Wait, there’s still games after Rivalry Week? What are fans to do after such a cathartic weekend? Fortunately there’s still another pretty full slate as the SEC’s season winds to a close. There’s plenty of time for Alabama to humiliate more programs and for a few teams to fire coaches.

Here’s how every SEC fan base should feel heading into Week 11:

Alabama

Florida, we see your Kyles and raise you one Mac Jones and DeVonta Smith. So much for Iron Bowls being competitive. Is there any question that Nick Saban wears a suit as his pajamas? If so, he can bring a pillow to the sideline because the rest of this season is a sleeper until January.

Arkansas

The battle for Coach of the Year, Take 2. Having the Thanksgiving weekend off was nice, but Sam Pittman is ready to pick up win No. 4. Not COVID, not a schedule with 5 ranked teams and officiating blunders can stop the coach from hogging all the coaching awards this year. It’s truly a strange/wonderful feeling in Fayetteville not hate-watching the Razorbacks this year.

Auburn

Dorothy was on to something. There really is no place like home. Just when Auburn folks thought Charles Barkley’s swing was the worst thing they’d have to watch this past weekend, the Tigers and Bo Nix dropped their expected egg away from Jordan-Hare. Texas A&M has a pretty sizable Army ROTC. Auburn stands no chance without a Tank.

Florida

Look, someone had to keep things interesting in that noon TV slot for at least a half. Dan Mullen was still fuming over Todd Grantham stealing the last slice of pecan pie or hanging the Christmas lights early, so it’s understandable his attention may have been somewhat divided.


The dinner-table debate of which Kyle is better got no clarity against Kentucky. Is it possible to just saw the Heisman in half and give each a piece?

Georgia

Alright, alright, alright. The sequel to Matthew McConaughey’s 2003 rom-com with Kate Hudson unfolded this past month in Athens: “How to lose a backup QB in 10 Days.”

Apparently, 2 games from JT Daniels was all it took for D’Wan Mathis to realize he was never getting that job back. And about that ground game this year … the Dawgs might finish with back-to-back 300-yard rushing efforts after that 8-yard dud.

Kentucky

Tough weekend in Lexington. The basketball team lost to Spiders and the football team’s offense was held to 10 or fewer points for the 4th time in the last 5 games. Even watching the NFL was traumatic. The Broncos apparently called up Eddie Gran for their game plan. Here’s to hoping Kentucky reaches the teens against a head coachless South Carolina team.

LSU

It may have been the ugliest game of the weekend, but what a splash of cold water on the face to see an LSU defense defend the pass. Isn’t there some country music concert going on in Tiger Stadium this weekend? Or maybe the grass needs reseeded? Tiger fans would be fine not seeing how improved their defense really may be against Mac Jones.

Mississippi State

Call it a conspiracy theory, but there’s something about playing the 2 worst passing defenses in the SEC that makes Mike Leach’s Air Raid take flight. Will Rogers appears to be something Leach can work with going forward, but then again these were the same defenses that elevated Bo Nix and Ken Seals to Heisman-like numbers.

Mizzou

Way to go Missourim getting one of the nicest coaches fired. The Tigers’ presence seems to get coaches canned or make for poor debuts from interim HCs. Nick Bolton and Larry Rountree III may be 2 of the most underrated players in the conference. It’s too bad there’s not a half-decent journalism program nearby to promote the duo.

Ole Miss

Finally, a Thanksgiving in Oxford went off without a hitch. There was no discussion of politics or marriage at the table and no one lifted their leg in places they shouldn’t have. The defense was still left at the kid’s table, but Lane Kiffin didn’t injure any fans with a play sheet.

South Carolina

There’s plenty of reason to be nervous about this weekend. After playing 2-hand touch against Georgia’s running backs, there may not be a team more in love with its rushing game than Kentucky. Maybe Will Muschamp was on to something, getting out of town before things got worse. Gamecocks have 1 last chance to pick it up or Shane Beamer and Billy Napier may not want to take another call from Columbia.

Tennessee

When all else fails, call in Mother Nature. Maybe her December temperament can slow Florida’s offense. Or maybe the Vols shock the world and Harrison Bailey sends the Gators’ defense back to Week 1. But that of course would require too much faith in the coaching staff to make the right decision.

Texas A&M

Sure, it’d been a while since the Aggies last played, but 105 yards against Bo Pelini’s secondary? Is Jimmy Sexton also Pelini’s agent? That’s the only explanation. With Ohio State testing out of the College Football Playoff, if there’s ever a week to make a statement it would be now.

Vanderbilt

Cool Saturday, bad Sunday. Are we certain Sarah Fuller wouldn’t also be the best option at QB? If Vanderbilt couldn’t find a way to kick a field goal against Missouri, it may likely be another boring day for Fuller in Athens. Hopefully, the buyout on Derek Mason wasn’t too large because until Vanderbilt spends more on its football facilities than it does on Mr. Commodores’ creepy costume, it’s going to be hard to anchor down a solid coaching candidate for a while.