Biggest takeaways from the SEC's opening night

The SEC kicked off the 2014 season in a rather electrifying way. Let’s dive into the biggest takeaways from the SEC’s opening night:

Which was the bigger statement: Texas A&M announcing they’re going to contend in the SEC West, or South Carolina proving the SEC East is wide open? You can argue either point, but we knew the SEC East was wide open entering last night. The bigger story is about Texas A&M embarrassing the No. 9 team in the country…in their house. Texas A&M is for real, and they are going to contend in college football’s toughest division. The Aggies’ upset sent shockwaves through the SEC’s two divisions.

Texas A&M is a contender with Kenny Hill: That didn’t take long. Replacing Johnny Manziel was a major storyline, but now, there is no storyline. Kenny Hill was in complete control in the game, in every aspect. Hill actually reminded me of Cam Newton. Maybe he isn’t the freak that Newton was, but his release reminds me of Newton’s. Hill finished 44 for 60 for 511 yards and three touchdowns, and he was electric and surgical. Malcome Kennedy caught a game-high 14 passes for 137 yards. But enough about the offense; how about the Aggies’ defense? They were about two missed tackles from being forgettable last season, and they upped their game, big time. Mind you, the Aggies’ defense lost two of their best players in LB Darian Claiborne and DL Gavin Stansbury this off-season, and they’re still better. Much better. Like a completely different team. Let’s give Mark Snyder his due, because they stepped up in one of the most hostile environments in the country. You didn’t think I’d write a complete takeaway from Texas A&M without mentioning uber talented Myles Garrett and Speedy Noil, did you? Texas A&M may have the best young talent in the country.

Are the Gamecocks in trouble? South Carolina’s 18-game home winning streak was snapped against a team that wasn’t even figured to be a factor in the SEC West. The Gamecocks have major issues on defense, virtually at every level: defensive line, linebackers and secondary. One of the problems is the youth in the secondary, but they also had no pass rush. Part of that was Texas A&M’s offensive line, but Carolina’s push was non-existent. Dylan Thompson played well, but South Carolina’s run game forgot to show up. Nothing. Mike Davis wasn’t a non-factor because of his rib injury. The Gamecocks have one of the best O-lines in the conference — maybe the country, and the running game added no balance. The Gamecocks ended with 67 yards rushing. Thompson gives the offense promise with big play potential, but man, that defense has some major, major issues. It’s a long season and so many things can happen, but the SEC East is wide open…and South Carolina looks like a distant contender at this point. Obviously, it’s too early to write anyone off, but let’s see how Georgia, Florida and Mizzou look Saturday.

Ole Miss is talented: Any position you look at, the Rebels are packed with talent. The offense is loaded at wide receiver, and the defense is full of future NFL players, headlined by this year’s biggest breakout candidate Robert Nkemdiche. Okay, Bo Wallace needs to clean up his act. Wallace threw three INTs in the first half, but he came out and threw three touchdowns in three passes in the second half. Still, if Wallace is on his game, the Rebels are a real contender. It’s almost as if Ole Miss is an efficient quarterback away from being a legit College Football Playoff team. If he’s not sharp, they’re not. It’s simple. Cody Core and Laquon Treadwell — what a duo! They combined for 11 catches for 214 yards and three touchdowns. Cody Prewitt, Tony Connor and Robert Nkemdiche are elite defensive players, and the Rebels’ secondary is for real! Does the SEC’s best defense live in Oxford this year?

Vanderbilt has some work to do: And that’s putting it nicely. The Commodores broke out the new uniforms, and Temple broke out the whooping stick. The Owls rolled into Nashville and put 37 points on the board and allowed just seven from Vandy…and that was on a botched punt in the end zone. The offense was, uh, lacking. Patton Robinette started at quarterback, and he was quickly pulled for LSU transfer Stephen Rivers, who was later pulled for Johnny McCrary. The trio combined for three INTs and 224 yards passing and completed less than 50 percent of their passes. All total, Vanderbilt turned it over seven times. Really, the only offensive guy who showed a spark was redshirt freshman running back Ralph Webb, who looks like a really great young player. The Commodores likely had to win all four non-conference games in order to make a bowl game, and that’s already in serious jeopardy with the big boys still on the schedule. Is Vanderbilt missing James Franklin yet? Too soon, I know.