SEC Roundup: Week 1 Takeaways From Around the Conference – On3

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Week 1 of the college football season was mostly drama-free for the SEC, well, on the field anyway.
After a disappointing postseason, SEC teams got down to business in the opening weekend.
If anything, Week 1 was an indicator that Vanderbilt needs to figure out what its plan is at quarterback, and figure it out fast. It’s only one week, but the SEC looks deep. The rest of the conference went 16-0 in the opening weekend.
Below are some snippets from how the games shook out around the conference.
Missouri was the first SEC team to play. On Thursday night, Mizzou pummeled Arkansas-Pine Bluff 54-14.
Transfer quarterback Austin Simmons completed 17-of-19 passes for 252 yards and 4 touchdowns. Donovan Oglubode had 7 receptions for 107 yards and 2 touchdowns. With Ahmad Hardy still on the mend, Jamal Roberts rushed for 47 yards on 13 carries for 1 touchdown.
Defensively, Missouri had 1 sack, 1 pass breakup, and held Arkansas-Pine Bluff to only 198 total yards.
Aside from Simmons looking sharp throwing the football, there was not a lot to take away from this game. The Tigers’ schedule picks up next week with a rivalry game against Kansas on September 11.
On Friday night, Oklahoma defeated UTEP 51-0.
The Sooners scored 21 unanswered points in the first quarter and then coasted from there on out. John Mateer completed 11/17 passes for 225 yards and 3 touchdowns. Isaiah Sategna led all pass catchers with 4 catches for 76 yards and 1 touchdown. Lloyd Avant led the way for Oklahoma on the ground with 15 carries for 79 yards and 1 touchdown.
Defensively, the Sooners had 4 sacks and a fumble recovery. Brent Venables’ stout defense held UTEP to 198 total yards, and UTEP converted just 2/13 attempts on third down. Offensively, Oklahoma converted 6-of-11 third-down attempts for 401 total yards.
Oklahoma will face a desperate Michigan team in Ann Arbor on Saturday. On paper, the Sooners are one of the most balanced teams in the SEC. The biggest question for the Sooners is whether John Mateer can live up to the hype.
On Saturday, Alabama throttled East Carolina 48-14.
Keelon Russell completed 18 of 30 passes for 256 yards and ran for 86 yards and a touchdown. Daniel Hill also ran for 47 yards on 9 carries for 2 touchdowns. Ryan Coleman-Williams had 5 receptions for 130 yards.
With Coleman-Williams, the talent is there, but his drops raise a genuine question about whether he can take his game to the next level.
Defensively, the Crimson Tide had 3 sacks and a pick-six by linebacker Yhonzae Pierre. Alabama was largely untested by East Carolina and outmatched East Carolina with its speed and athleticism.
Next weekend, Alabama takes on a new-look Kentucky team on the road to kick off conference play.
The Gamecocks crushed Kent State 57-0 on Saturday.
LaNorris Sellers completed an efficient 19/23 passes for 270 yards, 3 touchdowns, and no interceptions. Jabree Coleman had 4 carries for 77 yards and 2 touchdowns. Donovan Murph had 4 catches for 92 yards and 2 touchdowns. Nyck Harbor had 5 catches for 70 yards.
The Gamecock offense cruised to 645 total yards. It was the smoothest South Carolina’s offense has looked since the 2024 season.
One notable piece of the production was that Sellers didn’t need to use his legs, as he only had 1 total rushing yard. Defensively, South Carolina’s defense had 1 sack and forced 1 interception.
South Carolina has one more cupcake game against Towson before entering conference play.
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The Bulldogs defeated Tennessee State 63-3 on Saturday.
Gunner Stockton put up a video-game performance, completing 15/16 passes for 202 yards and 3 touchdowns. Running back Nate Frazier had 4 carries for 72 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Bulldogs spread the ball around in the passing game, and Talyn Taylor had 3 catches to lead all receivers.
Georgia’s defense smothered Tennessee State, who had just 109 total yards. The Bulldog defense had 3 sacks and stopped Tennessee State’s only fourth-down conversion attempt.
Georgia faces Western Kentucky in its last non-conference tune-up game before beginning SEC play against Arkansas.
Kentucky beat Youngstown State 45-13 on Saturday.
The new-look Wildcats were led by Kenny Minchey, who completed 18/27 pass attempts for 301 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. Kenny Darby led the Wildcats receiving corps with 3 catches for 74 yards and 1 touchdown. CJ Baxter had 9 rushes for 48 yards and 2 touchdowns in Kentucky’s run game.
Kentucky’s defense had 2 sacks, a fumble recovery, and stopped two fourth-down conversion attempts.
We’ll find out just how far Kentucky has really come on Saturday when they host Alabama.
Auburn held on to beat Baylor 17-16 on Saturday.
The Tigers overcame a sloppy performance by quarterback Byrum Brown to earn the victory. Brown completed 26/35 passes for 259 yards and 3 interceptions.
As sloppy as Brown was throwing the football, he didn’t have much protection up front, and Baylor sacked him 5 times. Brown also had 21 carries for 27 yards and a rushing touchdown to help secure the win with 3:21 remaining. Jeremiah Cobb had 12 carries for 53 yards and a touchdown.
Auburn spoiled an SEC revenge game for former Florida Gator DJ Lagway. Lagway completed 27/54 passes with 2 touchdowns and an interception. Lagway’s second touchdown came with 9 seconds remaining in regulation. The Tigers were able to recover the onside kick to end the game.
Overall, Auburn’s defense held Baylor to 7/22 on third-down conversion attempts and recorded a sack, but allowed 4/6 fourth-down conversion attempts.
Auburn takes on Southern Miss on Saturday and then Florida on September 19 before facing Vanderbilt. Before the Dores take on the Tigers, it will be noteworthy to watch whether Auburn can score through the passing game and protect the quarterback.
Baylor has never been known for playing great defense, and the Tigers struggled to do both in the season opener.
To no one’s surprise, Texas beat Texas State 59-7 on Saturday.
Arch Manning led the Longhorns, completing 20/27 passes for 305 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 1 interception. Auburn transfer Cam Coleman caught 3 passes on 4 targets for 70 yards and 2 touchdowns. Hollywood Smothers had 10 carries for 70 yards.
Defensively, Texas recorded 2 sacks, 1 interception, and forced two fumbles. They also stopped two fourth-down conversion attempts.
Texas has a big test on Saturday hosting Ohio State. After the Buckeyes, the Longhorns have a tune-up against UTSA before going on the road against Tennessee to kick off SEC play.
Texas has the talent to go the distance this year. It is simply a matter of whether it can avoid a letdown loss and maintain its CFP resume.
The Tennessee Volunteers are masters of loading the early part of their schedule with stat-padding victories against cupcakes. On Saturday, the Vols beat Furman 56-9.
Faizon Brandon completed 13/17 passes for 226 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. Brandon also had a nice day on the ground with 10 carries for 68 yards and 2 touchdowns. Mike Matthews caught 4 receptions for 132 yards and 2 touchdowns. In the ground game, DeSean Bishop had 14 carries for 97 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 fumble.
The Volunteers’ defense had 6 sacks and held Furman to 4/15 on third down.
The Volunteers will face Georgia Tech on the road in a legitimate non-conference game before another scheduled stat-padding bonanza on September 19 against Kennesaw State.
On Saturday, Arkansas beat North Alabama 31-14.
KJ Jackson completed 24/35 passes for 267 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception. Chris Marshall led the Razorbacks with 7 catches for 79 yards. In the run game, Barylen Russell had 17 carries for 49 yards and 1 touchdown.
Despite the win, plenty of questions remain for Arkansas. The Razorbacks’ defense gave up 14 points in the second half, the offensive line allowed 3 sacks, and Arkansas lost 2 fumbles.
None of those are things you want to see in a cupcake non-conference game.
Arkansas has a tough road game on Saturday at Utah before hosting Georgia in what will likely be back-to-back losses.
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Texas A&M beat Missouri State 50-0 on Saturday.
Marcel Reed completed 21/30 passes for 233 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. Isaiah Horton caught 4 passes for 76 yards and 1 touchdown. Rueben Owens had 17 carries for 77 yards to lead the Aggies’ run game.
The Aggies allowed only 67 total yards and held Missouri State to 1/10 on third-down conversions. Texas A&M was also able to record a sack and force a fumble.
However, the Aggies have some things to clean up on their own end after allowing a sack and losing two fumbles.
A&M hosts Arizona State on Saturday before facing Kentucky to begin SEC play.
Mississippi State won 62-13 against UL Monroe on Saturday.
Kamario Taylor balled out for State by completing 22/34 passes for 354 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. Taylor was also effective on the ground with 6 carries for 59 yards and a touchdown.
Anthony Evans led all receivers with 7 catches for 118 yards and 1 touchdown. JJ Hill led the Bulldogs’ ground game with 7 carries for 118 yards and 2 touchdowns.
State’s defense held UL Monroe to 3/16 on third down and recorded 2 sacks.
State faces Minnesota on the road next before traveling to South Carolina to kick off conference play.
Florida blew out Florida Atlantic 66-21 on Saturday.
Aaron Philo completed 16/21 passes for 275 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception. Vernell Brown had 6 catches on 6 targets for 117 yards and 1 touchdown. Jadan Baugh dominated on the ground with 14 carries for 160 yards and 3 touchdowns.
The Gator defense recorded 2 sacks, 2 interceptions, and recovered a fumble, but did allow 396 total yards and 21 points on the day.
After a tune-up against Campbell on Saturday, the Gators go on the road against Auburn to begin SEC play.
After LSU was the talk of college football all week off the field, the Tigers took care of business on the field and destroyed Clemson 51-10.
The Tigers scored double-digit points in the first three quarters. Sam Leavitt completed 16/28 passes for 230 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. Leavitt was most deadly on the ground with 12 carries for 113 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Winston Watkins led LSU with 7 catches, 110 yards, and 1 touchdown. Dilin Jones burned Clemson for 113 yards on 23 carries for 2 touchdowns.
LSU’s defense showed out and held Clemson to only 145 total yards. The Tigers recorded 4 sacks, 1 interception, and held Clemson to 1/13 on third-down conversion attempts.
After his team became the villain of the 2026 season by signing multiple Class of 2022 players who signed NFL contracts, Lane Kiffin added insult to injury after the win.
In his halftime on-the-field interview, Kiffin told ESPN’s Holly Rowe, “Imagine if we had pro players,” when asked about the game and his team’s 31-3 lead.
If Kiffin’s college coaching career doesn’t work out, he’d have a great second act lined up on Bravo. Like the late Tony Soprano used to say, “You…always with the drama.”
Ole Miss and Louisville played the most entertaining game of the opening weekend at Nissan Stadium. Ole Miss prevailed in a shootout 41-38 on a game-winning field goal at the end of regulation.
Trinidad Chambliss completed 31/46 passes for 336 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception. Deuce Alexander caught 5 passes for 159 yards and 2 touchdowns. Kewan Lacy had 17 carries for 61 yards and a touchdown before leaving the game with an apparent knee/quad injury.
Ole Miss’ defense had 3 sacks, but was torched for 469 total yards, 308 of which came through the air. The Rebels had several secondary breakdowns that resulted in points for Louisville.
Former Vanderbilt Commodore Tre Richardson reminded the college football universe just how good he is with his blazing speed. He had 4 catches for 83 yards and a touchdown and an end-around for 30 yards and a touchdown.
Vanderbilt will miss Richardson’s speed and play-making ability this season.
Ole Miss has a tune-up game against Charlotte before hosting LSU on September 19, one of the most anticipated games of the 2026 season.
Before then, the Rebels will need to figure out just how healthy Lacy is and fix their defensive breakdowns.
That’s it for the Week 1 edition of SEC Roundup. Stay tuned for next week’s edition recapping Week 2.
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