SEC Football

Jimbo Fisher delivered.

Speaking to the Touchdown Club of Houston in May, the Texas A&M head coach said the Aggies would "beat [Nick Saban's] ass. On Saturday, A&M did just that, earning a 41-38 victory over top-ranked Alabama in College Station, Texas.

Seth Small hit a 28-yard field goal as time expired for the win.

Zach Calzada channeled Bo Wallace and Chad Kelly to become the latest quarterback to enjoy a career night against the Crimson Tide. The Aggies quarterback finished 21-of-31 for 285 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.

Calzada heaved a 25-yard pass to Ainias Smith to tie the game at 38 points apiece.

The sophomore had to be helped off the field after getting rolled up as he made the throw, and it looked like he might not return. But he was back on the field when the Aggies got the ball back with two minutes to play.

Calzada also scrambled 11 yards for a first down to extend the drive and help set up Small's field goal.

A&M led 24-10 at the half, which provided the necessary cushion when Alabama inevitably mounted a second-half comeback.

It looked like the tide was beginning to turn—pun intended—when King Mwikuta recovered a blocked Aggies punt in the end zone for a touchdown to make it a one-score game. But Devon Achane responded by taking the ensuing kickoff 96 yards to the house.

Alabama chipped away at the deficit again with a 29-yard touchdown grab by Jameson Williams and a 26-yard field goal from Will Reichard.

Texas A&M, meanwhile, had to hold the Tide at bay and keep their offense off the field despite a bruised tailbone leaving Isaiah Spiller unavailable for periods down the final stretch.

The Aggie defense held firm to hold 'Bama to a field goal from a 1st-and-goal at the 3-yard line. Having knocked on the door minutes earlier, the Tide kicked it down after Bryce Young found a wide-open Williams in the end zone. They reconnected to complete the two-point conversion as well.

Texas A&M didn't win any style points in the second half, but Calzada delivered when it mattered the most.

The defeat doesn't totally derail Alabama's quest for a second straight national championship. A one-loss Crimson Tide squad will almost certainly qualify for the College Football Playoff.

But the defending champions now have no margin for error with games against Arkansas and Auburn closing out the regular season before a potential date with Georgia in the SEC title game.

Thanks to their losses to Arkansas and Mississippi State, the Aggies have already removed themselves from the playoff conversation. If they can win out, a win over Alabama and a New Year's Six bowl game will be enough for Fisher to get some of his skeptics back on board.

LSU star wideout Kayshon Boutte left the field on a cart during Saturday's matchup against Kentucky after landing awkwardly on his right ankle following a catch.

Boutte had registered eight catches for 73 yards before exiting the game in the fourth quarter.

His loss was another tough moment on a rough night in general for LSU, which lost to No. 16 Kentucky, 42-21. Defensive end Ali Gaye suffered a stinger in the game as well. 

Boutte has been superb for LSU this season, coming into Saturday's game with 30 receptions for 435 yards and nine touchdowns through five games. An already mediocre Tigers team can't afford to lose a dynamic playmaker like Boutte, who has been one of the few bright spots this year for an offense that has struggled. 

"I feel like as players we just have to execute the plays a little quicker and faster," Boutte said of the offense's struggles in mid-September, per Adam Hunsucker of the Lafayette Daily Advertiser. "It's like accountability on everybody's part. As receivers we can catch more balls and I always feel like I could do more."

Boutte made his mark as a freshman, torching Ole Miss for 300 yards and three touchdowns in one game alone. He came into the 2021 season as a breakout player to watch for and hasn't disappointed, looking very much like a player who will be dominating on Sundays soon enough. 

No. 2 Georgia remained undefeated with a 34-10 road win over No. 18 Auburn. The Bulldogs were led by quarterback Stetson Bennett, who threw two touchdowns in the victory.

It's Georgia's fifth straight win in Deep South's Oldest Rivalry. The Bulldogs have won eight of the last 10 meetings over the Tigers.

Notable Performers

Stetson Bennett, QB, Georgia: 14-of-21 for 231 YDS, 2 TD; 6 CAR for 41 YDS

Zamir White, RB, Georgia: 18 CAR for 79 YDS, 2 TD

Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia: 5 REC for 135 YDS, TD

Stetson Bennett More Than Just a Game Manager

With starting quarterback JT Daniels nursing a lat injury, Stetson Bennett got the start for Georgia on Saturday. Despite his reputation as a "game manager," Bennett outplayed that label and was a key part of Georgia's victory.

Bennett faced some early adversity after sustaining a hit to his helmet on a run, but he showed his toughness and remained in the game.

Georgia fell behind 3-0 in the first quarter, which was its first time trailing all season. Bennett led the Bulldogs to 17 straight points, including back-to-back touchdown drives.

Bennett was particularly great on the second scoring drive. He threw for 73 yards, including a 45-yard strike to Ladd McConkey.

Bennett then found Adonai Mitchell for a three-yard touchdown pass.

Midway through the third quarter, Bennett and McConkey connected on another big play, a 60-yard quick-strike touchdown on the first play of the possession.

Entering Saturday's game, Bennett made four appearances this season with two starts. Despite throwing for less than 100 yards twice this year, Bennett has proven that he's capable of big performances.

He threw five touchdown passes in the first half of Georgia's Sept. 11 win against UAB, tying the school record. Daniels sat out that game with an oblique injury. He's now missed three games this year.

Bennett's 231-yard performance against Auburn was his second highest total this season. As Georgia's dominance continues, the Bulldogs should feel comfortable with Bennett under center until Daniels fully recovers.

Auburn Falls Victim to Georgia's Defense

The Georgia defense has demoralized many teams this season, and Saturday's game against Auburn was no different.

The Tigers entered Saturday's game averaging 38.8 points, 478.0 yards offense and 238.2 on the ground. Against the Bulldogs, they were held to 46 rush yards and 318 total yards.

Auburn quarterback Bo Nix was under duress throughout the game and was sacked three times.

Auburn finally broke through in the third quarter with a six-yard touchdown run by Tank Bigsby. It was Georgia's first time allowing a touchdown since the fourth quarter of its Sept. 18 win over South Carolina. It was also the first time a team scored points in the third quarter against the Bulldogs all season.

The Tigers likely will not face a defensive front as strong as the Bulldogs for the rest of the season, so the team can find some solace in that.

What's Next?

Georgia returns home next Saturday to face No. 16 Kentucky. The Wildcats will be the Bulldogs' third straight ranked opponent. Auburn will be on the road against No. 13 Arkansas, which lost Saturday to No. 17 Ole Miss.

This article will be updated to provide more information on this story as it becomes available.

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In a battle of Top 20 SEC teams, No. 17 Ole Miss made a statement with a 52-51 win over No. 13 Arkansas at home in a back-and-forth shootout. The Razorbacks had the chance to win the game at the end of regulation but failed to convert a two-point attempt.

The Rebels were led by quarterback Matt Corral, who accounted for four touchdowns in the victory. It's Ole Miss' first win against an AP-ranked opponent since 2017.

Saturday's win was a much-needed bounce-back performance for the Rebels, who were coming off a 42-21 loss to No. 1 Alabama last week.

Notable Performers

Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss: 14-of-21 for 287 YDS, 2TD; 15 CAR, 94 YDS, 2 TD

Snoop Conner, RB, Ole Miss: 12 CAR for 110 YDS, 3 TD

KJ Jefferson, QB, Arkansas: 25-of-35 for 326 YDS, 3 TD, INT; 20 CAR for 85 YDS, 3 TD

Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas: 7 REC for 136 YDS, TD

Matt Corral Strengthens Heisman Case

Matt Corral entered Saturday's game with the second-best odds to win the Heisman Trophy, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. After his performance against the Razorbacks, Corral only boosted his case to be at the ceremony December 11.

Corral was outstanding in the second quarter, accounting for all three of the Rebels' touchdowns. He got things started with a five-yard rushing score. He followed that with a 67-yard bomb to Dontario Drummond, who was wide open thanks to a busted coverage.

Ole Miss decided to go for a two-point conversion, and Corral kept it himself. He survived a kick to the face to tie the game.

Corral then pushed Ole Miss in front with a seven-yard touchdown run, breaking tackles and diving toward the goal line.

Corral's first-half performance was a continuation of his stellar play this season.

Corral also made some big plays down the stretch of the game. With the score tied in the fourth quarter, Corral unleashed a 59-yard dime to Braylon Sanders, who made a diving catch at the 1-yard line. Snoop Conner scored the go-ahead touchdown for the Rebels on the next play.

Arkansas managed to tie the game again late in the fourth quarter, but Corral showed that he has ice in his veins. He found Sanders again down the sideline for the go-ahead score.

With Corral leading the way, Ole Miss entered Saturday's game averaging 549.3 yards of offense. The Rebels finished with 611 total yards in Saturday's win.

Four finalists for the Heisman Trophy will be announced December 6. If Corral continues to play like he did Saturday, he will be sure to be among the names in contention for college football's most coveted individual prize.

Arkansas Receiver Treylon Burks Shines

The Razorbacks are known for having a strong run game, and they had a strong showing again Saturday with 350 yards.

But Arkansas may have a diamond in the rough on its offense. Wide receiver Treylon Burks was outstanding despite limited opportunities. Burks made only seven catches but finished with 136 yards and a touchdown.

It wasn't just Burks' receiving numbers that jumped off the page, but also the timeliness of his big plays. With his team trailing in the second half, Burks stepped up with back-to-back long receptions that set up a game-tying touchdown.

With the Razorbacks playing from behind again, Burks then found the end zone himself to help tie the game once again.

It was the third 100-yard game of the season for Burks. Arkansas quarterback KJ Jefferson attempted 35 passes compared to 58 total rushing attempts for the Razorbacks.

With a weapon like Burks on the outside, Arkansas might benefit from having a more balanced attack. Burks and Jefferson have a good rapport with each other, so getting the passing game going early could be a key for the Razorbacks going forward.

What's Next?

Ole Miss will travel to face Tennessee next Saturday in an SEC matchup. Arkansas will return home to face its third straight ranked opponent in No. 18 Auburn.

LSU Football announced Friday it will remove most of its COVID-19 protocols, including the need for proof of vaccination or a negative test, for Tigers home games beginning Oct. 16 against Florida.

The announcement noted local hospitalizations have decreased by 80 percent over the past seven weeks, and athletic director Scott Woodward thanked LSU fans for helping "stop the spread," per ESPN's Alex Scarborough.

"Their commitment to protecting our community and supporting our student-athletes has never wavered," Woodward said. "We remain fully committed to providing a gameday experience that is as safe and as enjoyable as possible for all guests, and we will continue to work with university leadership and rely on medical expertise to ensure we are taking reasonable and necessary precautions to protect the health of our community."

Although most of the guidelines are being retracted, fans will still be asked to wear masks in the indoor areas within Tiger Stadium, which is located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Dr. Catherine O'Neal, who works in Baton Rouge and serves on the SEC's Return to Activity and Medical Guidance Task Force, said they'd continue to urge more people to get vaccinated, per Scarborough.

"This is amazing progress," O'Neal said. "But the game is not over. This virus will surge again, and Louisiana must be prepared before it arrives yet again by getting vaccinated. The vaccines we have are safe and effective, and getting vaccinated is our best shot at defeating COVID-19."

Tiger Stadium features the sixth-largest capacity among American sports venues at 102,321.

LSU announced an attendance of 97,717 for Saturday's home loss to Auburn, which dropped its record to 3-2 and ended a three-game winning streak that followed a season-opening loss to UCLA.

The Tigers are in a stretch of six straight games against ranked opponents. They'll face No. 16 Kentucky in a road game Saturday before returning home for a meeting with the No. 20 Gators.

That's followed by road games against No. 13 Ole Miss and No. 1 Alabama.

LSU finishes the regular season with three straight games at Tiger Stadium starting Nov. 13 against No. 13 Arkansas. That's followed by contests against UL Monroe and Texas A&M.

The University of Alabama got another top commitment Friday when tight end Jaleel Skinner announced his decision to join the Crimson Tide.

He made his decision live on CBS Sports HQ:

Skinner, who plays prep football for IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, is a 4-star prospect and the top tight end in the class of 2022 in 247Sports' composite rankings. He was sought after by several of the nation's top college programs, including Texas, Clemson, Florida and Florida State.

"I thought long and hard about what's going to prepare me the best for the next level, and at Alabama, you are going to get pushed hard every day both on and off the field," Skinner told 247Sports' Andrew Ivins.

Skinner is yet another recruiting coup for Alabama head coach Nick Saban. His commitment pushes the Crimson Tide's 2022 class to No. 1 in the country again, per 247Sports. Skinner is the second 4-star tight end to pledge his future to Alabama after Elijah Brown, who plays for Wayne High School in Dayton, Ohio.

According to Ivins, Skinner was giving strong consideration to Florida and Florida State early in the recruiting process, but a sitdown with Saban helped convince him to commit his future to Tuscaloosa.

"Coach Saban played a huge role in it because me and him talked a lot," Skinner said. "Sometimes we would just talk about life outside of football. He would ask about my family and how my sisters were doing. That really stood out to me, just having a bond with Coach Saban."

Ivins calls Skinner a "walking mismatch" with a "monster catch radius" and a strong ability to get downfield. In Alabama, he'll join a football juggernaut that shows no signs of slowing down. The Crimson Tide have won six national championships since 2009 and are ranked No. 1 in the AP Top 25. With another top recruiting class on the way, Alabama appears positioned to continue dominating college football.

Arch Manning is from Louisiana, but the state's flagship college football program may need to make a change if it is going to convince him to join its team.

On Wednesday, Dan Patrick cited a source who told him, "LSU has to hire someone who can get into the Arch Manning sweepstakes, and that person is not Ed Orgeron."

The source suggested the Tigers would fire Orgeron to replace him with a coach who would have a better opportunity to compete against front-runners Alabama, Clemson and Texas.

Steve Wiltfong, who is the director of football recruiting for 247Sports, reported on the 247Sports Football Recruiting Podcast that Manning was "nothing but impressed" with the Crimson Tide during his visit Saturday, when Alabama recorded a 42-21 victory over Ole Miss (via colleague Nick Kosko).

"For Arch Manning, he just loves structured organization and the nuances of Alabama," Wiltfong said. "[He likes] the strength and conditioning program and those things all stand out about Alabama. The professionalism of the program and just the way they go about their business as Alabama [is] firmly in the running for Arch's services as they battle with the likes of Georgia, Clemson, Texas and Ole Miss, to name a few others, that we know he definitely likes."

Manning, the nephew of NFL legends Peyton and Eli, is one of the most sought-after recruits in years. He is a 5-star prospect and the No. 1 player in the class of 2023, per 247Sports' composite rankings, and could immediately turn around a program or make a strong one even better.

Orgeron has been the head coach at LSU since 2016 and has a 48-16 record with the Tigers.

That mark is bolstered by an undefeated march to the 2019 national championship, which happened with transfer quarterback Joe Burrow and passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach Joe Brady also leading the way.

Things have taken a turn for the worse since Burrow was drafted No. 1 overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2020 and Brady became the offensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers.

LSU was just 5-5 last season and is off to a 3-2 start this year with daunting games against Kentucky, Florida, Ole Miss, Alabama, Arkansas and Texas A&M still looming.

The Tigers could be in the market for a new head coach if they don't turn things around, especially if they want to keep Manning in-state.

LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. will be out indefinitely after undergoing a procedure on his foot, the team announced Wednesday:

Despite an uncertain timeline, Stingley said he will "do everything I can to get healthy" to return this season.

The cornerback is considered one of the top prospects in the 2022 NFL draft. Bleacher Report's Scouting Department projected him as the No. 3 overall pick in its September mock draft.

The 5-star recruit carried high expectations as the No. 3 prospect in the 2019 class, per 247Sports' composite rankings. He started as a true freshman while helping LSU win a national championship with a 15-0 record.

Stingley tallied six interceptions in 2019, earning first-team All-America honors.

The cornerback followed it up with his second straight All-SEC first-team selection in 2020 while appearing in seven games.

It had been a slow start to the 2021 season, however, as he produced just eight tackles, zero interceptions and zero passes defended in three appearances. He has been inactive for the team's last two games, including Saturday's loss to Auburn.

The 3-2 Tigers will play ranked opponents in each of the next five games, starting with this Saturday's matchup at No. 16 Kentucky. 

Since going undefeated and winning the national championship in 2019, the LSU football team has endured a steep fall from grace.

The Tigers are just one game above .500 since their national title win. They suffered a 24-19 loss to Auburn on Saturday, dropping them to 3-2 in the 2021 season. LSU head coach Ed Orgeron accepted responsibility for his team's performance.

"Ultimately I'm responsible for the performance of the team," Orgeron told reporters on Monday. "I always will be responsible."

Through five games, LSU's offense is averaging 364.9 yards and 31.4 points. But new offensive coordinator Jake Peetz has faced some scrutiny over his play-calling. Orgeron expressed confidence in Peetz but admitted that the team could benefit from simplifying things.

"Jake is trying to do a tremendous job," Orgeron said. "I believe in him. There are just a few things we need to get fixed.

"We just need to settle down. Mostly just call the play and let them go and not try to change it; I think that's when we get into most of our problems."

In particular, LSU's running game has fallen off this season as the Tigers are averaging 66.2 yards on the ground. LSU averaged 121.7 rushing yards in 2020 and historically has been known for boasting a strong rushing attack.

The Tigers' running game has suffered because offensive line has been subpar this season. Position coach Brad Davis was hired from Arkansas in June, and that likely has affected the group's chemistry.

"We need to make a couple of adjustments on the things we're doing and maybe some different sets, some different formations to help us be more aggressive and attack the line of scrimmage," he said. "We're not doing that well and hopefully we can get that done this week."

LSU will hit the road on Saturday to face No. 16 Kentucky, which is undefeated at 5-0 and tied for first place in the SEC East. Including the Wildcats, the Tigers' next five opponents are all currently ranked within the Top 20.     

A phenomenal defensive effort combined with running back Chris Rodriguez Jr.'s 99-yard, one-touchdown performance propelled unranked Kentucky to a 20-13 home win over the No. 10 Florida Gators on Saturday from Kroger Field in Lexington.

The Wildcats turned this game around after defensive end Josh Paschal blocked Florida's 48-yard field goal attempt, which led to Trevin Wallace returning the loose ball 76 yards for a touchdown to give UK a 13-10 lead with 6:36 left in the third quarter.

UK's defense came up big time and again, most notably when linebacker J.J. Weaver picked off Florida quarterback Emory Jones and returned the ball to the Gators' 29-yard line.

On their ensuing drive, the Wildcats scored on a nine-yard Rodriguez run.

The UK defense bent but didn't break in response, as Florida went 59 yards in 13 plays before settling for a Jace Christmann 33-yard field goal.

Florida got the ball back after forcing a three-and-out and got something going late, driving all the way down to the Kentucky five-yard line for a 1st-and-goal with 41 seconds remaining.

However, the Gators went backwards and had a 4th-and-goal from the eight-yard line. The drive ended with a Jacquez Jones pass breakup.

Florida lost despite out-gaining Kentucky 382-224 and possessing the ball for more than 36 minutes.

The two teams traded touchdowns in the first half. Florida wideout Ja'Quavion Fraziars caught a seven-yard pass before UK quarterback Will Levis and wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson connected on a 41-yarder. Christmann then knocked a 51-yard field goal through the uprights in the second quarter for the 10-7 lead.

The 3-2 Gators will host the Vanderbilt Commodores on Saturday at 12 p.m. ET from Gainesville's Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. 

Kentucky, which is 5-0 overall and 3-0 in SEC play, will welcome LSU into town on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.