SDS Week 15 Mailbag: Where Kelly Bryant ranks among returning SEC QBs, ranking the Chick-fil-A sauces, blasting UCF and more
With the SEC Championship Game behind us and bowl season still a couple of weeks away, this is a bit of a dead period for SEC football. However, the early signing period is just a couple of weeks away, so there’s some important recruiting time coming up.
Still, it’s a great time to dive into the world of college basketball for a couple of weeks before turning your attention back to football. Currently, the SEC has four ranked teams, including three in the top 10 — No. 7 Tennessee, No. 8 Auburn and No. 9 Kentucky.
Here are our SEC basketball power rankings for this week, and they could undergo a big shakeup this weekend. Be sure to check out Tennessee taking on No. 1 Gonzaga on Saturday.
Here are this week’s top questions for the #SDSMailbag:
@SChinni12:
After Mizzou landed Clemson transfer Kelly Bryant this week, where does he rank on the list of quarterbacks returning to the SEC next year?
Christmas came early for Mizzou fans this year, as Kelly Bryant decided to use his final year of eligibility to replace Drew Lock as the Tigers’ starting quarterback in 2019. Bryant led the Clemson Tigers to the College Football Playoff last year before losing his job this year to 5-star freshman Trevor Lawrence, so he is an elite talent.
He’s definitely an immediate top-five quarterback in the SEC next season, and here’s how I’d rank those top handful of quarterbacks coming back:
- Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama — This one is obvious. If Tagovailoa were draft-eligible, he’d be the first quarterback off the board this year.
- Jake Fromm, Georgia — Fromm doesn’t get a lot of credit for what he does, but he has been even better than he was last year for the Bulldogs. He’s another guy who could be a first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
- Kelly Bryant, Mizzou — As mentioned above, Bryant has led a top team to a Playoff berth, so he’s a good quarterback. He probably most resembles a guy like Jalen Hurts, and that’s a good thing for Mizzou.
- Kellen Mond, Texas A&M — With a year in Jimbo Fisher’s system under his belt, the sky’s the limit for Mond next year. I expect big things from him on a weekly basis in 2019.
- Jake Bentley, South Carolina — This is assuming Bentley doesn’t declare for the NFL Draft, but he’d be wise to stay in school for another year to improve his stock.
Honorable mention to Tennessee’s Jarrett Guarantano, who really impressed me with how much he improved this year. Of course, if Hurts ends up at Auburn (or somewhere else in the SEC), he’d be a worthy inclusion on this list, too.

Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Robert:
How will the Big Ten and Pac-12 both missing out on the CFP again in 2018 affect the rest of the bowl season? Should we expect inflated bowl records due to favorable matchups from “punching down” (like the Big 10 in 2017) or will we see one or both conferences extend their underwhelming regular seasons into the postseason (like the Pac-12 in 2017), more or less justifying their CFP exclusion?
Interestingly, the SEC and Pac-12 don’t have any specific bowl agreements to face each other, so the Pac-12 dodges a huge bullet there. Since it doesn’t involve the SEC, I’m not overly qualified to judge how they’ll do, but I’d expect them to do well (outside of the Rose Bowl, where I think Ohio State will beat Washington handily).
The Big Ten, on the other hand, should have another year of inflated bowl stats due to the SEC’s dominance. Because four SEC teams are in either the Playoff or the New Year’s Six games, the other bowl matchups — of which there are four between the conferences — are favorable to the Big Ten.
Florida has never beaten Michigan, and now the Wolverines will play the Gators in the Peach Bowl. Meanwhile, Mississippi State has a seemingly bad matchup against Iowa, and Penn State should be a tough game for Kentucky. I don’t even feel particularly comfortable with the Auburn-Purdue matchup, although I think Auburn’s defense is the best the Boilermakers will have faced this year.
The Big Ten finished 7-1 last season, though, with Michigan collapsing late against South Carolina in the Outback Bowl as the only loss. I’d expect the conference to do worse this time around.
To answer your other question, I don’t think that bowl records refute or justify a conference’s exclusion from the Playoff. If Washington State had beaten Washington and won the Pac-12, I would have been irate if they didn’t get in. However, Ohio State’s blowout road loss to an inferior foe was once again what kept the Big Ten out. Oklahoma’s loss was by only three points, so it is completely justifiable that the Sooners got the final Playoff spot.
If the Big Ten could have its top team win the games it is supposed to (cough, Michigan at Ohio State, cough, Ohio State at Purdue, cough), then the conference would be a shoo-in to every Playoff. Alabama kept its loss to two scores at Auburn last year, while Ohio State got blown out at Iowa. This year, the Buckeyes got hammered by Purdue. Win those games and you’re in — it’s that simple for the Big Ten.
@Ben_Cochran:
Everyone gives UCF crap for their strength of schedule. But why haven’t SEC teams been given the same scrutiny with their non-conference scheduling? Yes, there are good matchups to be found every year, but why are SEC teams ever scheduling FCS opponents?
Well, for one, the SEC teams play eight games a year against other SEC teams. To be fair, I don’t like the “Cupcake Week” in Week 12, either, but we need to stop acting like UCF’s nonconference schedule is great, too.
What has UCF done in nonconference play the past two seasons? A win over Pitt this year is fine, but just because the Panthers made it to the ACC title game doesn’t mean that’s a “quality” win, per se. In 2017, they had a game against Maine canceled and beat up on Austin Peay — both FCS squads.
If the Knights want to be taken more seriously (and believe me, I’d love to see UCF get a chance in the Playoff, just not at the expense of an elite Power 5 team), then they should be embarrassed to ever have an FCS team on their schedule. There’s no reason for the Knights to have a game scheduled against Florida A&M in 2019.
Before we criticize the SEC teams for scheduling an FCS opponent, we need to really question why a team like UCF isn’t taking advantage of every single opportunity it has to bolster its strength of schedule to get on par with the big boys.
And now for your non-football question of the week:
@Dobbe8:
After watching a million Chick-fil-A ads this year during SEC games, please rank the seven sauces.
As we all know, you really can’t go wrong when you’re talking about Chick-fil-A, so I do enjoy a lot of these sauces. However, I have a bit of a bold pick for No. 1:
- Garlic & Herb Ranch — I know this is going to be contentious, but I’m an unapologetic ranch fanatic, so of course it’s going to be No. 1 on my list. I won’t hear any arguments otherwise!
- Chick-fil-A sauce — Naturally, this is why many people come to Chick-fil-A, and if I weren’t such a huge fan of ranch, this would easily be the best sauce on the list.
- Barbecue sauce — Chicken and barbecue go together like peanut butter and jelly. This sweet-and-smoky sauce is a great addition to any Chick-fil-A item.
- Honey mustard sauce — Why get the regular honey mustard sauce when you can get the same flavor and much more in the Chick-fil-A sauce?
- Zesty buffalo sauce — Buffalo chicken is one of my favorite things. This sauce is a little more watery than other buffalo sauces, but it is still absolutely delicious.
- Sriracha sauce — I like sriracha, I just don’t really need it on my chicken. I much prefer it on eggs, so I’d stick with putting it on the breakfast items.
- Polynesian sauce — I know a lot of people like this, but it’s a bit too sweet for me. No way I’m getting it when there are so many other great sauces on the menu.
In case you feel the need to yell at me for my love of ranch, my Twitter is @AdamSpencer4. Bring it.
BONUS: Last week was brutal for Dobbe’s Locks of the Week, but he’ll try to enter bowl season with an above-.500 with this pick for the Army-Navy game on Saturday (line via MyBookie):
- Navy (+230) vs. Army — Great value there. Army is getting all the uniform hype, but Navy has some slick ones as well. Plus, George H.W. Bush was a Navy Lieutenant, so there’s a big-time storyline for the Midshipmen.
Dobbe’s Locks season record: 11-11-1
Have questions for next week’s SDS Mailbag? Tweet at us using #SDSMailbag or email ASpencer@SaturdayDownSouth.com.
There is no way that Kelly Bryant is an “automatic” top 5 QB in SEC for 2019. He did NOT lead Clemson to the CFP in 2017. The Clemson run game and defense did. Bryant had 13 TD’s and 8 Int’s in 2017 against ACC defenses. “Elite talent” does not get beat out after three games by a true freshmen, even if it is Trevor Lawrence. Take the homer hat off and at least do some homework before you write something this ridiculous.
Well said
I agree. It will be interesting to see how he does. On the other hand, there aren’t many good QBs in the SEC for 2019. I’d probably have him 5th or 6th in next year’s SEC.
Huh?
“The Clemson run game and defense did.”
Kelly Bryant also rushed for 665 yards in 2017. And yes, true talent does get beaten out. Mahomes, Goff, never won against a ranked team — ever. Warner played in the Arena league and Flutie in the CFL for years. They were all bridesmaids at one time, over and over. By your definition, Jalen Hurts is a slouch.
You don’t have Chick-Fil-A sauce as #1 so you are clearly a crazy person
Zax sauce is better, as is the restaurant.
Cane’s Sauce from Raising Cane’s is even better, as is the chicken.
Layne’s sauce and chicken are better than all three.
I wish I knew of a restaurant that would keep up this rhythm thing, but alas.
Cane’s is better so any sauce you pick from cfa is not as tasty.
Went to chick-fil-a today to confirm that I wasn’t missing out on the ranch. It’s good albeit too tangy for me.
Kirby, I agree the Zax sauce is better though I prefer chick-fil-a. I like Zaxbys but I always feel really greasy when I leave there and I don’t usually get that leaving chick-fil-a
For me, the big difference makers are the ice in the drink machines at Zaxby’s and the menu variety.
If you’re going to Chick-fil-A, you’ve got pretty much 2 choices unless you’re a soccer mom, and even then, their salads are mediocre.
Because of the Committees “Political Votes” of Gene Smith, Ohio State AD, and Joe Castiglione, Oklahoma AD, of the B1G and the B-12 – it is clearly time to expand the Play-Offs beyond four teams.
Simply put, room needs to made to accommodate the B1G, and the B-12. Give them an automatic participation trophy, every year.
So, lets just reserve a spot for the winner of every conference.
That would at least remove ‘some’ of the political bias, and would allow the real top four teams to at leats get in. Then, we can thank Gene Smith, and Joe Castiglione for watering the whole thing down…
on number 1 You misspelled Polynesian.just a heads up
Why are you giving Chick Fil A FREE ADVERTISING??
Why not?
Because Chik Fil A is awesome?
btw the Sriracha sauce makes waffle fries dance and sing in your mouth.
May your garlic/herb sauce burn in the fires of hell. Zaxby’s all the way.
LOL @ zuxby and their one choice of sauce…
Actually Zaxby’s has a pretty large assortment of sauces available. I agree the actual Zaxby’s sauce is terrible, but they have some pretty good alternatives.
Whataburger spicy ketchup and the jalapeno ranch. That’s the stuff
Whatapost in a chicken thread.
Unfortunately many on this board don’t get to experience Whataburger. It’s my first stop when I travel to Texas. Good call on the spicy ketchup.
Absolutely, maybe not a chicken spice, but spicy ketchup is the stuff.
They have at least 7 wing sauces alone, any of which you can ask for. Hot honey mustard all the way.
GO ARMY!!! BEAT NAVY!!! (Again)
Hooah!
I toured Annapolis this year(a must see!) and I’ve got to root for Navy!
A fine column touching on many important points. Firstly:
“we need to really question why a team like UCF isn’t taking advantage of every single opportunity it has to bolster its strength of schedule to get on par with the big boys.”
Agreed. Back in the day, Bobby Bowden made his bones going into the houses of the powers and beating them. UCF would do well to follow his example.
Second, and most importantly:
Chick Fil A is pretty amazing, and their service is second to none. However, I also love Zaxby’s, although their choice of only one sauce—while delicious—is a strike against them.
BTW, the sriracha sauce at Wendy’s is pretty good, too. Nuggets AND fries go in that thang!
And this is the third time I’ve seen Raising Cane’s mentioned. Unfortunately, we don’t have one here in Jacksonville.
My sauces for CFA ranked:
1. Sriracha
2. BBQ
3. CFA
4. Polynesian
5. Ranch
6. Buffalo
7. Honey Mustard.
Also Canes>CFA>Zaxbys. Sucks Canes isn’t in Alabama but I hit up when I go to Baton Rouge every other year.
When it comes to QB’s in 19 I would say Bryant would be top 5.
1. Tua
2. Fromm
3. Mond (believe he can improve a lot in another Spring)
4. Bentley
5. Byrant
6. Burrow
7. Guarantano
8. Franks
9. Wilson
Auburn, Vandy, Ole Miss, Miss St and Arkansas will all have new starters.
After watching Burrow almost single-handily beat aTm he’s got to be 5 and Bryant 6. His performance was the gutsiest of the year.
Bryant beat A&M earlier this year..
Burrow was the heart and soul of that LSU team while Bryant played well enough to end up getting replaced permanently by Lawrence. Sorry, Bryant did not beat A&M, Clemson did.
Question for Tim R. You want to give CC automatic bids and this ensures the real 4 best teams get in. A 3 loss Washington gets in? Pitt pulls out a shocker and a 5 loss team is in. How are the best. More losses with a weaker strength of schedule makes you better? Shouldn’t wins count more than CC. OSU didn’t lose out last year because they lost to Iowa. They were excluded for 2 losses with a blow out to Iowa. OU got in this year since they had 1 loss and UGA 2.
No one seems to think about that when they’re like “Oh, 8 team playoff is simple. P5 conference champs and 3 at large, or best G5 and 2 at large”.
What if, say, Alabama gets put on post-season probation, and an 8-5 Auburn wins the SEC? Or a 9-4 Virginia wins the ACC via coasting through a cupcake ACC Coastal and upsetting Clemson due to key injuries, controversial calls, etc.?
Exactly why I say take the best 8 after 12 games and eliminate the CCG. Avoids the upsets and it is a true playoff.
Actually I have thought about this, and I say why not? Whose to say that 5 loss team isn’t the best team and injuries or bad matchups gave them early losses?
The NFL is longer so it’s not directly comparable, but the Texans were 0-3 at one point and then rattled off 8 straight and look like they can compete with anyone. Georgia has two losses but I’d argue they’re better than Oklahoma and Notre Dame. I might be wrong, but I’d make the argument.
Fact is, no matter what system is decided upon no system will be perfect. At least in an expanded playoffs we do get the best 4. If they are the best four than a top seed should have no problem disposing of the worst conference champions , right ?
WDE… I have said the same thing. The CCG has ran it’s course. Time to move on to something else.
Tiny 4-year old football tots work puzzles with big obvious pieces. There are a limited number of places in the puzzle where Bryant can fit. Further play-book expansion is one of those. Insurance policy against quarterback injury is another. Buying a year of badly needed maturation time for Powell is another. Creating an offense where two experienced dual-threat quarterbacks can overload the weekly preparation time of opponents is one more.
What happens if Powell kicks the starter door down instead of Bryant. Remember lots of players have done this thru off season work. Some have even gone off the reservation to acquire the coaching to do this. Bryant could be trying to move toward the Lock model or Powell could be trying to move toward a model being designed for Bryant/Scott/Wilson
Even if you look for young receiver talent to predict direction, the life-after-Lock design, could succeed in more than one way. A valid map would pave roads thru the defenses that slowed Missouri down this year, Kentucky and Alabama. If Dooley does this, he gives Walters, and boss Odom, a way to a National Championship.
All fine speculation, but Powell and the receiver corp., could demand that Lock speed look, where the running game including any possible speed/triple option ie. gets refined instead of re-designed.
You guys are making me hungry, it’s 15 freaking degrees F outside, the coyotes are having a party about a football field from my window, and when they go back to bed, 4 Great-Horned owls will be outside hooting out bets on whether that song fest, wakes me up enough to get out from under these covers and make a hot malt mix up. If I do, the sauce choice combo could be: honey, maple syrup, brown sugar, home grown walnuts meats, egg nog, cream, butter, home grown northern pecan meats, home grown apple slices, or melted dark chocolate.
^This man is high.
The whole UCF schedule thing is getting old. Why would any decent P5 team schedule them, really? Absolutely nothing to be gained. As for the week 12 cupcakes, how come half the country doesn’t get called out for most of sept., seriously, I know we are thirsty, but that water is a little tangy.
All I know is I’m watching Army v Navy. This is real traditional classic football. The way the game is meant to be played. I happened to be in Phil’s last year at the Marriott down town where a lot of Navy people were….they are the most impressive group of people I’ve ever seen!