Week six SEC football reactions
After another great week of college football action, the fans are one week closer to finding out who will sit atop the hill in January. Here are a few reactions from around college football’s premier conference.
COLLEGE STATION, TX - OCTOBER 08, 2016 - wide receiver Jauan Jennings #15 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the game between the Texas A&M Aggies and the Tennessee Volunteers at Kyle Field in College Station, TX. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Athletics
We are now at the midway point of the season and it’s been a great one so far. Another week of madness went down, but the SEC didn’t experience much of it. There were only five games in the conference this week, with only two of them involving top-25 teams.
But, as always, there were still plenty of takeaways to be had from the games this week.
Fourth quarter Tennessee is legit
Let’s start right here on Rocky Top with the Tennessee Vols.
Despite seven turnovers and six total fumbles—five of which were recovered by Texas A&M—the Vols were able to come back and force overtime. They eventually lost in double overtime, but the team proved they are legit—at least once the fourth quarter starts.
Yet again, Tennessee got off to a slow start. The Aggies led 21-7 at halftime and 28-7 at one point during the third quarter. But, for the fifth time this season, the Vols came back from a double-digit deficit to tie the game.
If the game was only played in the fourth quarter, Tennessee would be the best team in the country. Through week six, the Vols are outscoring their opponents 90-28 in the fourth quarter. However, Tennessee is being outscored 62-17 in the first quarter. What this means is that the Vols are not legitimate national title contenders.
Sorry.
National-championship winning teams put together four-quarter performances on a consistent basis. Ever since Butch Jones was hired, Tennessee has failed to do that.
Don’t fret though. Jones has the Vols on the right track and the potential is there—it’s now a matter of when, not if, they start to put it all together.
Texas A&M is really good
Yes, the Aggies gave up nearly 700 yards of offense.
Yes, they led by 21 and still let the opponent come back and force overtime.
Yes, they almost lost to a team that turned the ball over seven times.
Despite all that, Texas A&M has finally earned the recognition as one of the best teams in the nation this season.
For the first time since 1994, the Aggies are 6-0 and the team is poised to finally end its streak of starting fast and finishing slow. Texas A&M is currently on its bye week before heading to Tuscaloosa to take on Alabama. After that, they only play two games that should present any trouble—Ole Miss and LSU. Both games will be played at Kyle Field.
Yes, the potential for the Aggies to again finish sluggishly is still there. But, as of now, it can no longer be denied that they are one of the best teams in the country. Against the odds and despite its defense nearly giving the game away, Texas A&M found a way to win. That’s the mark of a great team.
Alabama is still No. 1 until further notice
No, whoever your favorite team is isn’t the best team in the nation, don’t fool yourself.
Only Alabama fans can legitimately claim that distinction.
Since their week one annihilation of USC, the Crimson Tide had faced subpar competition in three of the following four weeks (the one exception being Ole Miss). For that reason, many thought that in Fayetteville against a good Arkansas team, Alabama would be in for a slugfest.
To quote Lee Corso, “Not so fast, my friends.”
Although the Razorbacks were able to get the final score within 20, the game was never close.
Now, the Crimson Tide enter the most important month of their season. Over the next four weeks, Alabama will play at Tennessee, at home against Texas A&M and at LSU (with a bye week after A&M). Both the Vols and Aggies were ranked in the top-10 this past week, and despite their struggles, the Tigers possess the talent of a top-10 team.
Every year, people—including myself—want to believe that it’s finally the end of Nick Saban’s reign over college football. And every year, right at this time of year, the Crimson Tide prove why they’re still the best. Each season, Alabama seems to play its best against the best competition, and that’s exactly what the team will face over the next month.
By mid-November, everyone will again accept the truth—unless the team’s name is Alabama, they aren’t the favorite to win the national title.
Edited by David Bradford
Featured image by Donald Page, courtesy of Tennessee Athletics
Adam is the Assistant Sports Editor for the Tennessee Journalist and a Junior at UT. Most of his free time is spent watching sports, listening to good music, and enjoying life. If you wish to contact him, you can email him at amillike@vols.utk.edu, follow him on Twitter, @AdamMilliken14, or find him at https://www.linkedin.com/pub/adam-milliken/109/a89/a32.
