SEC Football Power Rankings: Week 6 Edition

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1:01Plenty to play on right now NFL obviously in full swing college football. Nearing the midway point and of course baseball playoffs too. Good win for Chris's braves last night. Yes, sir. That felt great. I mean, just the way we drew it up, you know, staff days the first two days in LA to middle order doesn't hit and don't pitch your best to starting pitchers. Now, Sean's impressed with with the hair this morning. Glad to hear that. Holly's in here in the chat as always. Big win nation fired up about about the cats as well. Everyone in the Commonwealth should be Jay. How are you? I'm good. Thanks for asking, Billy. I don't know how many people know this night, but I've been a lifelong Dodgers fan. So we could just have that conversation in another time, I guess. Long series. Yeah. Not any more. Yeah, fair point. Five games. Yeah, three games.

2:03Well, let's go ahead and start here with number 16 in the power rankings. You know, a solid win against Tulsa, but man, another another tough week for the hogs as they fall at Texas A&M. I thought the defense looked good in spots, but, but the offense just was was continually putting them in tough positions. I'm trying to find something good to say about Arkansas. Some I'm searching the stat sheet. Here's the good news. Arkansas, you are not dead last in league and yards per plate differential. Your next to last bad news is the team that's last just beat you like a like a rented mule. So anyway, I hard to find a lot to say. All right. Well, I can say something good. Chris Marshall, maybe the best Dan White receiver, nobody in the country knows about that's fair.

3:05Yeah. Issues they got to find someone else to catch the ball. They don't have another receiver with more than 12 catches. They don't have a receiver that that's over 100 yards other than Marshall, who's got over 500 already. Cell. I think the biggest question for this one. And we've already, Billy and I have already done the preview on this. How many empty seats are there on Saturday? It's going to be a tough sell. Many tough sell. Probably time to move on. Are you talking about Arkansas football decision makers? Are you talking about us in the power rankings? Yes. The question is the question is out there for both. Yes to both. Well, three 15 kickoff. So you think it gives some balls the ball some trouble that they have one forced rate in Fayetteville.

4:05Not sure how much weight that carries, but against Tennessee. Been a tough spot for the balls over the years. Number 15 Vanderbilt. I mean, Chris, you can speak to this better than anybody. But thought they looked pretty decent on the Saturday. They'll get Ole Miss this week. But obviously a tough spot. Anytime you go to Athens, particularly when you're starting quarterback can't go. Yeah, I think there's a universe in which the final score that one could have been a lot different. It felt like all the breaks, replay calls, those things went Georgia's way. Georgia was going to win the game either way, but the point for Vanderbilt is if you watch the game, it felt like going more competitive football team than I would have expected. Now it's the okay. Can they build on some momentum? I'm a defensive player better against Auburn. A defensive player well in spots in his Georgia and hopefully has shared Curtis back for it. I think an Ole Miss game that might be a little bit more winnable on paper.

5:06I have some things translate. But still not been a great overall season for them. I don't know which way this goes. I don't either because I appreciate the optimism and the first half was better. I also think Georgia played with its food a little bit. And for the strides that, and you want to try to build around defensive identity, the rest of the game was still 25 and 32 without his two top running backs. I mean, I'm also willing to bet that Kirby peeled the pain a half time. I hate it for the Curtis kid because he was visibly upset. That moment would have meant a lot to him to play there in that scenario. And where they go from here. His backup, Chris, I mean, we're talking about Vandy.

6:09His backup, I think Tennessee would trade either one of their quarterbacks for either one of Vandy's top two quarterbacks. Yeah, that may be true. This is the week that Vandible needs to kind of put it together. Kind of, I don't know how many people know this, but Vandible's went in straight in that building. So I think that makes Saturday a little bit more interesting than people would think. I see some signs of a team that's getting better in national. Yeah, Vandible's went in straight in first bank stadium. That's a great stat because there's a lot of consternation around this league. I mean, I know Auburn and Tennessee both have just this year ended almost SEC losing streaks at home that almost reached half does it. Yeah. If I'm not mistaken, Chris, that that one loss was was a pretty tight game against Texas, right? The Texas team that ended up going to the playoffs.

7:09Oh, Tennessee. Well, the two was Tennessee before that it was Texas, but that was it. And they also that does not include the Alabama game that they won two years ago. So that's that building has been kind of magical for them the last couple of years. So I'm just saying that that might be your nobody sees this coming, but there's there's a path that it goes well. So well, the last couple of years, you had a different number. Yeah. I mean, very much. Okay. Chris, you were saying something that kind of jumped out of me this week. He said Vandible doesn't really know exactly what it is right now. What in your mind is could be the the identity that this team forges. If they want to win some games against a schedule that's really tough in terms of what you've seen, what's going to be their path to to win in a couple games on that schedule? I think as best you can do it. Take the offense is best.

8:10Jared Curtis can run it. Reconstruct it around that and make that your bread and butter. It's not power running game. It's not win with defense and special teams. It is winning with his right arm. If you have to shorten the playbook by, you know, 75% to fit what he does. That's what you do. I completely agree with every part of that. And even if you in the bowl streak and end up five and seven, nobody be happy with that. But if you redirect the program to where it looks like what NC State did with Philip Rivers. And because he's got a magical right arm that you're then, because then you know what else it allows you to do to identify who you want in the portal and recruiting to put around him because you can't. He's not Diego Pavia. He's a foot taller and he throws the ball seven to 100 miles an hour harder. Yeah.

9:11Next up on our list, I know a lot of us had Pete Damel. Notifications turned on yesterday wondering, would there be a trigger pulled after yet another home loss. South Carolina is now born a 16 and 17 point lead at home. This time it's it's Will Steinington Tucky that comes in and delivers the blow. But boy, from the conversations we were having about South Carolina 13 months ago to now could not be could not be more contrasted. The press conferences for Shane Beamer just don't look good. For the record, I think he's handling them pretty well. You can tell he's irritated. Shane Beamer is kind of a touchy guy by nature. He could have certainly handled him a lot worse than he has. But anything that can go wrong for them is going wrong. I do think there's a better team under here. I've got some evidence for that.

10:12If people want to hear it. But I think right now that the conversation is so dominated by the situation, is he going to keep his job all those things that I think that's all that everybody's looking at at the moment. I mean, yes and no. I mean, because to your point, Chris, I completely agree. There's a better football team underneath. The best compliment I've always paid coaches is when your team is better than the sum of its parts. And then I got to thinking about that, which means conversely, the worst insult I can pay a coach is when your team is worse than the pieces you have. And South Carolina has better pieces than to be this. I mean, truly, I just, I mean, I know the whole deal and Stuart thing detracted, but over, Billy, I love the 13 month concept of the dudes they've lost over the last, the

11:13dudes they've had in that program since August of 2025, is that hell of a lot better than what this has been? And we've talked, we talked about it on Saturday. A lot of that fell on the, at the doorstep of Mike Schule. Well, you know what? Mike Schule's address isn't in the Columbia, South Carolina anymore. Shane Beamer's is. And with a biweek following a trip to a pissed off bunch of gators, I would advise everybody keep their p-famil notifications on. Yeah, I think that's a good point, Jay, because look, I know John Summeral is going to have his team angry and ready to go at home after what happened last week in the other Columbia. But I mean, maybe I'm wrong. I feel like last week, Shane Beamer probably played every card he had. You know, he said, hey, Dylan Stewart, maybe out of the locker room.

12:14I'm coaching for my job. We're all playing for each other. And boy, they came out firing, right? Could not have started better for South Carolina. I mean, the job he has this week to try and refocus his crew, not an inviable task. And before we flip the script here, I think not only do I believe perception matters, imagery matters. And in the two huge leads that South Carolina has blundered this year, because this is a completely different conversation if they hold on to double digit leads and conference games. The look on Beamer's face and his demeanor on the sideline is detrimental to his cause to keep coaching this football team. For I mean, yes, we can all talk about what you've done is adjustments and change the tide. And I mean, kids get outplayed, coaches get out coach.

13:14I don't know, I know a fair amount about football, but I don't know enough about football to tell Shane Beamer what he had. He needs to do in terms of adjustments, holding second double digit second half leads. I can tell you as a media, as a member of the media in a lifelong sports fan, when you stand there looking like this, it does not instill confidence in a program that is a nine figure operation. Yeah, I said a minute ago, I can give you some things that indicate maybe a little better team than what we've seen. They are third in the league and total offense under Kindle Briles. So I think that's, you know, the offense is going on a better direction. It's not always been pretty, but hey, it's the same time they are, you know, sometimes stats lie. And I think that's a little bit the case for them. They just have not been able to put it together at the right time. They've been turnovers. They're all kinds of things. And the only thing that everybody cares about right now, only it's that the people

14:17care about is the blown leads. And I do think that is where Shane Beamer, you know, has looking me or say, hey, what's going on here? That's where he has to take responsibility. I will say this, you look down the schedule. If they can keep it together, there are some games they can win. Clemson is winnable. They probably be a slight favorite right now. Arkansas is winnable. I think A&M and Oklahoma are both winnable. Tennessee may be winnable. There's not a lot of games in here that I count them out in terms of who they're playing. Because I think the schedule from here on out is one of the easier ones in league. But that's more of a reflection of the schedule than maybe how strong this team is. We'll see if they can get it done. Next up, number 13, Senate agrees in the four is yours. Wow, where to start? That was a winnable game in Knoxville. I mean, when you pull your starting quarterback and you hold the opposition to what they finish

15:20with less than 100 yards passing. 86. Huh? 86 was the final number. And I mean, dear Lord, I didn't watch a game. I was coaching softball. I didn't watch a game lot. I was coaching softball. I knew DeShon Bishop was getting a damn football. I mean, DJ Durkin can wake up from a bad dream and forget more football than I'll ever know. But at some point, don't you have to make George McIntyre complete a damn pass down the field? And I hate, look, we're at the bottom of the SEC barrel right now. So it feels like everything's negative. And you guys are going to get mad at the rankings here in a minute. Because these tears are tough as hell right now. Yeah. I mean, there are six teams hoping to get to a bowl game. There are five teams. There are five teams, seven teams right there in the mix to be relevant or relevant in a

16:23national chatter. And then there are three elite teams. And everywhere else, we can parcel it out. But Auburn has earned this place. It is, I think I am potentially most disappointed in. I have to believe Alex Goliens is a better football coach than just to borrow a line from Colonel Nathan Art Jessup from a few good men. I hope Alex Goliens didn't pin his offensive plans to buy him brown in a phone bill. Because this offense, if he's not doing it, they're not doing anything. And yeah, the offensive line has been bad for years. But we've known that going in at some point. If you know you have issues, you either fix the issues or you walk away. So, and I'm not saying Alex Goliens needs to walk away. But the offensive line has to be addressed. And the offseason of speaking of physicality and playing violently.

17:28They, in the games they have lost. They were not the more physical football team. I don't even know if they were the more physical football team against Baylor or Vandy Chris. I watch them in this just screams Birmingham Bowl. When I want to watch them play like they do some things well. They, you know, they defend well. By and brown shows up in spots to string some things together. Cobb can run the ball a little bit. But it just on paper, you know, you saw the offensive output in the Tennessee game. You saw them go for that fourth down deep in their own territory. Couldn't get the yards. Couldn't make the play that mattered. And here's my issue. This feels like a six and six Birmingham Bowl team where they meet East Carolina or somebody in Birmingham. But the problem is I'm trying to find that third win. You know, I think you'll get one against what Sanford. Should get one against Arkansas.

18:29Maybe if Mississippi State is beaten up late in the year with that schedule that yours. But that's on the road. The schedule from here on out though. Man, George LSU Ole Miss Mississippi State Alabama brutal. Going to be tough sledding. Coming in at number 12, Texas A&M. Right at the ship last week, 34 to seven win over Arkansas. Also read, look better 13 to 19 for 170 yards. Also ran for 66. Still doesn't look great. But look, you go to Columbia Potential Letdown Spot for Missouri. Vegas has the Tigers. There's just three and a half point favorites. And you get the Citadel next week. So if you find a way to win on Saturday, all of a sudden you're five and two. Just by now, how rough the seasons started. Yeah, the schedule is, I think, reasonably favorable for them to get there.

19:33Again, the Citadel South Carolina Oklahoma all winnable games. I guess the biggest thing is the offense kept the defense off the field, which is kind of what you want to do. I don't think there's a magic formula where A&M becomes some elite offensive team. But you do that. You know, what the whole Arkansas at 214 yards, 234. Hey, it was kind of finding a way to win in a spot where I think we all had questions about that. I think Arkansas had a legit chance to maybe pull an upset or at least that did coming in. A&M instead won that pretty decisively. So maybe, maybe this is, maybe it's just you played a bad team and you did what you did. Or maybe these are some small signs of growth. I don't know. Missouri is not the one you want coming up though. I do know that. No, I completely agree because, and we'll talk about it more with Missouri. But I think some of the shortcomings here, look, the most glaring one is Marcell Reed is not playing well.

20:37And to it is, it's downright staggering to a lot of us that. Chris, I know you're our stats guru, but you deal with more analytics. I'm talking big picture. Did you have on your bingo card that the top two, the bottom two passing offenses in this league as we approach the halfway point or a Josh Hyple offense and then 15th is an offense led by Marcell Reed. Yeah, an offense that got to the playoff. So you're good. No, I think that would have been on my list of big surprises. Did you told me that before the season? And I said it last week and it continues to come to fruition. Holy God, did we undervalue Casey Concepcion? Because the brain is on the browns and they're three in damn one. So look, I think Elko's good at this.

21:42I think this is an advantageous spot for A&M coming off such an emotional moment for Missouri, but I am curious if they have the ability on both sides to keep Missouri's offense off the field. By by throwing the football because look, Billy, I talked about it. If you're Missouri, the game plan stays the same. You treat A&M the same way you treated Florida and make the quarterback beat you because he hasn't he hasn't shown the ability to do that. But Billy and I were talking about this game and Billy, I hope you still have those stats in front of you. But other than the second half against Arizona State and he'll share the numbers, this has been an exceedingly mediocre defense to Mike Elko standards. Yeah, two sacks and four turnovers, Chris, are the numbers that they've forced in four games. Yeah, and I think that's the reason I've been lower on them is that they were one of the worst defenses statistically coming in and you you pair that with an offense that.

22:52You know, it has been beyond underwhelming. Yeah, I think we've probably I had Auburn ahead of A&M at this point, but you know, A&M did play a better game this week. Granite was against Arkansas, but hey, I guess you could see the other way. You could see that whatever they did, they they took command of a game early of a conference game and got out and looked a little better, but you know, the season all tops you so far is not kind. Well, you could say did it about our 11th ranked team in the power rankings. Oklahoma, it's been a struggle. They didn't play. They got the week off to prepare for Red River. And look, for as bad as it's looked, I'm not saying there's something to necessarily gravitate on to, but this game has been a springboard in past years for Texas or Oklahoma. In terms of a team that's looked shabby in September steals this one and then goes on to have a half decency and not saying that's the case, but we'll see.

23:58Yeah, to me, Oklahoma in this spot was one of the easiest votes I had. It was hard to put Oklahoma ahead of any of the teams in front of it. And I look at the teams behind it. All those teams have flaws and most of them multiple obvious flaws. This one has a huge wall. You know, it's called the Oklahoma offense. The defense though still of maybe a special is ending the league. Look, don't, don't count Oklahoma out for making some of these games very interesting. And Oklahoma could 10 to 9 some wins over Texas and just about anybody else left on this slate. I hope I'd be real curious to be sitting in a Brent Vennables press conference this week and ask him if he saw what Josh Hyple did Saturday. It's okay to take your starting quarterback out of the game when he's struggling. It's okay. I mean, unless you're the Colorado State defensive coordinator, who Jim Moira said, all right, I'm taking your play calling a ways of Billy and he walked out.

25:04And he got fired after the game. So and that really happened, Chris. I know I make up a whole. Yeah. Oh, no, I saw it. That was that was and I think that I think he had just been removed from play calling duties and he just decided to pack it in. He just just walked and if you look, Chris, I'm about to hit you with some stats that are outside my realm of research. But there are a lot of Oklahoma fans who are grumbling that last year's backup is now the fifth ranked QBR quarterback in the country at West Virginia. So whether that is maximizing his talent in a different offense or being over committed to a guy who. Look, material got to pass the way Beamer got a pass. Beamer got the shoe low pass. Material got the injury pass.

26:04There ain't no pass right now. This is bad. And that's their problem. There's no pass. Yes, there's no pass. And there's little run. Now, Billy's point is accurate. This is a springboard opportunity. This is a springboard opportunity in terms of the future. And in terms of the fan base, you cure a lot of eels by winning this one. And look, Oklahoma showed it last year you can win being limited offensively, but they're going to have to play a lot tighter and a lot cleaner than they did last year. Well, to that point, Billy, you can win being limited offensively as long as your quarterback is careful with the football. Yeah, because I thought they played Georgia better than Vandy did, but Mattir put the ball in harm's way. Speaking of no pass, rough week for the balls on offense, that defense continues to impress. But yeah, we've got like five teams that are embracing the Gandalf line from the first floor to the ring.

27:11That'll show not pass. I mean, this is, this is tough, Chris. I feel like we need like a special festivist episode over quarterback grievances in the league. It could last a minute. Is this the worst quarterback room in the league? Arkansas. I don't know about that. I think I think I think I, I'm certain Josh Hyple would say you pick either one of those dudes and I'll send George McIntyre over there and we'll call it even. How great would it be if we had college football trades? I mean, honestly, you can't think you don't think Lane Kiffin would pack up his backup behind Sam Levitt right now. And call high and say, hey, you know, I could really use area on Carter. What do you think? Absolutely. Yeah. Well, here's the thing with Tennessee.

28:12Chris, to your point about, and this starts the tier of teams hoping to be in the back end of the conversation of relevance on a national conversation because of the opportunities that are afforded them moving forward if they can cure their bills. And Tennessee's offense is not as bad as Oklahoma's offense, but their quarterback play has maybe even been a little worse. So, but defensively Tennessee is not going to apologize to many people either, but conversely compared to Oklahoma. When an SEC team knows you're going to run the football and to Sean Bishop gets 34 carries for 220 and three touchdowns. That's, that's a Nebraska stat line from 1993. You know, here's the one thing that's been lost in that. And I think this is happening a lot this year in SEC football. Some of the offense in the quarterback play is so overwhelmingly, you just like want to cover your eyes that it takes away from everything else.

29:22What happened to this idea that the gym knows defense takes two years to develop because I think if Tennessee were just decent offensively, that would shape a lot more of the conversation. It took three weeks. I'm not sure took three weeks. I don't know what the schedule was was not great off the bat, but man, you know, been pretty solid. Well, David. It's hard to fathom that they lost their biggest price tag defensive acquisition from the offseason. And they're still able to generate this much pressure and to shut down teams that want to shut down the run. I mean, look. They they they ran a playbook with like seven plays. They could have been they could have been a wing T team on Saturday and beat Auburn because defensively Auburn Auburn got two touchdowns. One was set up by a phase on Brandon pick.

30:24And the other was set up by a busted pocket that by and brown ran for what 50 plus yards. To seven. Yeah. So a bad QB decision and a bad assignment from the spy. And the next thing you know, it if either one of those doesn't happen, that could be 24 or nothing. Yeah, the one thing to in Tennessee's favor. They're more difficult games are all at home. The rest of the year. Bama Kentucky LSU. They go to Arkansas. They go to South Carolina. They go to A&M and they go to Vanderbilt coming in at the number nine spot. Another big time victory on the road for Will Stein in year one is the cats roll the dice. Two point conversion to ice it and overtime. Kentucky sitting at four and one is they welcome a issue this week. Yeah, I said this on the live show.

31:25I don't know who coach of the year in the SEC is through five games, but Will Stein is in that discussion for sure. I think he's a front on a Chris might be. Now that that look. Quick side tangent here because I'm Jay Greason and that's what I do. But the coach of the year is normally given to the guy by media members who the media members under estimated that the talent of their team because how do you explain Nick Sabin only one like to. So you can't tell me he was only the best coach in the league twice. But every year we expected there's so much that goes into being a college football coach. That's a different kettle of fish. But I will say this the transformation. That is happening is tangible and I would say. If you take Kiffin out of it.

32:26The two programs most happy with the trajectory of their first year coach, our Kentucky and Florida. More so than Auburn, more so than Arkansas, more so even than Ole Miss. And because Ole Miss we knew had a lead talent already. But we're still wondering, okay. Is this is Pete Golding that guy. And we'll talk about that in a minute, but. I think Kentucky's best offensive footballs in front of it. I think they need to get the Patterson kid back because he brings so much athleticism and big play capability. The Darby kid is supremely underrated. And the mesh scheme of running all those crossing routes fits perfectly into Kinnie Minci skill set.

33:26Okay, I'm going to play a little game here. You know, you can't unhear what you heard, I guess. But like if you don't know. If you don't know who this team is, you said, okay, you got a quarterback that is completing what 68% of his throws 11 touchdowns one pick. And you got three backs that are all over 300 yards so far. Name the team. Who do you think that is? Like we don't know anything that's gone on before to the season. We're saying five weeks in who's this team? Who do you think it is? I would say army quarterbacks three for four and they have three guys running for over 300 yards. That's a great way to get in here. I should have specified within the SEC. My answer would have been that's Tennessee. No, it's not Tennessee. It's Will Stein's Kentucky team. Nicholas took my answer. Hey, and this is this is tangential.

34:28Nicholas took my answer and I was going to say Oregon. But who crafted Oregon's offense? The guy who's relaxing to. And how and I know. Dante Moore got hurt with that cheap shot. But it's clear that Oregon's offense is not the same without Will Stein, which only adds to his street cred right now. Yeah, and all time high for sure. I want to take a moment to thank some of our sponsors. First righteous fell and this is the best beef jerky on the market. All sorts of flavors. It comes in meat sticks. It comes in jerky. It's delicious. High and protein low and sugar free that a growth hormones 25% off with code 25 SE 16 at righteous felon.com and rock form. And rock form offers the world's strongest magnetic phone case.

35:28Stream protection super strong magnets in the rock locks. Curumounting using code SE 25 for 25% off at rock form.com and beyond the W2. If you've ever dreamed of owning a business, but don't want to start from scratch, franchising gives you a proven model established systems and ongoing support so you can focus on building the business instead of reinventing. We'll visit our friend and huge SEC fan Jordan Black at beyond a W2.com and the first of the top half Mississippi State coming in at number eight. Maybe a little bit of a reality check been a good year three for Jeff Levy, but the injuries and the Alabama Crimson tide were a little too much for for state on Saturday. I don't know that any team had more of a stock down week than Mississippi State and I don't think it's an indictment on the job Jeff Levy's done again. I had been really bullish about the way they played one of the things I've circled is I felt their defense was playing better ball than people realized and that was getting lost in the Camario Taylor thing.

36:32But man, you come out of that thing, you get just whipped by Alabama at home. Taylor ends up on in street clothes and a boot before the end of the game and Bothwell is banged up. Oh, by the way, your next three games at LSU Oklahoma at Texas. Not exactly three teams you want to play when your offense isn't full string. I think it's very unfortunate. But I was really starting to buy Mississippi State is a potential playoff contender that that one I just feel like in total between what happened on the field and the injuries just took a lot of wind out of their sales. Hey, you know, we had the coach of the year conversation if Jeff Levy can kind of overcome some of this and get it going back in the right direction. He's going to be firmly in it at seasons end. But I'm a lot more bearish on state's chances to get it all back together the way that it had it going. And again, a lot of that has to do with health.

37:35100% and our friend P5 putting the chat that the absence of fluff Bothwell was just it can't be overstated because of the designation of that offense. When you run RPOs and we all know that RPOs are run pass auction offense. If you don't have the guy next to you to be the R, then your PO offense just becomes a PU offense. And that's especially truthful against an Alabama crew that if you become one dimensional against Alabama, buckle up. And Kentucky fans who are filling up our chat understand that because in the second half, Kentucky became one dimensional and it was a long ass day for Kenny mentioned in Will Stein.

38:35But I think if they get their trio back and I'm real curious, especially with his dazzling showing of on Saturday, especially in the first half, Billy, because I was listening to y'all from the softball tournament. If Mississippi states fully healthy, they have a dangerous triumphant at QB1, RB1 and Y receiver one with with Camario, fluff and AE3. Mississippi state is going to be a problem at full strength. But right now, we don't know when they're going to be back to full strength. Yeah, and we'll certainly see how that progresses. Next up, number seven on the list, the Tigers of Missouri who got maybe the maybe not the most important, but certainly the best win of the Eli Drinkwoods era.

39:43Sean says, please don't start hyping MISE. We don't need it. We got to be ready to play this week. He says, look, it's been up and down, but you saw on Saturday, why the coaching staff and why a lot of people said, man, I think this team's better than they've shown this year because they look more than impressive. Yeah, I've been a little more bullish on Missouri, I think than most so far. I think I may have been the high man in the boat. I think I had Missouri at five. We're in this gaggle of teams right here where it's kind of hard to sort people out and team A is beaten, team B, but team C, beat, team A and that kind of thing where it becomes hard to like people, you give people ammunition to like, how did you do this? Because you got this team ranked ahead of them. Well, that's just where we are. I'm going to disagree with our consensus. I think Missouri should be higher. Now look, Missouri is also not played the toughest of schedules so far and maybe that matters in here somewhat, but man did it ever handle business against a team that nobody wanted any part of.

40:49And I think that was the most stunning outcome in the league so far. If you consider margin of victory, I don't think anything is shocked me more than the way Missouri just whipped Florida on Saturday. A margin of victory can be skewed, but the completeness of that victory gave me great pause and it was equal parts of have I undervalued Missouri or have I overvalued Florida. And I don't I don't know the answer to that because you're right, Chris. We are in the we're in the transitive tier, where from like four to seven, everybody's beaten each other and but the one. Missouri's biggest win. Was just it was in fact and I'm curious to see if Jamal if Jamal Roberts continues to grow in that offensive line that's going to be a dynamic offense because this building I talked about it.

42:04Earlier this morning for the Missouri preview coming up this week. Their wide receiver they may not have the best wide receiver in the league. That's open to debate. But their tandem apologizes to nobody. Yeah, and I like what do you like drink would said this week you said look guys are allowed to get better and there's a ton of kids on this roster that were either highly rated recruits or power for guys that hadn't gotten a ton of run. And you know this was their fifth or sixth game really playing. One of the more interesting things too like the last three weeks have been a lot of interesting data points. They did not look impressive against Troy. That Mississippi State game though after starting in a 14 nothing hole they outscored Mississippi State 24 to three in those middle two quarters. State came back with two touchdowns in the fourth quarter. But if Missouri finishes that game on I mean what could have been like a 31 to 10 run and one and start full.

43:08I think we're having a very different conversation about this team. But I think you saw why you know I certainly and Chris have been high on this team because we knew a game like this maybe not to that extent but a good game was really in this team. Yeah well if you've watched them again was was really impressed with the way Missouri played against Kansas so I saw just about that whole game. If you were watching the Mississippi State game Missouri was right there. Just state made one more playing. Camario Taylor made a great throw to Evans to get them in position. I think for the winning or the tying score. I don't remember nothing that that was the most jacked that place has been on a long time when they walked into Mississippi State. And it was Taylor banged up at that point. Or did that happen late in the game so he was healthy coming in the game. I think Bothwell was healthier coming the game. Context matters. The Troy game I said at the time it's right between Kansas team that they hate as much as anybody hates anybody.

44:11And in that game so it was a it was a classic look ahead spot. I gave them a pass for that. I think if you're paying attention to context in watching games and how they go and all by the way to that if you didn't catch it. Not always a final 45 to 17 but Florida got that touchdown late to make it closer than it was so if you're if you're watching and paying attention to game fluid context if you're not I think you're missing a lot with Missouri. Yeah we'll see if they can handle business this week against Texas and it might set up a top 10 showdown in Oxford. Oh Jim one more point Jay. I have one more point even though you tipped your cards. Gang in the chat. We have to understand the transitive property here because yes we haven't gotten to Florida yet. And Florida just got its ass whipped in Missouri but we also had Mississippi State ranked behind Missouri which beat Missouri. I mean there it's not just one Saturday right it can't just be one Saturday one Saturday matters and will matter at the end of the year will matter at the end of the year when we get to the high

45:26high-roglyphics that is the SEC. A tiebreaker and it will matter at the end of the year when we get to the playoff conversation but. The conversation has to be on what you've seen from Labor Day to now not just what we saw on October 3rd yeah and I think it's it's going to be a lot about matchups and certainly the case with Ole Miss like we saw against Florida. I think teams 4 through 10 all have some things they do exceedingly well but they also have some weaknesses and a lot of the games between these two teams are going to be about who matches up well against whom Ole Miss defensively has been an absolute adventure but I tell you what they have and that is turn it to the semis and they throw the ball better than anybody in the league. Yes they do yes they do and I think in a year where we we did the quarterback grievance thing earlier made the jokes hey nobody's happier with the guy they've got probably the Ole Miss right now because he's healthy he's

46:35one big games now I got some big concerns about that defense. It's good as the offense is there only plus 35 in yardage on a game the game basis and that's because that defense is that isn't great. They're under plus five points and scoring margin now they played one of the tougher schedules in the league and that that needs to matter but. There's some flaws on the other side I think Ole Miss season is is how much can Trinidad Jamblest outrun the flaws that the rest of the team has which oh by the way let's keep an eye on on the laces health. Because that's a big big barometer where that season could go to if he can't get healthy and be close to the productive back that he was before then that just puts more pressure on Trinidad Jamblest to take care of everything which by the way he is he is more than capable of doing so I think this is a fascinating team going forward because it's going to be a tug of war between him and what the injury to lacy and that defense kind of take it the way.

47:36I think lacy is more important than the defense because I think they're completely comfortable. Yeah lacy keeps your defense off the field well and they're completely comfortable scoring with anybody. Yeah and this this one is the biggest swing team for me because their their biggest win is sorry Missouri fans who are more than a little flumics in our chat. They're big it they've got they've got two good wins and although Louisville is not necessarily playing out to maybe look as good as maybe we thought it was I feel like every time I need to talk about Ole Miss I need to quote Tim Regan's who famously said in the great Friday night lights TV show to Matt Saras and you got this six which I think is Pete Golding's plan offensively you've got this six. You've got this.

48:36Yeah we'll see we'll see if they fix some of those defensive issues they had a by week this week they had to Nashville to take on Vandy. Number five probably a little bit of a reality check for Florida but look that they do play Texas in Georgia but out of that no no ranked matchups the rest of the year so so everything's still in front of some role in the gators. Although we did find the answer to the question what happens if ball comes out of the game or if he can if you can take him out of the game still a lot of question marks about that secondary to. Yeah I was going to say how concerned were you about Florida's defense yards per play Florida is the next worst team in the league with Ole Miss just behind him. Well I don't have analytics Chris but I know they gave up more than 40 to Auburn which yeah to the I test for those of us who watch football is pretty striking when Baylor gave up 17 and Tennessee barely gave up 14.

49:40This is go ahead Jay sorry what's all right this is this feels like maybe not the swing in the numbers and there was a conversation in the chat. In the chat that is fair about the laundry. If Missouri and Florida if it had gone different directions. I don't know I don't know about perception I do know that through the first four weeks. This is a real challenge for John some John some were all and I loved I loved how he handled the post game I loved it and if your gators fan I'm certain you did two. And was even challenging the if you don't want if you don't realize how bad this was and commit to getting better than you're not going to be part of this program for very long and and that's to paraphrase. I think Florida is really good but I think this was a perfect opportunity.

50:45I mean look we've got multiple teams who lost two teams that ranked ahead of them including the one that is next who lost it was an emotional cauldron of perfect the cosmic tumblers click together and the Missouri universe opened itself up to deliver a beat down it was a beat down. But it was one Saturday and time I think Florida's roster is still really good and man oh man Billy how bad did they miss VB 3 and the deep threat of having somebody to just throw go routes to empty up the box a little bit. Yeah I think that's definitely fair because I mean we saw it happen when Missouri loaded up for has no answer and look that's going to be something filo like he's going to get tested on that the rest of the season.

51:45Absolutely you know that that is going to be every defensive coordinators game plan is I'm going to make Aaron filo beat me. And no dude no dude in the top eight or nine of these which feel like teams that have one loss who are in a position to elevate not only in the conference conversation but the national chatter. No dude on any of those teams has more on him than Aaron filo. Yeah I want to ask you guys a question did Missouri give everybody a blueprint I guess a lot of it was on file a bit to to stopping because like it it's the same problem Ole Miss just had. You defense is leaking pretty badly right now and the guy that is your best option to keep you defense off the field. He's not hurt like Ole Miss is guy is but he was very in effect at 12 for 13 I mean Jaden ball had been. Hey coming into the game we talk about Jaden balls and MVP to league I mean you talk about fortunes really shifting from Mississippi state because injuries.

52:54I think style of the way Missouri beat Florida is in that that conversation too of okay where did your opinions really move on teams because of all that went. Can I give you an X layer to that Chris absolute I think Billy and I talked about this. And it was the path to Missouri's win that we talked about last Thursday I think Billy. It gives me great pause about Aaron filo and it is a blueprint but I think the next level of thinking in terms of football is making certain you frustrate buster fault in early. Because buster fault in her calling plays when the script plays out and he can clip the dominoes down and they start trickling that Florida offense was the best looking offense in the country Miami included through the first four weeks. But when Missouri came out and stifled the first 10 or 15 plays and it caused him to go into his bag and that's a growth process for any coordinator moving up in a level of talent.

54:06So as as and I believe in buster fault I truly do but as that conversation goes he's got to be able to look more quickly. Billy give me the the best stat from Saturday. Jaden ball had how many Russian how many rushing yards on the first drive 16 and he finished with 12. So Missouri defensively not only frustrated the Florida running game they caught they made buster fault and her start pulling out notepads from the eighth grade. And he's like scanning down and going well maybe this will work. And then the next station of Puerto Rico from little giants and I mean so that conversation is going to be real interesting to follow too. Number four LSU gentlemen they lead the SEC right now total offense total defense you take out that first half in Oxford and look you can talk about the schedule but they've out scored opponents 211 to 52 again if you take out that that first half.

55:18And plot him in lane. Yeah I think it's interesting guys. Did anybody benefit more in the eyes that league by having a by week and I know they played McNEast state it's basically the same as a by week it's a practice game McNEast is awful. And gets their flaws exposed and suddenly LSU looks pretty good by comparison because we're talking about I you know we're seeing this with Ole Miss we're seeing this with Florida all these things LSU just goes and beats the pants off McNEast. Pads the stats a little bit now the sudden it feels like it's reframed how we're talking about LSU instead of the defensive injuries in same lab and it's now we're looking everybody else's flaws and LSU has somehow risen up the power ratings because of that. Well and that's fair but I will have the conversation about we've got all kinds of rankings around the interwebs and even the flawed AP rankings where there are a lot of dudes who vote.

56:31They vote hoping that their top 12 each week will match the top 12 of the playoff committee which is not how I view those rankings should be done and I assuredly view it in a way if you're going to put the word power in there. LSU that's a lot of talent brother that's a lot of talent on the football field at just about every position maybe Texas has more star power maybe Georgia has a if you lined up one through 22 at all the positions straight down maybe Georgia checks more boxes but I don't know how many others do and is there still questions about Sam Levit being a running back playing quarterback sure but Dylan Jones is a dude and to expand on billies thesis of this being the number one yards per game offense and defense in the league.

57:41They're also top three in rushing and passing Chris and that conversation and that duality has to be is a product of having a first round left tackle a lot of dudes in the backfield who make plays and a guy calling plays who will pick a scab till you bleed out. Well they're also third in the conference in turnover percentage all defense they force them over 3% of the time that's that's pretty elite now again schedule factors in there somewhere to but yeah there's there's a lot of if you just look at the stat lines LSU looks elite if you go a little bit further and talk about the levitt issues there was the half against Louisiana tech there was the you know the half where they couldn't do much against all miss and then you look into the defense of injuries where those have been piling up that I think that's where the questions are and again that's why you got to you got to read a stat sheet those things matter but you also got to look at context because those are the things that we were concerned about with LSU that hadn't further down the power rankings last week.

58:54So I guess my question is is this an elite playoff caliber football team or just a team that benefit by having basically a by week against McNE state to get well and patch that I don't know the answer I think it's pretty intriguing that that's a fair question Chris it's a fair question especially with the way Clemson has been exposed yep but I will also counter with this. Nobody had a more difficult task than LSU going to Oxford and they played that a one score game against a team that is also viewed as a top 10 national team compare that to the loss of all the other group in this mix of conversation wanting to be in the top three. Yeah because because LSU could other than the tsunami that hit them of brown liquor and pretty co-eds that is Oxford Mississippi the

1:00:00LSU. If that games played on a neutral side and I know it wasn't LSU's unbeaten and we're wondering where they rent and they still may fall in the same spot. That's where I that's why I voted them for but I've been high on LSU from the start. It's very defensible I just think this is this is why I hope we get to the point soon where we're playing all power you know all bigger SEC schedule or you know every team from the SEC plays a team from the big 10 the ACC the big 12 something because so we're almost halfway through the season guys and we're still trying to figure out who's got what because one team overwhelmed and it's mediocre competition and another one at times look ordinary. Playing the heavyweight I think I'm looking forward to the in college football where no offense to McNE state but but we're not seeing them on a schedule in week five in the season but isn't this also the place where we have the conversation that road winds or neutral site when should matter more.

1:01:07Yes absolutely which is one of the reasons and I know not all was not great but Florida went there and went. Yeah all but it's not a push over. Yeah and this is kind of where we get into the next year I I think four through 10 you can find a lot to like and a lot not to like about any of those teams and with the right matchup against the right team I think they could look awesome or very average but I think these next three really separated themselves including Alabama I think a team that before the year not many of us had packed up there with Texas and Georgia but I think right now it's really good. I think right now it's really take your pick with those top three well let me this is I think you frame Alabama okay I just had the rant about okay we are we're judging teams that are playing very disparate schedules on one hand how do you what do you do with the team that is overwhelming media or opponents what do you do with the team that looks ordinary actor playing good teams guess what guys.

1:02:09Alabama's got the best resume in the country debatably well it's really Texas because it who Texas beat but Alabama's got some good wins if you didn't catch it that Florida state win looks a lot better now after Florida state just destroyed Virginia what was it 30 38 to 7 Alabama is is very impressive statistically on both sides of the ball and it's beating real teams. I had Alabama a spot higher here I think Alabama has a legitimate argument at one overall not I'm not saying that's the right call I understand why Alabama landed the way it did but right now nobody's got the best of both worlds like Alabama it is beating some real teams and it is doing it in very impressive fashion. Well it's hard to argue with what they're done I don't I don't I mean ACC comps it is what it is and look for the handful of Alabama folks join us in the chat you got every opportunity to jump from three to one in six days so

1:03:27I am curious I don't know if it was you Chris or who I am curious what Keelan Russell has to do in a close game I am I am ready to see his close up in a meaningful moment with because the other two guys have have that experience ahead of us now I'm going to go back to the if we had a vote right now Keelan Russell maybe your player the year in the SEC but I still don't know there have been signs of the first half in Lexington was bad the first half with FSU was bad I mean those teams maybe better than we thought but we don't know that either I think Alabama is a hell of a better than I thought they were to start the season but I don't think they are I don't think they are either resume wise or completeness of performance what one and two are.

1:04:49Jay I want to respond to something you say because I think it's fair I think what you mean is all right let's see what happens when Keelan Russell you know it's it's two minutes left in the game they got the ball in their 25 you're going to get Georgia down a field go what do you do with it do you win the game do you make a mistake do you are do you make the play and that's totally fair I will say let's go back to Kentucky game remember early in that game Keelan Russell gave up a pick six because he didn't see the defensive line. He was a good guy in his face and that was starting very poorly in a place where Lexington was really jacked up for that game you go to the Florida state game I don't think you can give Alabama credit for for sleeping through the second half but what it did is it put your quarterback in a position where they were behind the eight ball a little bit against against Florida state. You're part of winning that game you go to Mississippi state for the most anticipated game and by the way in early kickoff that states played in a while and he delivered there so I know what you mean that that is a different stage you describe but I think he's answered the bell really well into that.

1:06:00I know no completely agree he's answered the bell but the Kentucky thing he played poorly in the first half that's true and then and then Kentucky came out after half time and played more poorly and now I love the complimentary nature complimentary with an e nature of what Alabama is building because offensively they they would have a lot of time. So we'll start quickly and then force you into trying to speed up because too many teams unless you're playing South Carolina feel like you've got to make up a 17 point lead in one possession. You're now going against the strength of this Alabama team which is back seven. Keenan Russell has superseded even mama and daddy Russell expectations to this point but just because they don't have mcneese state on their schedule does not mean they have not I mean it doesn't mean they have they have played they have gone down they haven't traveled the Ho Chi Minh train.

1:07:17Ho Chi Minh trail at this point. I don't know if you do with that one speak me of a team that has number two Texas they were off last week. I was state I thought really impressed this week they look dominant against Iowa Tennessee again defense very good offense yikes but what do we make of Texas so far. Best resume in the country also very weird to have a team that's number one in the country that's been under five yards of play three weeks running. I go back to the phrase of their ranked number one so it may seem silly but when you got what a lot of people project is five first rounders on a team you should be Miami 2001 you should be ls u 2019 I mean and they haven't been that now they've won every they've been there.

1:08:27They've won every they've toppled every challenge but I don't know you take away a second half all right let me ask you this and I know this is hypothetical I know we've gone long and Blake's going to be mad at our analytics but if archmaning doesn't pull that out of the manning the magical manning hat of the second half at home and I know he did. The swing here is from like two to eight right yes it's sitting in the analytics yeah and a narrow win over a quarterback star of Tennessee win Tennessee team and I mean I get it they played one elite half. But like the one thing is I think that was the hurdle they had to climb it wasn't that they haven't been close in these kind of games or they haven't competed that they haven't won one and in that respect I think it matters that they came out on the right side of that more so then hey they showed they could compete with Ohio State and that to me I don't know we'll see I think there's still a lot of questions but it shows to me that this team has an edge or an ability to do that.

1:09:53I think it's a good thing to finish that maybe Sarcusan teams the last two or three years haven't. I would play a little game with you guys I guess the over under on Texas Oklahoma for this coming Saturday. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say 39 and a half. Someone may have had the answers to the test I was trying to guess it in my head before I looked it up and I the number and I my head I had was 38 but I'm thinking because I'm thinking okay and this time thinking like low 30s like well nobody's going to post an over over under there and you might get a defensive score to or special team score but I'm thinking in my head like okay what. It feels like that almost might be too much. Billy and I compared it to a we've already done the Oklahoma Texas preview is the reason I knew that we compared it to a military Academy game.

1:11:01I think that's a different reasons because of the elite level of defense on the field but. Texas has maybe the best wide receiver in the league. To this point the best defensive player in the league a bona fide NFL left tackle and a manning at quarterback so but I still don't think they have looked the part who I have as opposed to who I voted number one every week. The point about resume is the most meaningful one in this I mean win over how stage better than any win anybody has really in the country but I think completeness and depth of talent and my belief. Billy this is where you flip the tile my belief and who leads this program is the reason and I put my boat my ballot in the chat like I do every Monday that's the reason I've got Georgia one.

1:12:14Speaking of ballots if we had a high zon ballot is calling Simmons on there somewhere. So because of the depth of who is out there because Daring men's is going to be invited and my vote would be through five weeks Jeremiah Smith. Okay. I do wonder if there's a path if all the elite teams beat up on each other and we're looking at a gaggle a ten and two nine and three elite teams. Let's say Texas sitting there 11 and one and Simmons is clearly your best defender in college football. You know is there a path where everybody else. You know it'd be the political equivalent like an independent running in an election to take votes away from and you know from one of the major parties and steal votes and give the. Give the election to somebody else is there path in there where all the all the quarterbacks cancel out with the close games.

1:13:18Sort of there is a path even out and we're sitting well hey I don't know who it is but Texas is number one and they got this dude in college Simmons who's hard to ignore. There is a path because do you know the last defensive player to get invited to the downtown athletic club. It's got it's been someone after Woodson. Oh God yes. Okay. I'm just going to play Tyron Matthew. Oh man Ty Theo Matt both those guys. Yeah is there been any moment to was about it the last one we should have won the Heisman by the way that year. Last one was on a national championship team and played for Michigan it was Aiden Hudson. Oh okay. Which is a which is the path which is a very similar path. Yeah on the Georgia front look. They're going to get their their biggest test of the season so far but man they they've not only cleared hurdles that they've looked very impressive while doing it.

1:14:22And a little bit of a shaky starting in spanner belt but felt like that they really quick things in the gear. Yeah they played the easiest schedule in the league that's helped but they have looked like a legitimate football team Vanderbilt gave them a game for half. Georgia came out and just took care of business in the second half and I'll say it again. If you didn't hear me say it on Saturday night I think Gunner Stockton. I don't know where he ranks in terms of quarterbacks because that's that's a hard one to put together this year but I think Gunner Stockton is the most underrated player in this league. I'm hoping that some in depth. Enterprise journalist finds Gunner Stockton's birth certificate and his middle name is freaking open Gunner Freakin Stockton. Because that guy you won't talk about a scenario. How much how much else can the guy do man I mean in terms of being overrated underrated.

1:15:28He's completing 75 better than 75% of his throws. And I mean he is throwing darts too I don't know if you watched him I saw him Saturday. He threw a couple of throws that were were big plays that if he's just a little bit more off. You know they're not completed at all like his accuracy is the thing not not just what's on paper but watching it in real time is really what pops for me. It is it's a whether they played with their food or not against Vandy. We've discussed guys about whether it's six at Ole Miss whether it is a tomorrow Taylor and guys in various offices having to adjust without their running mate in the backfield.

1:16:28Georgia's top two running backs are banged up now their health level going into this week will be magnified but without Frazier or Bowens. He still was 27 of 35 against Vandy which provides itself on being a but top half of the league SEC defense. And we've got one we got one question in there that is a great true or false in the chat winner of Alabama Georgia's ranked one next week and it was posed by a Texas fan. And you may not like the answer but there's a lot of truth to that and and damn sure if it's Georgia because that'll be that Chris you're analytics may say. Texas is Miracle in Austin is the best win in the country.

1:17:28Depending on the outcome of this one especially if it's Georgia on the road there there that's the best win in the country. Yeah and by the way Texas now number one and are not tech Ohio State now number one in a lot of power rankings so Ohio States played pretty well since leaving Austin so there's that too. Look I think to me guys as we wrap it up my take away. I think we got a very interesting discussion of three teams that have a case for number one in this league I think I think the drop off from air is pretty clear right now they could change later but this is a fun spot to be in and thank God to have been played each other this weekend. You're muted. Keep your comments coming in let us know who you have and where thank you again to our sponsors beyond the W2 rock form Fandall righteous felon.

1:18:33Plenty from the channel in terms of previewing games this week breaking down everything in the week Chris J do it again soon and we'll see you next time right here on southeastern 16.