We knew the SEC wasn’t going to remain unbeaten following its flawless opening week (the Alabama-Kentucky matchup prevented it). However, its member schools played in some big nonconference games last Saturday. And, for the most part, they emerged from those battles victorious.
What play made the biggest difference in the Texas Longhorns‘ crazy comeback over the Ohio State Buckeyes? Here’s a hint: it’s not as easy to predict as the play for Oklahoma-Michigan. Defense and special teams plays actually accounted for the largest win probability swing in more than half of the SEC’s games in Week 2. Who knew offense wasn’t the only thing that mattered?
Games are listed in order of approximate start time. Plays mentioned are based on win probability added, via ESPN analytics.
No. 23 Missouri vs. Kansas (38-21 Missouri)
Play: 7:16 Q2, 4th-and-Goal, Kansas 10-yard line. Leroy Harris III BLOCKS Blake Craig’s field goal; Austin Alexander returns 88 yards, TOUCHDOWN. 7-0 Kansas (+25.3% for Kansas).
The Jayhawks get credit for the biggest play in this one, but the Tigers don’t care. Winning the Border War again, especially after Kansas’s pregame hype videos, was the much bigger goal. Head coach Eli Drinkwitz said he wanted to “embarrass” the Jayhawks for their “bizarre” approach to the rivalry affair. Mission accomplished.
No. 11 Oklahoma vs. Michigan (17-10 Michigan)
Play: 8:40 Q4, 3rd-and-9, Oklahoma 16-yard line. John Mateer pass INTERCEPTED by Jyaire Hill, returned to Oklahoma 6-yard line. First down, Michigan (+23.8% for Michigan).
Well… that was not John Mateer’s finest hour. It seemed like everyone outside of Ann Arbor was rooting for the Sooners on Saturday. In a game of such intense defensive nature, turnovers often prove to be the difference. Here’s some math: 2 Oklahoma giveaways + 0 Oklahoma takeaways = 1 Oklahoma loss. Rebounding in Week 3 before a matchup with Georgia could be harder than it appears; New Mexico went 9-4 in 2025 and is a contender to be the Group of 6’s College Football Playoff representative.
Arizona State vs. No. 10 Texas A&M (48-20 Texas A&M)
Play: 3:39 Q3, 3rd-and-7, Arizona State 42-yard line. Cutter Boley pass complete to Reed Harris for 58 yards, TOUCHDOWN. 24-20 Texas A&M (+7.2% for Arizona State).
Mike Elko‘s defense had 10 takeaways in 2025. Against the Sun Devils, it had 3 takeaways. Add in Arizona State’s muffed punt in the first quarter, and the Aggies created 4 turnovers on Saturday. Now, they get to host a Kentucky team with a first-year head coach and first-year starting quarterback in their first-ever SEC road game. Would you like your Wildcat fried, or grilled?
Western Kentucky vs. No. 2 Georgia (70-20 Georgia)
Play: 14:46 Q1, 1st-and-10, Western Kentucky 18-yard line. Nate Frazier runs for 16 yards to Western Kentucky 2-yard line. First down, Georgia (+0.2% for Georgia).
People were quick to point out that Darian Mensah has twice as many touchdown passes as incompletions through 2 games this season. On Saturday, Gunnar Stockton joined him (with an identical 8 TD passes to 4 incompletions). Stockton, who has an 87.5% completion percentage (28-for-32), sees his most talented opposition yet in the Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday.
No. 12 Alabama vs. Kentucky (45-17 Alabama)
Play: 6:35 Q1, 3rd-and-6, Kentucky 31-yard line. Kenny Minchey pass INTERCEPTED by Luke Metz, returned 34 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Tie 14-14 (+12.0% for Alabama).
Is Alabama‘s defense back? The Crimson Tide yielded only 209 total yards to the Wildcats, including just 57 yards after trailing 17-13 at halftime. Defensive coordinator Kane Womack’s unit forced 3 turnovers, stopped Kentucky on downs twice and scored Alabama’s first points of the game. Sometimes, you’ve gotta get back to your roots to find success.
Mississippi State vs. Minnesota (38-13 Mississippi State)
Play: 5:51 Q1, 4th-and-1, Mississippi State 38-yard line. Darius Taylor rushes for 5 yards to Mississippi State 28-yard line. First down, Minnesota (+6.3% for Minnesota).
Kamario Taylor led the Bulldogs to touchdowns on 4-straight possessions to open Saturday’s game. The Golden Gophers simply had no answer for him or Fluff Bothwell. Together, Jeff Lebby‘s quarterback and running back combined for 426 yards of offense and 5 touchdowns. Another dominant showing in Columbia on Saturday will have the whole country hearing cowbells.
Delaware vs. Vanderbilt (35-26 Vanderbilt)
Play: 0:17 Q2, 4th-and-9, Vanderbilt 17-yard line. Bryson Graves BLOCKS Tyler Ebel’s punt, recovers in end zone, TOUCHDOWN. 17-14 Delaware (+13.9% for Delaware).
You don’t see 2 blocked punts returned for touchdowns in the same game very often. Joe Flacco’s Blue Hens fought valiantly in Nashville; they finished with 1 fewer yard of offense (338) than the Commodores (339). Ultimately, they didn’t have enough steam to get over the hump. Vanderbilt isn’t the prettiest 2-0 team, but wins are wins.
Campbell vs. Florida (52-3 Florida)
Play: 9:15 Q1, 2nd-and-11, Campbell 31-yard line. Aaron Philo pass complete to Bailey Stockton for 24 yards to Campbell 7-yard line. First down, Florida (+0.2% for Florida).
The Gators got after the Camels in Week 2, recording 8 tackles for loss and 10 pass defenses. One can only glean so much from Jon Sumrall‘s bunch through 2 games. A trip to The Plains for a matchup with fellow first-year coach Alex Golesh will provide true insight into the makeup of this team.
No. 18 Tennessee vs. Georgia Tech (45-24 Tennessee)
Play: 11:24 Q2, 2nd-and-2, Georgia Tech 44-yard line. Alberto Mendoza pass INTERCEPTED by Dejuan Lane, returned 41 yards, TOUCHDOWN. 17-10 Tennessee (+16.0% for Tennessee).
Faizon Brandon’s box score from the Vols’ win over the Yellow Jackets is nowhere near as sparkling as the one from his debut vs. Furman. That doesn’t mean he didn’t play well, though. Head coach Josh Heupel was pleased with his young passer’s composure in a hostile environment. That intangible may be the most important one in Brandon’s toolbox as he embarks upon a 9-game SEC slate.
Towson vs. South Carolina (45-9 South Carolina)
Play: 9:37 Q1, 4th-and-10, Towson 8-yard line. Owen Scheihing punts 50 yards to South Carolina 42-yard line. Vicari Swain returns for 58 yards, TOUCHDOWN. 7-0 South Carolina (+0.1% for South Carolina).
The Gamecocks gave up just 21 yards of offense on Towson’s first 5 possessions. Couple that with 93 yards allowed to Kent State on the Golden Flashes’ final 5 drives in Week 1, and you’ve got a pretty impressive thing happening. This weekend’s game against Kamario Taylor and Mississippi State should be fun.
Louisiana Tech vs. No. 8 LSU (45-14 LSU)
Play: 1:53 Q2, 3rd-and-Goal, Louisiana Tech 6-yard line. Sam Leavitt pass INTERCEPTED by Jordan McRae, returned 100 yards, TOUCHDOWN. LSU 10-7 (+2.6% for Louisiana Tech).
Louisiana Tech had nearly as many interception return yards (125) as it did total yards (145) in Death Valley last week. You can view that as an indictment on Sam Leavitt if you want, but it should be a bigger statement for LSU‘s defense. The Tigers have allowed 285 yards in 8 quarters of action. Even though the offenses will be the focus during the lead up to Lane Kiffin‘s return to Ole Miss, the Bayou Bengal defense could be the best unit on the field this Saturday night.
No. 1 Ohio State vs. No. 4 Texas (24-23 Texas)
Play: 1:23 Q4, 2nd-and-7, Ohio State 20-yard line. Arch Manning pass complete to Emmett Mosley V for 19 yards to Ohio State 1-yard line. First down, Texas (+29.1% for Texas).
How exactly Texas beat Ohio State is still a mystery. The Longhorns couldn’t get out of their own way for 45 minutes of action against the Buckeyes. Then, things shifted. It’s impossible to clinch a CFP berth this early, but Steve Sarkisian has the best possible chip in his possession for whatever debates may come down the pipe this season.
Charlotte vs. No. 9 Ole Miss (41-9 Ole Miss)
Play: 13:55 Q2, 2nd-and-13, Charlotte 14-yard line. Trinidad Chambliss pass complete to Johntay Cook II for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN. 14-0 Ole Miss (+0.2% for Ole Miss).
All 5 of the Rebels’ touchdown drives vs. the 49ers were 67 yards or longer. Each of them also featured at least 7 plays. We know Ole Miss can strike from distance, but sustaining possessions against LSU’s defense will be a necessity for a 3-0 start.
Southern Miss vs. Auburn (43-8 Auburn)
Play: 14:50 Q1, 1st-and-15, Southern Miss 20-yard line. Ethan Hampton pass INTERCEPTED by Andre Jordan Jr., returned 29 yards, TOUCHDOWN. 7-0 Auburn (+5.3% for Auburn).
Alex Golesh couldn’t have asked for a better start to his first home game with the Tigers. Auburn and Florida are both looking to make a statement when they take the field on Saturday. Nobody will say the Gators can’t win, but seeing the Tigers open as slight home underdogs felt surprising. Funky things happen in Jordan-Hare at night.
Arkansas vs. No. 20 Utah (43-10 Utah)
Play: 4:08 Q1, 4th-and-2, Arkansas 5-yard line. Devon Dampier rushes 4 yards to Arkansas 1-yard line. First down, Utah (+5.8% for Utah).
It’s hard to beat Utah at home, particularly at night. The Utes outscored the Razorbacks 43-7 after Arkansas’s opening drive. Two mostly discouraging showings aren’t what fans wanted to see with Georgia on the horizon.
Author’s Note: ESPN analytics had a score mistake following Arkansas’s second-quarter interception that boosted Utah’s winning percentage more than initially indicated (supported by the significantly lower winning percentage on the ensuing play). For this reason, it was excluded from consideration.
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