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Another fun-filled weekend of South Eastern Conference football is in the books, and once again fan bases were treated to fireworks. No. 6 Tennessee (3-0) set multiple team offensive records, and No. 1 Texas (3-0) saw their highly-touted backup shine as both teams obliterated lesser opponents. No. 2 Georgia (3-0, 1-0 SEC) fell one spot in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll after being pushed by Kentucky (1-2, 0-1 SEC). No. 4 Alabama (3-0) quieted some critics after dominating in Camp Randall, and No. 5 Ole Miss (3-0) beat Wake Forest (1-2) so badly that Wake bought their way out of a home-and-home contract (not exactly).
There is never a dull moment in the conference where it just means more. Let's take a look at how the conference played out in Week 3, and where each team lands in this week's College Football Dawgs SEC Power Rankings.
No. 1: Texas Longhorns (3-0)
Longhorns starting quarterback Quin Ewers went down in the second quarter of the 56-7 Texas victory over the UTSA Roadrunners (1-2). The Ewers injury allowed Texas fans to glimpse into the future the highly-touted redshirt freshman Arch Manning took over at quarterback. Longhorn Nation has been chomping at the bit to get a substantial look at the youngest member of football's royal family, and Manning didn't disappoint. Manning finished the game 9-of-12 passing, for 223 yards and 4 touchdowns. He also scored on a 67-yard run. A Manning with wheels? Look out football world. Manning will get his first start next game against Louisana-Monroe (2-0) as Ewers recovers from his injury.
No. 2: Georgia Bulldogs (3-0, 1-0 SEC)
The surprise of the weekend for the football world was Kentucky taking the previously top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs down to the wire. It was a dogfight that ended 13-12 in Georgia's favor. The Wildcats' defense did a job limiting UGA's offense, holding the Bulldogs to 5-for-13 on third-down conversions and 3.4 yards per rush. Georgia took the lead in the fourth quarter on a Branson Robinson 3-yard touchdown run and refused to give it back. Credit to the Wildcats, but the Bulldogs may have been looking ahead just a bit, as Georgia travels to Tuscaloosa next to face off against the Alabama Crimson Tide.
No. 3: Tennessee Volunteers (3-0)
Tennessee defeated Kent State 71-0. The Volunteers broke multiple program records during the game. Tennessee scored the most points in a quarter (37), half (65) and game (71). Head coach Josh Heupel's offensive squad has flashed often and early this season, scoring 69, 51 and 71 points, respectively, in consecutive games. The Vols will be tested in Week 4. Tennessee travels to face No. 15 Oklahoma (3-0) in the Sooners' first SEC game. Oklahoma boasts the 23rd-scoring defense in the country. Will it be enough to slow down the Vols' elite scoring machine?
No. 4: Alabama Crimson Tide (3-0)
Some wondered about the Crimson Tide after they played the USF Bulls (2-1) close for three quarters. Some questioned how this Kalen DeBoer-led squad would react to traveling to the hostile environment of Camp Randall. Well, no worries. Bama had all the answers. They're still Bama. Quarterback Jalen Milroe continues his Heisman Trophy campaign. Milroe finished the game 12-of-17 passing for 196 yards and 3 touchdowns. He also led the team in rushing with 75 yards and two scores. The Tide washed out the Badgers of Wisconsin 42-10. Needless to say, "Jump Around" was more fun for the away team. Bama welcomes the Georgia Bulldogs to Bryant-Denny next in a game with huge implications for the SEC race.
No. 5: Ole Miss Rebels (3-0)
Okay, so the fact that Ole Miss beat the Demon Deacons of Wake Forest 40-6 didn't actually have anything to do with the "Wake Flake." But it is a fun narrative. And it irritated Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin. Kiffin said Wake "violated an unwritten rule." That was all Kiffin had to be irritated after the game. Ole Miss compiled 649 yards of total offensive yards in the trouncing of the Deacons. Look for the Rebels to continue their scoring trend as they get another warmup against Georgia Southern (2-1) in Week 4.
No. 6: Missouri Tigers (3-0)
The Missouri Tigers are the seventh-ranked team in the country and are coming off a tough matchup against Boston College (2-1, 1-0 Atlantic Coast conference). Mizzou started slow, but quarterback Brady Cook and receiver Luther Burden III eventually got rolling. Cook passed for 264 yards and a score. Burden finished with 6 receptions, 117 yards and a touchdown. The Tigers' secondary helped out the Eagles, allowing a handful of big plays in the passing game. But it was the same secondary that helped to flip the game the Tigers' way. Mizzou will look to fix those mistakes in the secondary and keep their winning streak alive as they face the Vanderbilt Commodores (2-1) in Week 4.
No. 7: Oklahoma Sooners (3-0)
The Sooners defeated the Tulane Green Wave (1-2) 34-19 in Week 3. It wasn't an overly prolific outing for the Oklahoma offense. The offensive line continues to struggle as it gave up 3 sacks, and quarterback Jackson Arnold continues to grapple with finding consistency in the passing game. Both issues were evident when Arnold threw a pick-6 that allowed Tulane to keep the score close. The interception happened while Arnold was under duress. The Sooners' defense is playing at an elite level and defensive end R. Mason Thomas had 3 sacks on the day. The defense has a challenge ahead of them as Oklahoma welcomes Tennessee and the nation's top-scoring offense into Norman for the Sooners' first SEC game.
No. 8: LSU Tigers (2-1, 1-0 SEC)
No. 16 LSU opened SEC play against the South Carolina Gamecocks (2-1, 0-1) in Week 3. The plucky Gamecocks played their tails off, and even with starting quarterback LaNorris Sellers in and out with a lower-leg injury South Carolina was in a position to win late in the game. The defensive struggles that plagued the Bayou Bengals through the 2023 season have followed the Tigers into the this season despite the upheaval on the defensive coaching staff. The defense has an opportunity to get right in the next game as LSU will hosts the UCLA Bruins (1-1, 0-1 Big Ten Conference). The Bruins rank near the bottom nationally in scoring, averaging 14.5 points a game.
No. 9: Texas A&M Aggies (2-1, 1-0 SEC)
Did the No. 25 Texas A&M Aggies find their quarterback against the Florida Gators (1-2, 0-1)? Starter Connor Weigman has dealt with injury and has not impressed when he has been in the game. In his absence against Florida, freshman Marcel Reed shined. Reed was 11-of-17 for 173 yards and 2 touchdowns, and added 83 yards and another score on the ground. Head coach Mike Elko hasn't committed to a quarterback for the upcoming game against Bowling Green (1-1), but it is expected Weigman will be a game-time decision. If Reed can continue his exciting play expect a potential permanent change at the position.
No. 10: Arkansas Razorbacks (2-1)
After three games, the hiring of offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino looks like a successful experiment. The Razorbacks are leading the nation in rushing touchdowns with 15, which is already more than the Razorbacks' total from 2023. Boiste State transfer quarterback Jaylen Green is a budding star with more than 800 yards passing and 3 touchdowns and 4 touchdowns on the ground. Arkansas travels to Jordan-Hare Stadium to face off against the Auburn Tigers (2-1). The Tigers have shown some weakness against the run, so there is an opportunity for Green and the Razorbacks' offense to pop.
No. 11: South Carolina Gamecocks (2-1, 1-1 SEC)
The Gamecocks dropped the game against LSU, but Sellers and South Carolina put up a fight. Head coach Shane Beamer has his team playing with some attitude. It is unclear if Sellers will be able to play against Akron (1-2) in Week 4. But regardless of who starts at quarterback, the 'Cocks should handle the Zips, and South Carolina will be a difficult out for SEC teams this season.
No. 12: Auburn Tigers (2-1)
Auburn fans were delighted when head coach Hugh Freeze announced before Week 3 that the Tigers would be making a change at quarterback. Redshirt freshman Hank Brown replaced senior Payton Thorne against the New Mexico Lobos (0-3). Brown performed well in his first start. He completed 17-of-25 passes for 235 yards and 4 touchdowns, and the Tigers beat the Lobos 42-19. Auburn hosts Arkansas in Week 4. The Tiger defense gave up 448 total yards of offense against New Mexico. The Tigers hope to have improved on that side of the ball before Green and the stout Razorback rush offense comes to town.
No. 13: Kentucky Wildcats (1-2, 0-2 SEC)
The Wildcats gave it their all against the Georgia Bulldogs in Week 3, but weren't able to close the deal. Kentucky is an enigma. In back-to-back weeks the Wildcats were trounced by South Carolina and played one of the best teams in the nation to the wire. Are the 'Cats the team that gets bounced by the middle tier of the SEC or the team that can play with the cream of the crop? Time will tell. UK plays the Ohio Bobcats (2-1) in Week 4.
No. 14: Vanderbilt Commodores (2-1)
Vandy was a national darling after the Commodores upset Virginia Tech (2-1), but sense then Vandy has fallen back into line after a loss to Georgia State (2-1) 36-32. Next up is the Missouri Tigers. Don't expect Vanderbilt to find their winning ways against the Tigers.
No. 15: Mississippi State Bulldogs (1-2)
The Bulldogs lost in Week 3 to Toledo (3-0) 41-17. Next up is the Florida Gators (1-2, 0-1 SEC). State head coach Jeff Lebby's offense has been humming, but struggled to find the end zone against the Rockets. The Gators and their dumpster fire offer an opportunity for the Bulldogs to find some consistency.
No. 16: Florida Gators (1-2, 0-1 SEC)
Florida is in full-blown panic mode. There were rumors that the Florida Board of Trustees met after the Gators lost to Texas A&M 33-20, and that the meeting revolved around the job security of head coach Billy Napier. Nothing came from the rumored meeting, but it is clear Napier is on thin ice. The Gators get the Mississippi State Bulldogs in Week 4. And Gator fans hope there is still time to turn the season around.
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