SEC Week 10 Round Up: Vols Eliminated from CFP Contention, UGA Survives, Freeze Fired
Week 10 of the College Football season has come and gone, and the hunt for spots in the College Football Playoff has only become more ravenous. Eight SEC teams currently have two or fewer losses. While SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey is not so subtly hustling for the conference to get more spots, the last few weeks of the season will likely come down to the wire about who gets in and who is left out. Given the tightness of the 2025 SEC, a three-loss team will not qualify for the College Football Playoff barring global chaos across college football.
Here are some key takeaways from the conference as the dust settles following this weekend.
Ho hum, another week of SEC AP Top 25 dominance
Nine SEC teams sit in the AP Top 25 poll. That’s still more than any other conference (suck it, Big Ten). The following teams are currently ranked:
Texas A&M, No. 3, 8-0
Alabama, No. 4, 7-1
Georgia, No. 5. 7-1
Ole Miss, No. 7, 8-1
Oklahoma, No. 11, 7-2
Texas, No. 13, 7-2
Vanderbilt, No. 15, 7-2
Missouri, No. 19, 6-2
Tennessee, No. 23, 6-3
Oklahoma eliminates the Vols from the CFP race
Saturday night resulted in an elimination game over in Knoxville. Both Oklahoma and Tennessee entered the game with two losses each. Tennessee saw its College Football Playoff hopes go up in smoke with a crushing 33-27 loss at home to Oklahoma.
Many keyboard warriors donning checkered orange and white loudly declared all week that quarterback Joey Aguilar was a Heisman candidate and was better than Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia (who has been named on several Heisman watch lists). A lot of these tweets ignored Aguilar’s ball security issues heading into the game (5 interceptions in SEC play and a safety). Jealousy is a stinky cologne, Volunteers fans.
On Saturday night, Aguilar was anything but a Heisman candidate, and his three turnovers were a key factor in Tennessee’s loss. While Tennessee fans have tried to excuse Aguilar’s turnovers in the Alabama and Georgia losses and blame the defense, anyone who watched Saturday’s game could plainly see that the quarterback was the issue for Tennessee on offense. Aguilar now has seven interceptions in his six SEC games this season.
Early on, Tennessee looked the part, with an opening series touchdown pass from Aguilar to receiver Braylon Staley. Oklahoma struggled early and was not moving the ball down 7-0. Then, with 8:01 remaining in the first quarter, Aguilar was sacked by Owen Heinecke and fumbled the football. The Sooners’ defensive end R. Mason Thomas scooped up the football and returned it 71 yards for a touchdown. In the blink of an eye, the game was tied at 7, despite the Volunteers’ offense dominating in total yardage early on.
Oklahoma’s defense then settled down and trailed 10-7 at the end of the first quarter. Oklahoma got a field goal nearly halfway through the second quarter to tie the game at 10 at 7:36. Then, with another chance to seize control of the game before halftime, Aguilar turned the ball over. With 3:57 remaining in the second quarter, Aguilar threw an interception. The interception allowed Oklahoma enough time to drive down the field and knock in a field goal. Then, with another chance for points, Aguilar was picked off again with 28 seconds remaining, which led to another Sooners field goal. At halftime, the Sooners led 16-10, with 13 of those points following Aguilar’s turnovers.
After both teams scored a touchdown in the third quarter, Oklahoma led 23-17. In the final quarter, the Volunteers could only trade points with an Oklahoma team that finally started to connect on chunk plays. After Oklahoma drew first blood in the fourth with a 55-yard field goal, Tennessee gambled on fourth down on the Sooners’ 37-yard line. Instead of running the football, Volunteers head coach Josh Heupel called a pass play to freshman tight end Jack Van Dorselaer. Van Dorselaer was wide open, but failed to look back to the ball in time, and the football doinked off his helmet for a turnover on downs. The head-scratching playcall took the air out of Neyland Stadium.
Instead of running the ball, Oklahoma got too cute, and Tennessee was given some additional life on a John Mateer interception with 4:50 remaining. The Volunteers once again made it close with a 15-yard touchdown from Aguilar to Mike Matthews to make the score 26-24, Oklahoma, with 1:56 remaining. Then, Sooners running back Xavier Robinson launched a 43-yard run and then fell at the 1-yard line to kill some clock despite blowing by the entire Volunteers defense. Sooners quarterback John Mateer ran in a keeper on the next play to put the Sooners up 33-24. Tennessee got a field goal with 47 seconds remaining to make the score 33-27, but an onside kick attempt failed to end the game and the Volunteers’ playoff hopes.
Saturday’s game was another reminder that all the yardage stats in the world are meaningless if you can’t take care of the football. Joey Aguilar completed 29/45 passes for 393 yards and 3 touchdowns. Receivers Mike Matthews, Braylon Staley, and Chriss Brazzell all had productive games with 76 yards and a touchdown, 75 yards and two touchdowns, and 68 yards, respectively. However, Aguilar’s strip sack fumble and two interceptions before halftime resulted in 13 of Oklahoma’s 33 points, nearly half of the Sooners’ offensive output. If Aguilar had taken care of the ball, Tennessee would have won this game.
Meanwhile, Mateer completed 19/29 passes for 159 yards and an interception and rushed for 80 yards and a touchdown. Oklahoma also got a massive game from running back Xavier Robinson, who finished with 115 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, Oklahoma was able to generate 4 sacks against Aguilar in addition to the two interceptions. However, if Oklahoma wishes to make the College Football Playoff, it will need more offensive touchdowns.
With the loss, Tennessee has games against New Mexico State and Florida before facing Vanderbilt at home to end the year. Oklahoma faces two tough tests in its last three games, with a road game against Alabama on November 15 and a home game against Missouri.
Georgia survives scare from Florida
On Saturday, the Georgia Bulldogs survived yet another scare from an unranked opponent and pulled off a 24-20 win.
“The largest outdoor cocktail party” in Jacksonville, FL was close from the jump. Georgia struck first on an 8-yard pass from quarterback Gunner Stockton to wide receiver Dillon Bell with 10:53 remaining in the first quarter. With 6:32 left in the first quarter, Gators quarterback DJ Lagway threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to Eugene Wilson III. After Georgia failed to score on its next series, Florida took the lead on a 22-yard field goal to make it 10-7.
The second quarter was a defensive slugfest with the only points coming off a 39-yard field goal from Georgia to knot the score at 10 with 12 seconds remaining. In the third quarter, both teams traded a touchdown. Georgia’s came on a 22-yard pass from Stockton to Noah Thomas with 10:46 remaining, and Florida’s came on a handoff to Jadan Baugh with 3:37 remaining.
Gators fans have to be kicking themselves after the way the fourth quarter played out. To open the fourth, Georgia took a 20-17 lead on a 54-yard bomb from Trey Smack. Despite the momentum to start the final quarter, Florida’s offense could not find a consistent rhythm and got stuffed on a fourth-down run with 7:54 left. Georgia then marched down the field after multiple completions to Zachariah Branch and took the lead with 4:57 remaining on a 36-yard run by Chauncey Bowens.
Florida then had a chance to win the game on its final possession. On third and three, receiver J. Michael Sturdivant blew past the Georgia secondary, and Lagway underthrew him. Sturidvant dove and appeared to have his elbows and hands underneath the ball as it was coming to the ground. On the field, the play was ruled incomplete. The replays did not provide much clarity about whether Sturivant caught the football, and the ruling on the field was upheld to the dismay of Florida fans and much of SEC Twitter. I’ve watched this play several times, and I’m still unsure whether it was a catch or not.
On fourth down, Lagway sailed a throw behind his receiver to end Florida’s day. On Georgia’s next series, Gunner Stockton channeled Diego Pavia against LSU on a quarterback draw and kneeled the ball at the one-yard line to end the game.
Georgia got some steady quarterback play from Stockton, who completed 20/29 passes for 223 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception. Receiver Zachariah Branch torched the Gators’ secondary for 10 catches and 112 yards. While Chauncey Bowens only had 9 carries, he made up for it with 70 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, while Georgia did not record any sacks, it held the Gators to 2/11 on third down and 0/2 on fourth down.
DJ Lagway was once again held under 200 passing yards for Florida and completed 15/24 passes for 166 yards and a touchdown. Receiver Eugene Wilson III led the Gators with 9 catches for 121 yards and 1 touchdown. Running back Jadan Baugh had 15 carries for 72 yards and a touchdown. On defense, the Gators were able to sack Stockton twice and force an interception, but Georgia converted 7/15 of its third-down attempts.
The Bulldogs finish off the season with games against Texas, Charlotte, and Georgia Tech, while Florida faces Ole Miss, Tennessee, and Florida State to end the year.
Mississippi State is one win from bowling
The Mississippi State Bulldogs are now one game away from bowl eligibility after holding off Arkansas in a shootout, 38-35.
Entering the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs trailed Arkansas 28-21. State then outscored the Razorbacks 17-7 thanks to a rushing touchdown from Davon Booth, a 46-yard field goal, and then an 18-yard winning touchdown pass to receiver Anthony Evans with 48 seconds remaining.
Bulldogs quarterback Blake Shapen completed 16/28 passes for 242 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception. Receiver Anthony Evans stole the show with 5 catches for 111 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green finished with 19/31 passing for 194 yards and 1 touchdown. Green had 17 carries for 46 yards and a touchdown. The Razorbacks had 3 rushing touchdowns on the day from Green, starting running back Mike Washington (who finished with 19 carries for 116 yards), and Braylen Russell (who had 8 carries for 31 yards).
Arkansas once again came close, but could not stop the opponent’s offense. The Hogs finish out the year against LSU, Texas, and Missouri.
To become bowl eligible, State will need to win against Georgia, Missouri, or Ole Miss in its last three games, a task that is easier said than done.
Rebels keep rolling over South Carolina
On Saturday, Ole Miss showed maturity in a potential trap game and took care of business against South Carolina in a 30-14 win.
The Gamecocks could not stop the Rebels’ lethal combination of quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and running back Kewan Lacy. Chambliss completed 12/21 passes for 159 yards, 1 touchdown, and one interception. On the ground, Chambliss had 15 carries for 59 yards and a touchdown. Lacy punished the Gamecocks’ defense for 167 yards on 24 carries and a touchdown.
Defensively, the Rebels shut down South Carolina, who went 1/11 on third downs and generated 6 sacks and two interceptions.
For South Carolina, Saturday was more of the same. LaNorris Sellers completed 16/30 passes for 180 yards and 2 interceptions to go along with a rushing touchdown. Gamecocks receiver Nyck Harbor had 3 catches for 69 yards and a touchdown. Running back Rahsul Faison had 12 carries for 52 yards. When Sellers and Harbor aren’t perfect, the Gamecocks have absolutely no chance.
The Rebels have now played the meat of their schedule and have remaining games against the Citadel, Florida, and Mississippi State. So long as Ole Miss wins two of its final games, it looks like a lock to make the College Football Playoff.
South Carolina will need to win out against Texas A&M, Coastal Carolina, and Clemson to become bowl eligible.
Kentucky shocks Auburn, Freeze fired
Late in the game week, former Auburn Head Coach Hugh Freeze decided to bench starting quarterback Jackson Arnold in favor of Stanford transfer Ashton Daniels. Before Saturday’s game, Daniels had 21 passing touchdowns to 20 interceptions in his entire collegiate career. The result? A 10-3 loss to the worst team in the SEC at home, Daniels went 13/28 passing for 108 yards and one interception, and Auburn’s offense had its worst game of the regular season.
The Wildcat defense had 7 sacks on the day and held the Tigers to 6-16 on third down. Kentucky quarterback Cutter Boley threw the game-winning touchdown pass to Kendrick Law with 10:01 remaining in the fourth quarter. Boley finished the game 18/29 for 161 yards, 1 touchdown, and 2 interceptions.
Yesterday, Auburn decided to move on from Hugh Freeze. In three years at Auburn, Freeze had a 15-19 record and failed to get Auburn to the College Football Playoff. With Alabama’s resurgence serving as the measuring stick, Freeze’s results weren’t good enough for Auburn’s boosters. Defensive Coordinator DJ Durkin has been named the interim head coach as Auburn travels to Nashville this weekend to face the Commodores.
Stay tuned for Week 11’s SEC Round Up!
