10 things I’m absolutely overreacting to after Week 6 in the SEC
By Chris Wright
Published:
Coach O wants to coach again?
Sign me up! While we’re at it, with Sam Pittman’s exit, how about we ID some coaches who shouldn’t be coaching again? Let’s start with you, Bill Belichick. And your kids.
You know what else I want? More Kadyn Proctor highlights … and, in honor of Toby Keith and all things Nashville, a little less talk, a lot more action from Vanderbilt.
Those are just some of the 10 things I’m absolutely overreacting to after Week 6 in and around the SEC.
10. Ty Simpson might sweep Heisman, SEC and natty
It’s been a minute since an SEC QB swept the Heisman, SEC championship and national championship in the same season.
Joe Burrow pulled off the hat trick in LSU’s magical 2019 season.
In 2025, the Year of the Meh Quarterback, it didn’t look like anybody might challenge that feat, either.
Alabama’s Ty Simpson is beginning to change that narrative.
Saturday, Simpson absolutely looked the part: Poised in the pocket, eyes downfield, ripping big-time throws like Nick Saban’s quarterbacks used to do.
Simpson threw for 340 yards and 2 TDs in a comfortable win over Vanderbilt, but it was more than that. Fifteen of his completions went for at least 10 yards. In one series, Simpson had completions of 13 yards, 10 yards, 17 yards, 13 yards and a 27-yard TD pass. He connected with re-engaged Ryan Williams on a 54-yard catch-and-run. Germie Bernard and Lotzeir Brooks each had a 30-yard reception. Even on his misses, Simpson gave his talented receivers a chance to make a play.
It’s been awhile since Alabama’s passing game looked this explosive against an SEC defense.
Saturday afternoon … it look like Saturday afternoons used to look like.
That’s a scary development for everybody in college football.
Except The U — which has a former SEC QB who might just sweep the Heisman, ACC and natty (more in a minute).
9. Chin up, Diego … nobody beats Alabama twice in a row
Matthew Stafford. Drew Weatherford. Matt Flynn. Wesley Carroll. Kinsmon Lancaster. Brandon Cox. Tim Tebow. Brian Johnson. Stephen Garcia. Jordan Jefferson. Cam Newton. Jarrett Lee. Johnny Manziel. Nick Marshall. Trevor Knight. Bo Wallace. Cardale Jones. Chad Kelly. Deshaun Watson. Jarrett Stidham. Trevor Lawrence. Joe Burrow. Bo Nix. Zach Calzada. Stetson Bennett. Hendon Hooker. Jayden Daniels. Quinn Ewers. JJ McCarthy. Diego Pavia. Nico Iamaleava. Jackson Arnold. Davis Warren. Tommy Castellanos.
Those are the 34 starting quarterbacks who beat Alabama 1 time from Nick Saban’s arrival in 2007 through Week 6 of 2025. There are 4 Heisman winners and 8 national championship winners in that group — and none of those guys beat beat Alabama twice in that span. (Yes, LSU fans, I’m aware; Jefferson and Lee beat Bama in back-to-back seasons, but they alternated starts.)
Diego Pavia was the latest to try — and it didn’t end nearly as well as he promised.
Next up? Jackson Arnold, now at Auburn, in the Iron Bowl.
(If you’re into winning bar bets, this might earn you a free Snake Handler at Good People Brewing in BHam: Auburn’s Brandon Cox remains the most recent QB to beat Alabama in back-to-back seasons — and he actually won the Iron Bowl 3 times in a row: in 2005 and 2006 Before Saban, and 2007 Against Saban. Which also means, Brandon Cox is probably the reason Alabama went all-in on the 38-day pursuit to hire Saban in the first place.)
8. Miami is for real this time (I promise)
The rappers are back on the sidelines. Michael Irvin is doing his thing.
At this point, I firmly expect Warren Sapp to skip a Colorado game and show up at The U.
It’s been forever — but Miami is the most complete, most dominant team in college football.
They have a proven, Playoff-experienced quarterback in Carson Beck. They have a defense that makes Kirby Smart reminisce about his championship groups of years past. They have a breakout freshman wide receiver (Malachi Toney) who was 17 when the season started.
They have everything any SEC title contender would want — and the Canes also have this: As the ACC front-runner, the easiest remaining path imaginable to the Playoff.
I know, I know. Miami has never even won the ACC Championship, Paaawwwllll!
Their dress down of FSU on Saturday night all but guarantees that changes in 2025.
Care to guess where the 2025 national championship game is?
Plan the yacht parade, already.
7. Why does Steve Sarkisian think Arch Manning is a pocket passer?
If you’re a Texas fan, you have to be furious with the manner in which alleged QB Whisperer Steve Sarkisian is using Arch Manning.
Let’s be honest: The only thing “pro-style” about Manning’s game is his last name.
But time and again, Texas has him drop back behind a leaky line, diagnose and dodge a collapsing pocket and then try to make a throw. That’s not his game. Can he make plays from the pocket? He wouldn’t be an NFL Draft prospect if he couldn’t.
However, time and again, Manning looks like a completely different quarterback when he’s on a designed rollout. There’s a reason for that: He is!
Manning has the speed to challenge rushers and outside linebackers on the edge, and he’s shifty enough to cause some to miss. The bonus, of course, is that running threat draws the secondary’s attention and allows for more 1-on-1s.
Everything about that play looked natural and easy. And that’s with a short field, which automatically means a more compressed defense. That was Manning’s only TD pass until late in the 3rd quarter, when he sidestepped 2 rushing defenders and delivered a 38-yard dime under duress to Ryan Wingo.
Big picture? I was out on Texas as a Playoff team after Week 1 — so Saturday’s loss at The Swamp wasn’t a revelation.
But now I’m wondering: Given the lack of progress 5-star Quinn Ewers made in 3 seasons with Sark, are we sure he is the best person to develop Manning into the NFL QB he was groomed to be? I’m not.
6. Sorry, Dawgs. I don’t trust Gunner Stockton
Creating explosive plays isn’t solely on the quarterback, but it’s typically telling when an offense can’t generate them.
This just in: Georgia can’t generate them.
This isn’t a late overreaction to the offensive flop last week vs. Alabama. This a realization of who Gunner Stockton is — a serviceable dual-threat — and who he is not — a legitimate gun-slinger capable of throwing the Dawgs into the title hunt.
Stetson Bennett won 2 national titles without having a strong arm. Jake Fromm didn’t remind anybody of Jacob Eason, either. But both were among the SEC leaders in creating explosive passing plays (30+ yards) because they were able to hit playmakers on time, in rhythm and allow them to do the rest.
Stockton? Against Kentucky on Saturday, Dawgs fans no doubt held their breath every time he dropped back.
Which was poorer? The decision to throw into double coverage? Or the execution? Sure, QBs with Eason’s arm strength rip that throw and beat defenders to the spot. Stockton doesn’t have that kind of arm.
And, as others noted, Georgia’s lack of explosive plays is not for a lack of trying, either.
Georgia still might make it the Playoff — probably will, in fact — but it will be in spite of Stockton’s explosiveness through the air, not because of it.
To be honest, if DJ Lagway is healthy, I’m not sure the Dawgs beat Florida in the Cocktail Party, either.
5. The next 5 coaches to go …
The Curt Cignetti Effect already is in full force — and we’re not even halfway through the 2025 regular season.
Last Sunday, obviously in response to reading Week 5 SEC Overreactions, Arkansas AD Hunter Yurachek fired Sam Pittman. The former Boss Hog became the 4th Power 4 coach to lose his job this season, joining DeShaun Foster (UCLA), Brent Pry (Virginia Tech) and Mike Gundy (Oklahoma State).
My theory? ADs watched Curt Cignetti walk into Bloomington Basketball Indiana and immediately turn a football program that was 200 games below .500 when he arrived into a Playoff team. In Year 1. In the Big Ten. Taking down defending national champion Michigan along the way.
Overnight, 5-year plans became as obsolete as last year’s iPhone.
Nobody has an excuse … and the clock is ticking for everybody not named Kirby Smart, Marcus Freeman and Ryan Day (probably, but Buckeyes fans live in their own world).
Foster lasted 15 games. Pry got 40. Pittman, with a better record than those 2, couldn’t get through Year 6. Gundy, the winningest coach in OK State history, was canned just 3 games into his 21st season. So much for loyalty, right?
Nothing matters anymore except getting to the Playoff.
As such, these 5 Power 4 coaches will be the next to go, primarily for falling well short of what Cignetti accomplished in 1 year and is on the verge of replicating in Year 2:
Billy Napier, Florida: Credit Napier for a really nice win against Texas on Saturday. Upshot? Napier improved to 21-22 midway through Year 4 and hasn’t sniffed Atlanta, much less the Playoff. Moving along. …
Dave Doeren, NC State: Like Gundy, Doeren also is the winningest coach in program history. Doeren also beats North Carolina, which is outstanding and the driving force behind his extended stay, but in 13 seasons as NC State’s head coach, he’s never won 10 games once and never led the Wolfpack to the ACC Championship Game. In fairness, the ACC hosed the Pack by putting them in the same division as Clemson and Florida State. Also: Wake Forest also was in that division and managed to make it to the ACC title game in 2021. Will this finally be the year the 8-5, 9-4 cycle ends?
Hugh Freeze, Auburn: It’s not just that Auburn isn’t contending, it’s why the Tigers aren’t contending. Freeze has a reputation as a offensive guru, but his Auburn offenses have been downright offensive. Auburn hasn’t cracked the SEC’s top 10 in scoring average since Freeze arrived. The Tigers have scored 3 TDs in 2 SEC games this year.
Mark Stoops, Kentucky: Like Gundy and Doeren, Stoops also is the winningest coach in his program’s history. Like Doeren, Stoops also is in his 13th season. There are not enough bourbon gift certificates in Kentucky to properly thank Stoops for the miracle makeover he performed at Kentucky — but the reality is the Cats haven’t sniffed 10 wins since 2021 — and Stoops’ career record at Kentucky is nearing .500. The fact that hated border rival Indiana appears to be heading to the Playoff for the 2nd consecutive season only adds to the sense of urgency to move on.
James Franklin, Penn State: Nobody is firing a coach who gets to the Playoff, but Penn State isn’t going to the Playoff in 2025 — not after that ridiculous loss at winless UCLA. (Shoutout to Nico Iamaleava, VF … 2 years?!) Just like that, James Franklin’s seat became the hottest in the country, overnight. Penn State already has 2 losses and still has to play Ohio State and Indiana in back-to-back weeks. His buyout is north of $50 million, but that won’t save him.
I mean, when Gary Danielson is anticipating and coaching the game better than you are …
P.S.: I would not be surprised, at all, if Bill Belichick and UNC mutually decide he’s 1-and-done as a college coach. UNC wouldn’t dare “fire” him after this season, but that alone doesn’t guarantee he’ll be back in Chapel Hill in 2026. As for Belichick’s kids? Yeah, Steve (DC) and Brian (DBs) should not make it to next week.
4. Dabo vs. Belichick? Round 1 KO
Think Dabo Swinney was looking forward to this opportunity to match Xs and Os with Bill Belichick?
This was Clemson’s first play from scrimmage Saturday at UNC — so, Dabo’s first chance to outscheme arguably the greatest defensive mind in football history.
Check. Mate.
It didn’t end there, either.
Clemson threw 4 TD passes on its first 4 possessions in the first quarter — setting a season-high for TD throws in the process. The Tigers finished the opening half with 5 TD passes — including a season-high 4 from former Heisman betting favorite Cade Klubnik.
Unreal.
Before the game, Belichick had a comical exchange on GameDay in which he praised Nick Saban and said he learned more about defense from him than anybody else. Saban shot that down as only he could.
My first thought after watching the first quarter? Clearly, Belichick didn’t learn enough.
3. Coach O wants to coach? Yes, please
There could be as many as 10 Power 4 openings during the 2025-26 carousel.
Ed Orgeron could motivate several of them into a Playoff team in 2026 — just like he built the 2019 LSU Tigers into the greatest team in college football history.
Let’s face it: College football is just more fun when Coach O is growling through halftime and postgame pressers.
Florida and Auburn are proud, championship-winning programs in dire need of a makeover, places where 1 proven leader would galvanize the fan base and make all the difference between contending and pretending.
Other programs probably would be interested in Orgeron, too, but Auburn and Florida make the most sense.
Go Tiguhs. … Or Gatuhs.
2. Chaos is here. Buckle up …
This isn’t to pick on the AP Poll (again), I promise.
Saturday, No. 7 Penn State lost to a winless UCLA team, No. 9 Texas lost, No. 14 Iowa State lost.
It’s shocking in real time, sure, but not so much in retrospect.
It’s worth noting that Week 6 of the 2024 AP Top 25 featured 4 eventual Playoff teams that didn’t crack the top 20 that week. SMU was the 37th team listed and only received 4 votes. Arizona State didn’t receive any. Further, 4 teams in the top 10 that week — and 7 teams in the top 13 — didn’t make the Playoff.
The Week 7 poll featured 4 teams in the top 11 that didn’t make the Playoff. Even the Week 10 AP Poll included 4 teams in the top 11 that didn’t make the Playoff. Arizona State didn’t crack the Top 25 until Week 12, etc. You get the point. The AP Poll is a talking point, not a closing statement.
Keep that in mind after the Week 7 poll drops later today. There’s plenty of time for your team to recover — and your buddy’s team to fall flat on its face. Nothing is more fun than seeing that.
1. Dear Vandy, a little less talk, a lot more action …
We all remember former Vandy DL Nifae Lealao looking into the camera and shouting, “Alabama, you’re next!”
That didn’t end well for the ‘Dores in 2017.
The second verse didn’t go any better Saturday.
Diego Pavia is Mr. Entertainment — and a darn fine college quarterback. All week he talked the talk, about how upstart Vandy was about to walk into T-Town and shock the Tide again.
How sure was Pavia? He practiced Victory Formation in pregame.
Oops. Admire the moxie, but apparently, you don’t poke DeBoer …
Managing Editor
A 30-time APSE award-winning editor with previous stints at the Miami Herald, The Indianapolis Star and News & Observer, Executive Editor Chris Wright oversees editorial operations for Saturday Down South.
