Biggest takeaways from the SEC's Week 2

Only one conference game happened this weekend, as Ole Miss utterly dominated Vanderbilt 41-3, and many SEC teams hammered lesser non-conference opponents. Does Week 2 have people begging for a nine-game conference schedule? It should.

The SEC is 20-1 vs. non conference opponents on the year. Is that good?

Here are the biggest takeaways from Week 2:

Two in the playoff? With the Big Ten virtually being eliminated from the College Football Playoff, the chances for two SEC teams to break into the Final Four improved. Depending on how the Pac-12, Big 12 and FSU shape up, two SEC teams could vie for a playoff spot. Still, it remains highly unlikely two teams make it, but the chances drastically improved Saturday with Michigan State, Ohio State and Michigan all losing.

Blake Sims is the guy: Jacob Coker’s not there yet. The offense flowed much smoother under Sims, although Coker played more and has higher upside. I still think Coker is the future, but Sims is built to lead the team right now. Sims finished 11 of 13 for 215 yards and two touchdowns. Enough about the quarterback, Amari Cooper looked like an NFL wide receiver, and he reminded me of Marquise Lee. Many pointed to Cooper having a big year, and he’s going to have an All-American type year. Cooper finished with 209 total yards, with 189 of them coming through the air.

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Tennessee O-line has questions: Although Marlin Lane and Jalen Hurd are a nice duo of running backs, the offensive line is still the biggest weakness on the team. The Vols averaged 3.7 yards per carry against Arkansas State, and if the running game has a tough time getting going against the Red Wolves, it will continue to struggle against Oklahoma and every SEC defensive front with a pulse. The Vols rushed for 168 yards on 45 attempts. But how about Justin Worley and Marquez North? North becomes even bigger now that Von Pearson went down with an injury, and some of Worley’s passes were perfect. I’m buying stock in Tennessee for the future.

It’s Mauktober already: Maty Mauk’s career day powered Missouri to a big road win. It’s Toledo, so what? This had the chance to be the best game of the weekend. It wasn’t. Mauk accounted for six touchdowns, and Markus Golden and Shane Ray are man-beasts. It’s the same storylines, but it’s a different year. Mauk completed over 65 percent of his passes, and he wasn’t close to being perfect. He also threw two INTs, far from great. Offensive and special teams specialist Marcus Murphy is one of the most exciting players in the conference.

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Florida had to do that: Eastern Michigan is hot garbage, but Florida fans had to see that blowout, and Muschamp had to deliver it. The Gators throttled EMU 65-0, and they racked up 655 total yards. The Gators’ defense only yielded 125 total yards and pitched the shutout. Although it looks different, Will Muschamp is still coaching a power offense, only with a spread look. Three different running backs scored touchdowns, and Jeff Driskel attempted 45 passes (45!). If Kurt Roper can lead the offense to score an average of 26 points per game, Florida is going to be tough to stop, headlined by an elite and bully defense.

Arkansas also had to do that: The Hogs set a record with 73 points, and Brandon Allen threw five passes, with four of them touchdown passes. College football is all about momentum, and finally ending the winning streak could work some magic for this team. Nicholls State was also garbage, but a little confidence can go a long way. The Hogs rolled up 684 total yards, including 495 rushing yards. Now, maybe this will create some positive momentum.

2-0: That’s exactly where Kentucky wanted to be after two games, and the Cats’ offense and defense have stepped up to the challenge thus far. Things get real next week with a road trip to The Swamp. Patrick Towles threw for a touchdown, and Boom Williams provided the ground game. Getting Braylon Heard back for Florida would be epic, and Heard, Jojo Kemp and Williams provide a nice trio that can offset the Cats’ air attack. The bottom line is we still don’t know much about Kentucky, other than they are twice as good as last season.

Looked sloppy: What is Dan Mullen doing? Mullen rotated quarterbacks to start the game, and the offense struggled to get any kind of rhythm. Dak Prescott combined for five touchdowns, four of them passes, and he and Josh Robinson both rushed for more than 100 yards and two touchdowns. However, the secondary proceeded to get torched by UAB, giving up 435 yards. UAB wasn’t Nicholls State or Eastern Michigan, but if MSU is really going to surprise teams in the SEC West, games against UAB have to be all about business.

Vandy is in trouble: Ole Miss torched Vanderbilt, and it wasn’t ever even in doubt. Vanderbilt’s only scoring drive went four plays for negative four yards. Yeah, about that. Bo Wallace threw for 320 yards and on touchdown. Most importantly, he didn’t commit a turnover, and tight end Evan Engram was a baller, making seven catches for 112 yards. The Rebels only allowed nine first downs and 167 total yards. It was complete domination, and Vanderbilt is virtually hopeless after finishing with two straight nine-win season. How good does James Franklin look right now? Yikes.

Auburn is dominant: I’ve been saying it for a while now: Auburn is the best team in the conference. Staying true to form, Auburn rolled up 358 yards rushing and six rushing touchdowns against San Jose State. Cameron Artis-Payne led the team with 112 yards and three scores, and Nick Marshall also had over 100 yards and one touchdown. The Tigers’ defense is evolving, and if this group gels together, it could have an elite defense down the stretch run in time for its two toughest games: Georgia and Alabama. I was asked the other day whether Nick Marshall was the best quarterback in the SEC, and I’m not even sure he’s the best quarterback on his own team. While that’s probably stretching it, this offense rolls with Marshall at quarterback, and he’s the perfect fit for the system. However, Jeremy Johnson is the better passer of the two, and the future is certainly bright. Auburn will be tough for anyone to beat.

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How good (or bad) is South Carolina? The Gamecocks beat ECU by 10 at home, which could end up being a better win than most think. Finally, with Mike Davis back in the lineup, the offense received a lift behind his 100-plus yards and two touchdowns. Dylan Thompson has missed high through the first two weeks on several easy completions. Sharrod Golightly’s INT was the turning point and ultimately helped the Gamecocks to victory. With Georgia looming next week, Steve Spurrier and South Carolina fans may not know what to think. How can the defense stop Georgia? The front seven will have to make Hutson Mason make plays down the field, but from what we’ve seen so far, that may not be too hard.

LSU’s offense is getting better: And that’s scary news for the SEC West. Yeah, it was just Sam Houston State, but key playmakers are emerging and starting to get some confidence. Leonard Fournette finally scored his first touchdown, and the Tigers piled up 334 rushing yards. But the best news of the day is that Anthony Jennings looks drastically more comfortable this week than last. Jennings connected for three touchdowns, and receiver Travin Dural is playing out of his mind, recording three catches, 140 yards and three touchdowns. That’s just stupid. Sam Houston State mounted just 206 total yards. Dominant showing by LSU against a weak opponent, nonetheless.

High-octane: The only thing that could slow down Texas A&M was the weather. Despite the lightning delay, the Aggies torched Lamar 73-3. Kenny Hill finished with 283 yards and four touchdowns, and Kyle Allen took his first snaps as an Aggie, throwing for 122 yards and two touchdowns. The offense rolled up 630 yards of total offense, and the defense held Lamar to three points and 243 total yards. Does the defense still look vulnerable? We won’t know for a few weeks now.

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