RB Mike Gillislee ran for 146 yards and two second-half TDs to lead Florida past LSU. (US Presswire) |
SEC scoreboard
Arkansas 24, Auburn 7: The visiting Razorbacks, who entered with the worst defense of any BCS school, forced five turnovers and got eight sacks in snapping their four-game losing streak. Arkansas (2-4, 1-2 SEC) led 10-0 at halftime and all but iced the game with a trick play for a touchdown early in the fourth. Auburn (1-4, 0-3) switched quarterbacks at halftime, going from sophomore Kiehl Frazier to junior Clint Moseley, but it didn't help. The Tigers ran for 40 yards on 32 carries (1.3 ypc). (For more on the game, check out CBSSports.com's Eye on College Football blog)
No. 20 Mississippi State 27, Kentucky 14: Tyler Russell threw for 269 yards and two touchdowns as the Bulldogs (5-0, 2-0 SEC) improved to 5-0 for the first time since 1999. LaDarius Perkins added 110 yards rushing, including a 31-yard score. Kentucky (1-5, 0-3) was held to 228 total yards in dropping its fourth straight. With starter Maxwell Smith out with an ankle injury, the Wildcats rotated freshmen QBs Jalen Whitlow and Patrick Towles. (For more on the game, check out CBSSports.com's Eye on College Football blog)
No. 10 Florida 14, No. 4 LSU 6: Mike Gillislee ran for 146 yards and a pair of second-half touchdowns as the host Gators (5-0, 4-0 SEC) ended the Tigers' 18-game regular-season win streak. The Gators limited LSU (5-1, 1-1) to 1-of-13 third-down conversions and 42 rushing yards. Florida S Matt Elam forced the key turnover, stripping wideout Odell Beckham after a long third-quarter reception. The Gators recovered and marched 77 yards, Gillislee scoring from 12 yards out for his second TD. Florida has outscored opponents 78-13 in the second half this season. (For more on the game, check out CBSSports.com's Eye on College Football blog)
No. 6 South Carolina 35, No. 5 Georgia 7: The Gamecocks won their school-record 10th straight game with a dominant defensive performance. Connor Shaw threw two touchdown passes and Ace Sanders returned a punt 70 yards for a touchdown as South Carolina (6-0, 4-0 SEC) took a 21-0 first-quarter lead. Georgia (5-1, 3-1), which came in averaging 48.2 points, never found its rhythm. Freshmen Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall were held to 76 combined rushing yards, and Aaron Murray hit was 11 of 31 for 109 yards with an interception. (For more on the game, check out CBSSports.com's Eye on College Football blog)
Vanderbilt 19, Missouri 15: Zac Stacy ran for two touchdowns as the host Commodores (2-3, 1-2 SEC) kept Missouri (3-3, 0-3) winless in the SEC. The Tigers lost QB James Franklin to a sprained left knee, and backup Corbin Berkstresser was just 9 of 30. Vanderbilt got its first conference and road win despite being outgained 395-295. Stacy has 23 career touchdowns after his 29-carry, 72-yard effort. Mizzou coach Gary Pinkel said Franklin will miss a few games with an MCL injury.
Texas A&M 30, Ole Miss 27: The Aggies overcame six turnovers and a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to send the Rebels to their 16th-straight SEC loss. QB Johnny Manziel ran for a 29-yard touchdown to start the rally, then threw to Ryan Swope for the game-winning 20-yard score with 1:46 left. Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze figures to face criticism for a fourth-and-inches gamble that backfired at the Rebels’ 40, leading to the go-ahead TD. Texas A&M (4-1, 2-1 SEC) sealed it when Toney Hurd Jr. intercepted Bo Wallace. Ole Miss (3-3, 0-2) got 108 rushing yards and a TD from Jeff Scott. (For more on the game, check out CBSSports.com's Eye on College Football blog)
Play of the day: Arkansas led Auburn 10-7 early in the fourth quarter when Hogs offensive coordinator Paul Petrino called a trick play. Taking a pitch on a reverse, WR Brandon Mitchell stopped and threw a 26-yard touchdown to Javontee Herndon. Freshman CB Joshua Holsey, playing for the injured Chris Davis, was fooled on the play.
He said what?: "We played a good game. We just had way too many turnovers." -- Auburn DB Holsey.
RapidReports defensive star of the day: Arkansas DE Trey Flowers got 3.5 of the Hogs' eight sacks. Flowers, who entered with 3.5 tackles for loss, matched that total midway through the third quarter when he chased down Moseley for a 17-yard, drive-killing sack. The eight sacks tied the SEC season high set by Texas A&M against Florida.
Runner-up: Florida's Elam turned the game by ripping the ball from Beckham after the LSU wideout made a 56-yard catch. Elam also played tough against the run, as the Gators held the Tigers to 42 rushing yards. Elam had a team-high seven tackles, one for a loss.
2nd runner-up: Gamecocks DE Jadeveon Clowney had two of his team's six tackles for loss, including a sack. The entire defense gets kudos for shutting down a Bulldogs' offense that looked unstoppable before Saturday.
RapidReports offensive star of the day: Florida's Gillislee. The 5-foot-11 senior had 34 carries against LSU's ferocious defense -- and he wore down the Tigers. Gillislee's 146-yard day gave him 548 yards and seven TDs in five games.
Runner-up: A&M's Manziel passed for 191 yards and ran for 129 more to lead the Aggies to a thrilling comeback. He had a lot of help, especially from RB Ben Malena (142 yards, TD) and WR Mike Evans (8 catches, 105 yards).
2nd Runner-up: Mississippi State WR Chad Bumphis. The 5-11 senior had nine catches for 104 yards and a TD in the Bulldogs' 27-14 win at Kentucky. His 27-yard scoring grab in the third quarter made him the school's all-time leader with 18 TD receptions.
His seat is getting uncomfortable: Gene Chizik. The offense embarrassed itself against Arkansas, and the halftime QB switch didn't provide a spark. As a head coach without Cam Newton, Chizik's record is 22-33. Next week's visit to Ole Miss looked like an easy win before the season. Now, not so much.
A possible spot on the bench for: Arkansas RB Knile Davis. The preseason Heisman candidate got just three carries for minus-4 yards in the win over Auburn. Senior Dennis Johnson got most of the work, gaining 76 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries.
Why you should care about these stat lines:
1. South Carolina's Shaw ran 14 times for 78 yards and a TD: Shaw's running ability is what makes the Gamecocks hard to defend. He excels at the read option, as he showed on his 7-yard scoring run to make it 35-0. Defenses are focused on stopping Marcus Lattimore, who ran for 109 yards and a TD, and Shaw is making them pay. It's LSU's problem next.
2. LSU's Beckham had four catches for 78 yards: He should have had a much bigger day. Beckham's drops crippled LSU's offense. QB Zach Mettenberger (11 of 25, 158 yards, INT) had no running game to lean on. He needed help from his wideouts and did not get it.
3. Mississippi State's Russell was 23 of 39 for 269 yards and two TDs: Russell's 23 completions are the most by a Bulldogs' QB in a game under coach Dan Mullen. Russell has thrown 10 TDs against one INT this season.
Key number: 2. That's how many turnovers Arkansas forced in five games before getting five against Auburn.
For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis from SEC bloggers Daniel Lewis and Larry Hartstein, follow @CBSSportsSEC.