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In a weekend of upsets and close games, the stat book doesn’t lie. Here are the stat leaders across the SEC for Week 10.
Most passing yards (individual)
- Drew Lock, Missouri – 302 yards, 1 TD
- Jake Bentley, South Carolina— 254 yards, 2 TDs
- Jacob Eason, Georgia — 245 yards, 1 TD
It was a classic Drew Lock performance as his team trailed for most of the game and he threw for a ton of yards but couldn’t get the victory.
It looks like Will Muschamp finally found a quarterback, because Jake Bentley appears to be the real deal. Just like all the SEC pundits predicted, an 18-year-old freshman is leading the Gamecocks to a bowl berth.
Speaking of young phenoms, Jacob Eason led his team to a last-second win over the surging Wildcats. It’s going to be fun to watch him grow up.
Most rushing yards (individual)
- Nick Fitzgerald, Mississippi State — 182 yards, 2 TDs
- Kamryn Pettway, Auburn — 173 yards, 0 TDs
- Rico Dowdle, South Carolina — 149 yards, 1 TD
Nick Fitzgerald was possibly the MVP of the SEC last weekend. Mired in a disappointing season and facing the daunting task of playing the newly-minted Playoff favorites in Texas A&M, Fitzgerald was beyond special.
In an alternate universe that doesn’t include Lamar Jackson, Pettway would be in line for some serious Heisman buzz. As it stands, he’s probably more than content to have his team in the top 10 and in control of their own destiny in the SEC.
South Carolina’s Rico Dowdle makes his first appearance on the list as both a function of the Gamecocks’ new spark on offense and Missouri’s woeful defense.
Most receiving yards (individual)
- Christian Kirk, Texas A&M — 144 yards, 1 TD
- Deebo Samuel, South Carolina — 125 yards, 0 TDs
- Josh Malone, Tennessee — 112 yards, 2 TDs
Christian Kirk is talented and fun to watch. Sadly, his efforts alone couldn’t save the Aggies from an upset in Starkville.
South Carolina is all over this one, and Deebo Samuel has been the main beneficiary of Bentley at quarterback.
Josh Malone showed up in Tennessee’s 55-0 blowout of Tennessee Tech.
Most total yards (team)
- Mississippi State (vs. Texas A&M) — 574 yards
- Tennessee (vs. Tenn. Tech) — 471 yards
- Arkansas (vs. Florida) — 466 yards
When Dan Mullen went to sleep on Friday night, his wildest dreams probably looked like this. Nearly 600 yards of total offense against one of the most feared front sevens in all of football isn’t too shabby, and it shows that even on his worst day, Mullen can score.
Tennessee got on track against Tennessee Tech, and the offense got a much-needed jolt of energy.
Speaking of demolishing a top defense, Arkansas offensive coordinator Dan Enos called a near perfect game, throttling the East-leading Florida Gators.
Most rushing yards (team)
- Mississippi State (vs. Texas A&M) — 365 yards
- Auburn (vs. Vanderbilt) — 271 yards
- Arkansas (vs. Florida) — 223 yards
Texas A&M defensive coordinator John Chavis has been regarded as a genius for a long time in the SEC. That being said, Mississippi State ate his lunch on Saturday – attacking his defense at its strongest point on the front seven.
Auburn ran all over Vandy but failed to capitalize as it finished with only 23 points. The Tigers will happily take a win despite the nail-biting fashion of it.
Who said Arkansas had offensive line issues? The Hogs have found their balance, and Rawleigh Williams is only 45 yards away from a 1,000-yard season.
Most rushing yards allowed
- Texas A&M (vs. Miss. State) — 365 yards
- Vanderbilt (vs. Auburn) — 271 yards
- Ole Miss (vs. Georgia Southern) — 267 yards
The Aggies’ penchant for tackles for loss was completely non-existent on Saturday as A&M had no answer for the Bulldogs.
Vanderbilt was torched on the ground but put up a heck of a fight against heavily favored Auburn.
Ole Miss also had its hands full with Georgia Southern but was able to put on an airshow to close it out.
Fewest rushing yards allowed
- Arkansas (vs. Florida) — 12 yards
- Alabama (vs. LSU) — 33 yards
- Tennessee (vs. Tenn. Tech) — 60 yards
Florida was just ineffective on all sides of the ball on Saturday as Arkansas dismantled it.
LSU, and primarily Leonard Fournette, was incredibly inept on the ground during their home loss to Bama on Saturday. With Fournette likely headed to the NFL Draft next year, Alabama will be to him what Florida was to Peyton Manning.
Tennessee Tech just isn’t very good.
Most passing yards allowed
- South Carolina (vs. Missouri) — 302 yards
- Mississippi State (vs. Texas A&M) — 265 yards
- Missouri (vs. South Carolina) — 254 yards
Drew Lock is the king of hollow yards, and though Will Muschamp has plenty to yell about in Monday’s meeting, the win is what matters.
Mississippi State knocked Trevor Knight out of the game for a bit, but due to the fact that the Aggies were trailing for most of the game, they still racked up the yards.
If you had South Carolina vs. Missouri pegged as an airshow, play the lottery. Now.
Fewest passing yards allowed
- Alabama (vs. LSU) — 92 yards
- LSU (vs. Alabama) — 107 yards
- Vanderbilt (vs. Auburn) — 115 yards
LSU vs. Alabama took football back to 1926 on Saturday as the conservative play calling and lack of yards would show. National pundits will admire Jalen Hurts’ heart and grittiness, while criticizing Danny Etling, but let the record show that neither was particularly good on Saturday statistically.
With no Sean White in the first half, Vandy was able to corral the Tigers. By simply not making this list themselves, Vandy can call this weekend a moral win.
A former resident of both Baton Rouge and the heart of Crimson Tide country, Will Ogburn handles multimedia content and news coverage for Saturday Down South.
