leaning heavily on a punishing run game that piled up over 250 rushing yards. They took the lead with just 1:38 left after a grueling nine-minute drive that included a gutsy fourth-down conversion at the goal line — only to settle for a field goal and a 20–17 lead.
And that’s when it happened.
Blake Shapen. Brenen Thompson. Magic.
Just 30 seconds on the clock. One shot left. And Mississippi State hit the home run.
Shapen uncorked a deep ball, Thompson blew by his man, and just like that — 58 yards to glory. It was the play of the night, the upset of the weekend, and the kind of moment that can launch a season.
Arizona State didn’t get a chance to recover. On the very next play, Sam Leavitt threw a pick, and the party in Starkville was on.
For Mississippi State, it’s more than just a win. It’s a turning point. It’s proof that the new-look Bulldogs have the firepower, toughness, and belief to punch above their weight in the SEC.
Ole Miss Gets Revenge, Smacks Kentucky in a Gritty 30–23 Win
Last year’s matchup with Kentucky ended in heartbreak for Ole Miss — a 20–17 loss at home that stuck with them all offseason. This time? It was all about payback — and Kewan Lacy made sure Kentucky felt every bit of it.
The Rebels went into a hostile environment and walked out with a hard-earned 30–23 win, powered by a ruthless ground game, timely play-calling, and a defense that stiffened when the game was on the line.
It didn’t start pretty.
Austin Simmons threw two picks early — both on bad decisions — and Kentucky cashed in quickly, jumping out to a 10–0 lead that had the home crowd smelling blood. But once Ole Miss settled in and leaned on its horses, the tide turned fast.
Kewan Lacy was the workhorse. The sophomore back ran wild, racking up 138 yards and a touchdown, slicing through Kentucky’s front with ease. Every big drive had his fingerprints on it. He was the difference-maker — plain and simple.
Then came the call that flipped the game.
Fourth-and-1. Crowd roaring. Lane Kiffin dials up a play-action dagger. Simmons fakes the dive, hits Harrison Wallace III deep for a 55-yard bomb, and suddenly the Rebels were cooking. That drive ended in six and changed the entire momentum.
After that? Ole Miss took control and never gave it back.
Lucas Carneiro was nails. The freshman kicker drilled three clutch field goals — from 43, 28, and 36 — and iced the game like a seasoned vet.
And when Kentucky had one last shot to tie it, the Rebel defense shut the door. After a long pass set them up deep in the red zone, Ole Miss got the fourth-down stop it needed — game over.
No wild theatrics. No last-minute drama. Just a cold, hard road win from a team that’s grown up since last year’s collapse.
Ole Miss is 2–0. And with Simmons finding his groove, Lacy running angry, and the defense making plays late, the Rebels look ready to hang with anyone in the SEC
Vanderbilt Breaks Loose, Steamrolls Virginia Tech 44–20 Behind Second-Half Barrage
Diego Pavia did Diego Pavia things.
That’s the headline.
Vanderbilt’s veteran quarterback showed once again why he’s the heartbeat of this team, sparking a second-half explosion that turned a 10-point halftime deficit into a 44–20 beatdown of Virginia Tech. The Commodores scored 34 unanswered after the break and absolutely buried the Hokies in every phase.
The first half was rocky — Virginia Tech jumped out early with a quick 10–0 lead, Kyron Drones was slicing through the defense, and Vandy looked flat. But then Pavia flipped the switch. Midway through the second quarter, he connected with Brycen Coleman for a 54-yard touchdown to inject some life, and the tide turned.
From there, it was all gas.
The second half was a Vandy highlight reel. Pavia kept the offense humming, the run game took over, and the defense locked the Hokies in a box. Sedrick Alexander punched in two scores, leading a ground attack that racked up 262 rushing yards and straight-up bullied Virginia Tech into submission.
Then came the catch — Tre Richardson, 26 yards, one hand, full extension. A touchdown that gave Vandy its first lead and completely broke the Hokies’ back. That’s the kind of play this offense is built to make now — fast, fearless, and explosive.
And the defense? Ice cold. They shut out Virginia Tech in the second half and allowed just 21 total yards after halftime.
Border War Breakdown: Missouri Storms Back to Beat Kansas 42–31
In the return of one of college football’s fiercest rivalries, Missouri overcame an early deficit and surged late to beat Kansas 42–31 in Columbia.
Kansas opened strong, jumping out to a 21–6 lead by the end of the first quarter. Quarterback Jalon Daniels looked sharp early, tossing a touchdown to DeShawn Hanika, and the Jayhawks added a defensive score when Austin Alexander returned a fumble for a touchdown.
But the second quarter belonged to Missouri. The Tigers' defense clamped down, holding Kansas to just four offensive plays in the quarter, and the offense chipped away. Missouri scored 15 unanswered points — including two field goals and a safety — to tie the game at 21–21 going into halftime.
The second half was a back-and-forth battle. Kansas briefly retook the lead on another Daniels-to-Hanika touchdown to go up 31–28 with just over eight minutes to play.
But Missouri closed the door.
Quarterback Beau Pribula led a go-ahead scoring drive, hitting Brett Norfleet for a 27-yard touchdown. Then, with Kansas needing a stop to stay alive, running back Jamal Roberts broke loose for a 63-yard touchdown run, capping off a career-high 143-yard performance and sealing the Tigers’ victory.
Missouri outscored Kansas 21–3 in the final 20 minutes
USF Stuns Florida 18–16 in Defensive Slugfest
In one of the biggest surprises of the weekend, USF took down No. 13 Florida, 18–16, in The Swamp, marking a major win for the Bulls and a frustrating early-season stumble for the Gators.
The game was a defensive and special teams battle from the start. Florida managed just three field goals in the first half, all from kicker Trey Smack, while USF’s Nico Gramatica answered with two of his own. Florida led 9–6 at halftime, but the Gators' offense never found a consistent rhythm.
The momentum shifted in the third quarter when Byrum Brown found Keshaun Singleton for a 66-yard touchdown, giving USF its first lead of the game. Minutes later, a botched snap on a Florida punt resulted in a safety, pushing the Bulls’ lead to 15–9.
Florida briefly regained the lead in the fourth quarter. A short drive was capped by a touchdown pass from DJ Lagway to Eugene Wilson III, putting the Gators ahead 16–15 with just over 12 minutes left.
But USF didn’t flinch. The Bulls got the ball back with just over two minutes remaining and methodically drove down the field, aided by two costly Florida penalties — including a personal foul — that helped extend the drive. With three seconds left, Nico Gramatica hit a 20-yard field goal to complete the upset.
The Gators were penalized 11 times for 103 yards, with multiple key infractions in the fourth quarter. In a game where every point mattered, discipline — or the lack of it — proved to be the difference.
#3 LSU 23, LA Tech 7
The Tigers got the win but left plenty of concerns on the offensive side. Garrett Nussmeier threw an early interception, and the offense managed just one touchdown from Caden Durham. The defense did most of the work, holding LA Tech to just 154 total yards and forcing five three-and-outs. LSU gave up its only touchdown late in the fourth quarter, snapping a six-quarter shutout streak.
#4 Georgia 28, Austin Peay 6
Georgia’s defense led the way, allowing just 196 total yards and standing tall on two key goal-line stands. Chauncey Bowens and Nate Frazier each scored twice on the ground, with Frazier capping a 99-yard drive in the fourth. Quarterback Gunner Stockton struggled, throwing no touchdowns and fumbling once. A two-hour halftime weather delay didn’t help the offensive rhythm, and the Bulldogs were forced to grind out the win.
#7 Texas 38, San Jose State 7
After losing to Ohio State in Week 1, Texas bounced back in commanding fashion. Arch Manning accounted for five touchdowns—four passing, one rushing—and threw an 83-yard bomb to Parker Livingstone. The Texas defense forced four first-half turnovers, including a pick by Jaylon Guilbeau. Despite the win, penalties and a red-zone interception remained issues, as Texas committed 12 fouls for 115 yards.
#19 Texas A&M 44, Utah State 22
The Aggies took care of business at home, using a balanced offensive attack and timely defensive plays to pull away in the second half.
#10 South Carolina 38, SC State 10
South Carolina followed up its season-opening win with a complete performance against SC State. The Gamecocks leaned on a strong run game, efficient quarterback play, and a defense that gave up very little — a solid tune-up before SEC play begins.
Arkansas 56, Arkansas State 14
Quarterback Taylen Green led the charge with five total touchdowns in a blowout win that saw Arkansas dominate from the opening snap.
#21 Alabama 73, ULM 0
Alabama responded to early-season criticism with a ruthless performance, shutting out ULM and scoring at will in a 73-0 statement win.
Wrap-Up
Week 2 was wild across the SEC. Auburn and Mississippi State looked sharp, Florida raised serious concerns, and the Border War delivered as promised. Ole Miss got its revenge, and Georgia, despite a sleepy showing, kept winning. It's shaping up to be another wild season.