For the purposes of this story, SDS defines an explosive play as a run of at least 20 yards or a pass of at least 30 yards.

Measuring by explosive plays, Alabama remains the best team in the SEC through four weeks, just ahead of Texas A&M.

The Crimson Tide offense has produced 20 explosive plays — 10 in the air and 10 on the ground — while allowing just four. Considering Florida fields one of the more respected defenses in the SEC, Blake Sims’ 445 passing yards, including touchdowns of 87 and 79 yards, is all the more impressive. Bama had compiled its numbers against West Virginia, Florida Atlantic and Southern Miss prior to Saturday.

South Carolina is at the opposite end of the spectrum. The Gamecocks are last in explosive plays on both sides of the ball for a minus-eight margin. Somehow this team is 3-1. SC had an excuse before, having faced Texas A&M, the league’s most explosive offense, as well as East Carolina’s prolific passing game and Georgia’s potent rushing attack.

Then South Carolina gave up five explosive plays to a dormant Vanderbilt offense (in addition to two kickoff returns for touchdowns).

Team Margin Explosive Plays Explosive Plays Allowed
1. Alabama +16 20 4
2. Texas A&M +15 21 6
T3. Georgia +9 14 5
T3. Kentucky +9 15 6
5. Mississippi State +7 19 12
6. Auburn +6 10 4
T7. LSU +4 17 13
T7. Ole Miss +4 10 6
9. Arkansas +3 15 12
10. Vanderbilt +1 8 7
11. Missouri 0 10 10
T12. Florida -1 9 10
T12. Tennessee -1 6 7
14. South Carolina -8 6 14

Texas A&M leads the conference with 21 explosive plays, not surprising since the Aggies have faced South Carolina, Lamar, Rice and Southern Methodist.

Alabama no longer is requiring the quarterback to manage the game, and it’s not surprising to see the Tide second in the SEC, but Mississippi State is right behind with 19 explosive plays. Dak Prescott, Josh Robinson and the Bulldogs made seven of those against an LSU defense that hadn’t allowed a point in 10 quarters.

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Tennessee, behind a retooled offensive line, has just two rushes of 20 or more yards this season, last in the SEC, while South Carolina and Arkansas feature the least explosive pass offenses in the conference.

Missouri is tied for eighth with just 10 explosive plays, including five passes of 30-plus yards in four games. Those expecting the Tigers will be able to exploit a weaker South Carolina secondary on Saturday ought to consider those numbers.

EXPLOSIVE PLAYS: OFFENSE

Team Explosive Plays Passes For 30+ Rushes For 20+
1. Texas A&M 21 13 8
2. Alabama 20 10 10
3. Mississippi State 19 8 11
4. LSU 17 9 8
T5. Kentucky 15 9 6
T5. Arkansas 15 3 12
7. Georgia 14 4 10
T8. Ole Miss 10 7 3
T8. Missouri 10 5 5
T8. Auburn 10 4 6
11. Florida 9 5 4
12. Vanderbilt 8 5 3
T13. South Carolina 6 3 3
T13. Tennessee 6 4 2

Ole Miss has allowed an SEC-best one pass of 30-plus yards, while Georgia and Texas A&M have allowed an SEC-best one rush of 20-plus yards.

The latter is surprising, as A&M allowed nearly 500 yards of offense to Rice and allowed Southern Methodist to exceed its season average by a decent margin.

Auburn has been surprisingly effective at limiting opposing offenses this season, tied with Alabama for fewest explosive plays allowed.

Despite beating LSU to move to 4-0, Mississippi State’s secondary has been pretty atrocious, allowing 10 completions of 30-plus yards. With Texas A&M and Alabama on the schedule, the Bulldogs must get those breakdowns fixed fast, or their stay in the Top 25 won’t last long.

LSU’s defense has allowed nine runs of at least 20 yards, thanks in part to Prescott, Robinson and Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon. But the run defense is a huge concern, especially with Arkansas, Alabama and Auburn left on the schedule.

EXPLOSIVE PLAYS: DEFENSE

Team Explosive Plays Allowed Passes For 30+ Rushes For 20+
T1. Alabama 4 2 2
T1. Auburn 4 2 2
3. Georgia 5 4 1
T4. Ole Miss 6 1 5
T4. Kentucky 6 3 3
T4. Texas A&M 6 5 1
T7. Tennessee 7 4 3
T7. Vanderbilt 7 4 3
T9. Missouri 10 4 6
T9. Florida 10 7 3
T11. Arkansas 12 5 7
T11. Mississippi State 12 10 2
13. LSU 13 4 9
14. South Carolina 14 7 7