SEC Penalty Report: Week 12

Penalty numbers were up again around the SEC in Week 12, as seven of the 12 teams in action committed at least five penalties on Saturday, up from just four teams last week.

Nevertheless, those seven teams were 4-3 on Saturday. Missouri committed the most penalties of any SEC team in Week 12 with 12 infractions for 81 yards, but it still managed to take down a ranked Texas A&M team to stay in first in the SEC East.

Alabama committed seven penalties for 61 yards, and South Carolina and Georgia each committed six penalties on Saturday. All three teams were victorious, and the Tide and Bulldogs both won games against top 10 teams despite their penalty woes.

On the other end of the spectrum, LSU committed the fewest penalties in Week 12 with just three for a mere 20 yards, yet the Tigers were still shutout by Arkansas in a 17-0 loss in Fayetteville. Texas A&M committed four penalties, one-third of Missouri’s total, but still lost by a touchdown at home. Mississippi State had the second-fewest penalty yards of the week with just 33, but it also lost for the first time this season.

Ultimately, penalties have not been synonymous with losing football this season. Tennessee and Arkansas have the two lowest penalty totals in the SEC through 12 weeks, but the two teams have combined to win just three SEC games all year. Meanwhile, Missouri leads the East despite committing the second-most penalties in the conference, and LSU and Auburn have both remained nationally ranked most of the season despite committing more than 60 penalties apiece.

Here’s a full breakdown of every SEC team’s penalty numbers through 12 weeks this season: