For the purposes of this story, SDS defines an explosive play as a run of at least 20 yards or a pass of at least 30 yards.

Measuring by explosive plays, Alabama is the best team in the SEC through three games.

The Crimson Tide offense is behind only Kentucky, producing 14 explosive plays, while tying three other SEC teams for the fewest explosive plays allowed.

Meanwhile, South Carolina’s explosive plays margin is minus-four, worse than Vanderbilt. To be fair, the Gamecocks have faced two of the SEC’s best offenses in Texas A&M and Georgia in addition to East Carolina’s prolific passing game.

Alabama, by contrast, has compiled its numbers against West Virginia, Florida Atlantic and Southern Miss.

Team Margin Explosive Plays Explosive Plays Allowed
1. Alabama +10 14 4
T2. Kentucky +9 15 6
T2. Texas A&M +9 14 5
4. LSU +6 12 6
T5. Florida +5 9 4
T5. Georgia +5 9 4
T5. Mississippi State +5 12 7
T8. Auburn +4 8 4
T8. Ole Miss +4 10 6
10. Arkansas +3 12 9
11. Missouri +1 7 6
12. Tennessee -1 6 7
13. Vanderbilt -3 3 6
14. South Carolina -4 5 9

Arkansas has produced just two explosive pass plays in three games, but the Razorbacks still rank fourth in the SEC thanks to a league-best 10 rushes of at least 20 yards.

It’s no surprise Texas A&M is tied for first with nine explosive passes, but Patrick Towles and Kentucky also have an SEC-best nine despite playing the touted Florida defense Saturday. The Aggies and Wildcats have five times as many explosive plays as Vanderbilt, which has produced just one per game.

Georgia is tied for last in the SEC in explosive passing plays in spite of facing a vulnerable South Carolina secondary this weekend. The Bulldogs have been pretty reliant on Todd Gurley to generate chunks of yardage.

Heading into the game with LSU this weekend, Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott has helped the Bulldogs produce six explosive passes and six explosive rushes, a balance that may test the Tigers defense, which hasn’t allowed a point since early in the third quarter against Wisconsin.

EXPLOSIVE PLAYS: OFFENSE

Team Explosive Plays Passes For 30+ Rushes For 20+
1. Kentucky 15 9 6
2. Alabama 14 6 8
3. Texas A&M 14 9 5
T4. Arkansas 12 2 10
T4. LSU 12 5 7
T4. Mississippi State 12 6 6
7. Ole Miss 10 7 3
T8. Florida 9 5 4
T8. Georgia 9 2 7
10. Auburn 8 4 4
11. Missouri 7 4 3
12. Tennessee 6 4 2
13. South Carolina 5 3 2
14. Vanderbilt 3 2 1

Again, South Carolina has faced three tough offenses, but the Gamecocks are tied with Arkansas, giving up three explosive plays per game.

Mississippi State has allowed a conference-worst six pass plays for at least 30 yards, but the Bulldogs (along with Florida, Georgia and Texas A&M) are the SEC’s stingiest run defense.

By contrast, Ole Miss has allowed a conference-best one pass play for at least 30 yards (along with Missouri), but an SEC-worst five rushes for at least 20 yards (along with Missouri, Arkansas and South Carolina).

EXPLOSIVE PLAYS: DEFENSE

Team Explosive Plays Allowed Passes For 30+ Rushes For 20+
T1. Alabama 4 2 2
T1. Auburn 4 2 2
T1. Florida 4 3 1
T1. Georgia 4 3 1
5. Texas A&M 5 4 1
T6. Kentucky 6 3 3
T6. LSU 6 2 4
T6. Missouri 6 1 5
T6. Ole Miss 6 1 5
T6. Vanderbilt 6 4 2
T11. Mississippi State 7 6 1
T11. Tennessee 7 4 3
T13. Arkansas 9 4 5
T13. South Carolina 9 4 5