Winners and losers of SEC Week 13
Wow, we all saw THAT one coming, right? From Auburn giving Bama the scare of the year to Florida taking down Florida State to LSU’s upset of Texas A&M, it’s probably safe to say nobody expected Week 13. But here’s our weekly breakdown of the winners and losers of the SEC week.
Winners
LSU
So much about LSU’s 2021 season will speak to Ed Oregon’s ultimate legacy at the school. The horrific crash and burn, that’s all Coach O. But so is the late run to a 6-6 season that almost defied belief. The A&M game itself was fascinating. LSU came out hot, got ahead, lost the lead, then rallied in about the most dramatic fashion possible. Max Johnson led a last-gasp drive to remember and the Tigers leave the Coach O era probably equally certain that it was a unique and special time … and that it was time to end.
Bryce Young
The stats won’t tell the story, but when Alabama’s back was against the wall, the standout QB always made the plays to keep the Crimson Tide alive. His 25 for 51 passing, for 317 yards, isn’t exactly sterling. But when Alabama had to score, Young made it happen, hitting Ja’Corey Brooks for the 28-yard TD connection that sent the game to overtime. And then, in the 4th overtime, he dropped the final hammer on Auburn.
TOUCHDOWN BAMA
TIE BALLGAME pic.twitter.com/j4hJI4KfSG
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) November 28, 2021
Will Levis
In the week heading up to Kentucky’s battle with Louisville, much of the talk was about Louisville QB Malik Cunningham’s rushing skills. But that overlooked Levis’ own rushing skills. Cunningham ended up with 11 carries for 35 yards and a touchdown against the Wildcats. But Levis carried 14 times for 113 yards and 4 touchdowns, tying UK’s single-game rushing TD mark. So yes, it was about a running QB, just not the one that most people thought.
THE JUKE. THE HURDLE. ?
Will Levis is torching the Louisville defense ? @UKFootball pic.twitter.com/uqjnUMk6fn
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) November 28, 2021
Georgia
In a week where so many top squads struggled or lost, the Bulldogs just did the same thing they’ve done all season: Put their heads down, play focused, disciplined football, and beat the crap out of their opponent. The defense completed a historically great regular season with another shutout.
Losers
Florida/FSU pregame fight
It’s one thing if it’s Alabama/Auburn, but when a pair of 5-6 teams muddling through the final game of the season have to fight before the game, it just screams insanity. Sadly, both teams probably showed more intensity in the pregame scrap than they did in a comedy-of-errors game that sent Florida to a bowl. Florida State is probably just grateful that it doesn’t have to play again.
Florida showing an awful lot of fight for a treat that’s gotten three coaches fired in as many weeks. pic.twitter.com/NNTvgUe4AH
— Brendan Sonnone (@BSonnone) November 27, 2021
Alabama special teams
From a botched field goal to several less-than-stellar punts, the Tide struggled with some pretty horrid special teams. Alabama was lucky to escape from the Iron Bowl, but moving forward, it will be playing teams that won’t be as forgiving of these errors.
Auburn’s failure to go for two
Auburn had played over its head all afternoon, and in the first overtime, with Alabama having scored first and kicked the extra point, gthe Tigers answered with a 5-yard touchdown from TJ Finley to Landen King. That was the perfect opportunity. The weaker team, one with everything to gain and little to lose, could have gone all in on a single two-point play for the win. Instead, Auburn chose to hold serve and keep the game moving, which didn’t exactly work out well.