After a bloodbath of a Week 1 across the SEC, the conference has some ground to make up in the reputation department in Week 2.

Fortunately, there are opportunities ahead with LSU against Texas and Texas A&M against Clemson in two marquee matchups this week.

During his weekly Monday morning appearance on Birmingham-based WJOX 94.5 FM radio program “The Roundtable, SEC Network host Paul Finebaum outlined what’s at stake in these games.

“You have two of the biggest games of the year non-conference in the SEC, maybe you could argue the two biggest games,” he said. “The game most people are watching for a win is in Austin, but if the SEC loses both games and if A&M doesn’t look good against Clemson, then wait until next Monday morning.”

The Tennessee loss to Georgia State was troubling in Finebaum’s mind because of the opponent, while the other losses, like Missouri and South Carolina, had limited viewership, or came against a “brand-name team.”

“Because the Missouri game was played late at night, it was going on the same time as Auburn, not that many people around the country really cared if Missouri lost to Wyoming,” Finebaum said. “People wondered why they went to Laramie, Wyoming, and some of the other games are clearly off Broadway. Tennessee really got all the attention because it’s just so laughable. South Carolina at least lost to a name brand team even though they were 2-10 the year before.”

Given the high-profile nature of the SEC and how its loyal fan base is proud of its history and success, a down weekend predictably brings out the critics, Finebaum said.

“We all love the SEC, but when the SEC gets hammered, I hear laughing across the country,” Finebaum said. “All you have to do is turn your phone on. I had people texting me, ‘Are you ok? Are you in a fetal position?’ Yeah, I actually was in a fetal position. But that’s what you get. Nobody brags louder, and boasts more than the SEC and the SEC got its comeuppance on Saturday and it may not be over yet.”