SEC sets single-day record for most blowout wins in Week 1
It didn’t take long for the SEC to show its dominance in 2024.
One week, in fact. Make that 1 day.
The conference set a record for most 60-point victories in 1 day in the AP Poll era (since 1936), registering 4 of them on Saturday. Sure, all 4 blowouts were expected, as Alabama, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Auburn were heavy favorites against overmatched non-conference cupcakes, but it was still a mighty impressive 1st Saturday for the SEC quartet.
https://twitter.com/secnetwork/status/1830089303692661166?s=46&t=q7uU5TiFaxR96RkNmur0_g
No. 5 Alabama started life without Nick Saban just fine by punishing Western Kentucky 63-0 on Saturday night in Tuscaloosa, as Jalen Milroe threw 3 touchdown passes and 17-year-old freshman receiver Ryan Williams made a memorable debut with 2 TD catches.
No. 6 Ole Miss began a season with College Football Playoff aspirations by pounding Furman 76-0 on Saturday night in Oxford, as Jaxson Dart threw for 418 yards and 5 touchdowns.
No. 15 Tennessee did its damage during the afternoon in Knoxville, taking out Chattanooga 69-3, as quarterback Nico Iamaleava threw for 314 yards and 3 touchdowns.
And unranked Auburn didn’t start the season like an unranked team, rolling over Alabama A&M, 73-3, on Saturday on the Plains, with Payton Thorne leading the way by throwing for 322 yards and 4 touchdowns.
All 4 SEC teams won’t have it nearly this easy in 2024 as they get into the meat of their schedules. But for 1 Saturday in late August, it was indeed that easy — and record-breaking, too.
Notably, Saturday’s domination didn’t take into account Arkansas’s Week 1 70-0 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff, as that game took place on Thursday night.
I’m perplexed that the SEC Network felt these blowouts were worthy of a Tweet. I’d keep quiet about it. The games were uncompetitive, and awful to watch.
It will be interesting to see how Kirby Smart and staff deal with what appears to be a bad Tennessee Tech team next weekend. UGA would win with its fourth stringers playing from the opening kickoff.
Nico for Heisman!
#GBO