Week 4 SEC Takeaways: Watch Both Elite 'UT's'

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Week 4 in the Southeastern Conference featured many exciting conference matchups. From the big road win of the No. 5 Tennessee Volunteers (4-0, 1-0 in the Southeastern Conference) to the continued struggles of the Mississippi State Bulldogs (1-3, 0-1), here's what football fans across the South are talking about after Week 4.

Sam Pittman's Salvation

Calling a Week 4 game a 'must-win' may seem dramatic, but that's what Arkansas' SEC opener vs. Auburn (2-2, 0-1) was on Saturday (Sept. 21). The win certainly wasn't pretty, but the 24-14 victory was huge in Arkansas' quest for bowl eligibility. Every game features bigger stakes from here on out, but winning on the Plains could prove crucial for Pittman's future with the Razorbacks (3-1, 1-0).

Down Hill in Starkville

It's well past time for Jeff Lebby to hit the panic button in Starkville, Miss. A 45-28 loss to Florida (2-2, 1-1) on Saturday (Sept. 21) dropped the Bulldogs to 1-3, with contests against No. 1 Texas (4-0) and No. 2 Georgia (3-0, 1-0) on tap next. With Arkansas, Tennessee, No. 6 Ole Miss (4-0) and No. 11 Missouri (4-0, 1-0) also on the schedule over the second half of the year as well, a 2-10 season isn't out of the question.

SEC: Both 'UT's' Are Championship Threats

If one didn't think Tennessee was a true playoff contender going into their matchup against Oklahoma, one does now. A 25-15 win may not sound all that convincing, but the Volunteers dominated the No. 21 Sooners in a game that wasn't nearly as close as the final score indicated. The sky is the limit for Josh Heupel and the Volunteers, especially if the defense continues to improve.

Texas' 51-3 dismantling of Lousiana-Monroe (2-1) was going to happen no matter who was under center, but Arch Manning looked serviceable in his college debut. Quinn Ewers will return as the starter, however, and when he does, both schools that claim to be the 'real UT' will be very real championship threats.

Missouri Survives Vandy

Missouri experienced firsthand the reality of being a top-10 team on Saturday (Sept. 21). The Tigers clearly had a target on their back, as evidenced by Vanderbilt (2-2, 0-1)—a team that one week prior, lost to Georgia State (2-1) at home—giving then-No. 7 Missouri all it could handle for four quarters and then some. The Commodores pushed the game into overtime before falling 30-27, but this game was a wake-up call for a Missouri program still adjusting to sustained success. These types of games are going to happen, and the best teams find a way to win, just as Missouri did.