Is Jalen Hurts going to play Saturday?

There are 12 games on the SEC schedule in Week 2, and almost all of them offer far more intrigue and drama than Alabama vs. Arkansas State, but no single personnel decision will draw more interest and scrutiny than Jalen Hurts’ playing time.

That tops the list of the 5 biggest storylines in Week 2.

1. Will Jalen Hurts play or sit today?

The countdown is on. The math is simple: If Hurts plays in 5 games this season, he can’t redshirt. He played in the opener. Nick Saban hasn’t revealed his plans for the rest of Hurts’ season, though there was one report Friday night that, barring an emergency need, Hurts already is planning to sit out the rest of the season and redshirt.

That’s essentially what I thought would happen all along.

I’ve said repeatedly that Saban wouldn’t hose Hurts — and the Hurts family wouldn’t let that happen, anyway. On that level, the report makes sense. I think Hurts wants to preserve the redshirt for his next team. That would be logical and in his best interest.

I began writing this awhile ago: I think the plan has been in place. I think Jalen Hurts will be there for Saban and Alabama in an emergency, but not to mop up 50-3 blowouts. It certainly sounds like everybody is on board with that.

I’ll be stunned if Hurts wastes one of his few remaining games today against Arkansas State. If the report is accurate, it sounds like he won’t waste any more games in a mop up role. Mac Jones needs snaps too. Unlike Hurts, Jones likely will be at Alabama next season.

2. Everything is set up for South Carolina to stun Georgia …

But will the Gamecocks take advantage?

Home game, Week 2 against a revamped defense and an offense that must rely on new skill players about to face their biggest SEC challenge.

That’s how you would draw it up. South Carolina is the more veteran, more tested group. Willy B. will be bonkers. Deebo Samuel is back. It’s all there for the Gamecocks.

History doesn’t win or lose games, but this has that dreaded feel of the 2015 Georgia-Alabama game. Where Georgia had all of those advantages, and was higher ranked, and Alabama walked into Sanford Stadium and walked the Dawgs. Kirby Smart was on Alabama’s sideline that day. He knows how much fun it is to silence the home crowd.

The best story is for South Carolina to upset Georgia and create some real chaos in the East. Georgia is only going to get better, and the Dawgs already are plenty dangerous.

Can the Gamecocks do it? I’m not convinced, but I’ll be watching.

3. Long live The Streak

It’s unbelievable that one team could beat another team 31 consecutive times. And some of the ways in which Florida has preserved its perfect run against Kentucky defy most rules of football.

Scoring a game-winner when the opponent forgets to cover you? Check.

Throwing 7 interceptions … and still winning? Check.

Winning all 6 of the games decided by a 6 points or fewer? Check.

I was joking with our Kentucky columnist and fearless predictor Joe Cox earlier this week and said this is how it’s going to play out Saturday night at The Swamp:

  • Benny Snell: 84 carries for 295 yards and 3 TDs. (Plus 3 TD-saving tackles on 2 INTs and a botched trick play).
  • Kentucky TOP: 48:21
  • Florida TOP: 11:39
  • Final score: Florida 22, Kentucky 21.

We laughed … because in this series, why wouldn’t that happen?

Kentucky has a chance, though, because Kentucky has Benny Snell. If it’s going to end, it needs to end tonight, with Kentucky’s veterans taking advantage of a young-but-more-talented Gators’ squad still learning Dan Mullen’s ways.

4. How good, really, is Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence?

Lawrence was the No. 1-ranked recruit in 2018, edging No. 2 Justin Fields.

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney has said Lawrence absolutely will play tonight against Texas A&M. It feels inevitable, that by the time Clemson gets to the Playoff and potentially faces an SEC team for the fourth consecutive year, Lawrence will be behind center.

If he plays as well against the Aggies as he did in Clemson’s cupcake opener, the move will happen sooner than later.

5. Jeremy Pruitt gets win No. 1

It’s easy to find flaws in the Vols’ 40-14 loss to West Virginia. Will Grier dominated, as a Heisman contender should.

But it wasn’t all flat tires and flashing warning lights.

Fred White said the Vols are moving in the right direction under Jeremy Pruitt.

Let’s hope he’s right.

The SEC East in particular and league in general are a lot better when the Vols are viable contenders.

The Vols have lost 4 consecutive games. They haven’t lost 5 in a row since 1988, when they suffered through a 6-game losing skid.

This afternoon, the streak ends. Pruitt picks up the first of what Vols fans hope will be dozens of victories.