There was plenty of action among SEC teams in Week 11 and a lot to like.
Some key players put on spectacular displays, teams kept division hopes alive and there might have even been an upset or two.
As we look back on another thrilling weekend in the SEC, here are 10 things that I liked.
1. Jalen Hurts makes Alabama more dangerous than ever: The Crimson Tide aren’t just rolling with another steady quarterback. No, Alabama has one of the most dynamic freshmen in college football behind center.
Hurts has been electric at times this season, but he took his play to an entirely different level in the Tide’s 51-3 victory over Mississippi State. The freshman completed 28 of his 37 pass attempts for 347 yards with 4 touchdowns while also running for 100 yards and another score. He became the first Alabama quarterback — regardless of class — to register a 300-100 yard day.
2. The SEC East race will continue for another week: One of the more interesting storylines in November has been the SEC East title race. Florida and Tennessee’s victories Saturday turned a possible six-team tiebreaker headache into a two-team race to Atlanta.
https://twitter.com/SDS/status/797807984025812992
If Florida can defeat LSU in Baton Rouge next weekend, the Gators will claim the division. If they lose and Tennessee wins out, the Vols will head to Atlanta.
3. Georgia’s defense spurs upset: The Bulldogs became only the second SEC East team to defeat West team when they upset Auburn 13-7 in Athens.
Georgia’s defense made a big statement in the victory, holding the Tigers to 164 total yards and not allowing a single first down in the second half. It was defensive back Maurice Smith who scored the Bulldogs’ lone touchdown after he took an interception to the house just after halftime.
4. Austin Appleby’s touchdown pass to Ahmad Fulwood: Florida’s passing game hasn’t been as effective as many had hoped it would be entering the season, but Appleby made a nice play on this touchdown pass.
https://twitter.com/UFSwampaholics/status/797525317728555008
5. Joshua Dobbs turns in another classic performance: Dobbs will be a player Tennessee fans come to appreciate more and more as time passes. The senior quarterback kept his team in contention for a coveted division title with another great game in a 49-36 victory against Kentucky.
Dobbs was 11-of-17 for 223 yards and 3 touchdowns through the air and added another 147 yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground. His two touchdowns helped him set a school record for most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback (26). How he found out was even better.
6. Fournette and Guice form an elite 1-2 punch: LSU’s run game is incredible to watch when it gets rolling. Against Arkansas, Leonard Fournette did Leonard Fournette things and scored a hat trick for the second time in the past three games.
The Tigers’ feature back ran for 98 yards and 3 touchdowns but left the game after tweaking his ankle. It didn’t matter, though, as Derrius Guice stole the show when he got the chance. Guice nearly set a single-game record with 252 yards and 2 touchdowns, including this record-breaking 96-yard touchdown run.
Derrius Guice. 96 Yards. Touchdown LSU!
THE LONGEST TD RUN IN @LSUfootball HISTORY! https://t.co/iJ4cwqzkz0 pic.twitter.com/wRF5Iwj13J
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) November 13, 2016
7. Shea Patterson’s debut: The SEC has seen a youth movement at quarterback this season, and that continued with Patterson making his first start for Ole Miss on Saturday. He was electric in the second half and helped spur the Rebels to a 29-28 comeback victory at Texas A&M.
The freshman displayed his ability to improvise and make plays with his legs and his arm, throwing for 338 yards and 2 touchdowns while running for 47 more. Patterson set a school record for most passing yards by a freshman.
8. Missouri earns its first SEC victory: The Tigers have had a rough season. Missouri’s only two wins entering Saturday came against Eastern Michigan and Delaware State. Barry Odom’s defense has struggled to perform amidst a scheme change and it looked increasingly likely that the Tigers might not win an SEC game.
That changed Saturday as Missouri earned a 26-17 win against Vanderbilt.
9. Jojo Kemp’s 71-yard touchdown run: It came in a losing effort, but Kemp’s touchdown run was emblematic of just how explosive Kentucky has been on the ground this season. Taking the ball in the fourth quarter, Kemp found a seam and ran away from a gang of Tennessee defenders. Kentucky ran for 443 yards — but somehow lost.
https://twitter.com/Scott_Charlton/status/797531621125713920
10. ArDarius Stewart: Yeah, Alabama is playing on an entirely different level.
ArDarius Stewart was rolling as No. 1 Alabama defeats Mississippi State 51-3 pic.twitter.com/aRGPOUF1eB
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 12, 2016
