Week 4 Roundup: SEC

Sept. 20 Alabama 42, Florida 21 
And You Care Because … In a key early-season SEC showdown, Florida had no answers for the suddenly prolific Alabama offense. The Tide piled up 645 yards, the majority off the right arm of QB Blake Sims, the most ever allowed by a Gator team. Florida knotted things at 21 on a Jeff Driskel 14-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter, but Bama controlled the rest of the game. The Tide scored the final three touchdowns, two on touchdown passes to WR Amari Cooper. 
What Else? Sims recorded the second-best passing day in the history of Alabama football. He wound up 23-of-33 for 445 yards, four touchdowns and an interception. His first touchdown, an 87-yarder to Kenyan Drake, set the tone for this game. 
– Florida QB Jeff Driskel was in many ways the anti-Driskel in this one. The beleaguered senior only connected on 9-of-28 passes for 93 yards, one touchdown and a couple of interceptions. 
– Amari Cooper was unstoppable, proving that even when matched with a corner of Vernon Hargeaves’ caliber, he’s one of the game’s premier receivers. Cooper schooled the Gators for 10 receptions for 201 yards and three touchdowns. 
– If today was an indication of where the Florida D is at, what does it mean for Will Muschamp’s future? The Gators used to be able to count on the defense, but the unit was repeatedly abused, on the ground and through the air, in Tuscaloosa. 
Game Rating: B+ 

Sept. 18 Auburn 20, at Kansas State 14 
And You Care Because … Kansas State missed three field goals and got intercepted in the end zone on a muffed pass, and Auburn needed the help. The Tiger offense sputtered, but it came up with a big touchdown scoring drive late in the first half finished with a 40-yard Ricardo Louis touchdown catch to spark a 17 point scoring run. When needed, AU marched on a long fourth quarter drive finishing up with a nine-yard D’haquille Williams scoring grab for a 20-7 lead. Kansas State answered back with an 11-play scoring drive with Charles Jones getting in from one-yard out on the wildcat, but Auburn ran out the clock. 
What Else? Kansas State PK Jack Cantele missed all three field goal attempts from 41, 42 and 22 yards out. 
– Kansas State QB Jake Waters completed 24-of-40 passes for 245 yards and two picks, and Curry Sexton caught 11 passes for 121 yards. 
– Auburn QB Nick Marshall completed 17-of-31 passes for 231 yards and two scores with a pick, and ran ten times for 46 yards. D’haquille Williams caught eight passes for 110 yards and a score. 
– Rushing yards: Auburn 128 (2.8-yard average) – Kansas State 40 (1.3-yard average) 
Game Rating: B+ 

Sept. 20 Mississippi State 34, at LSU 29 
And You Care Because … Mississippi State ran all over LSU with Josh Robinson and Dak Prescott each going for over 100 yards with a touchdown, but LSU came roaring back and almost pulled off a miracle. Down 34-10, the Tigers scored 19 unanswered points with Kenny Hilliard running for a score and Malachi Dupre making touchdown grabs from 31 and 30 yards out within 28 seconds to pull within five. They’d get one more shot, but Brandon Harris’s desperation heave into the end zone was picked off. MSU dominated before the late run, helped by a 74-yard Jameon Lewis touchdown catch and a 56-yard Prescott Dash to pull away in the third before the late LSU rally. 
What Else? Mississippi State gained 570 yards of total offense, the most allowed by LSU under Les Miles.
– Mississippi State QB Dak Prescott completed 15-of-24 passes for 268 yards and two scores, and he ran 22 times for 105 yards and a score. 
– MSU outgained LSU 302 yards to 89. Josh Robinson ran for 197 yards and a score on 16 carries for the Bulldogs. 
– LSU QB Brandon Harris completed 6-of-9 passes for 140 yards and two touchdowns with a pick, and ran for 19 yards, and Anthony Jennings completed 13-of-26 passes for 157 yards and ran for six.
Game Rating: B 

Sept. 20 South Carolina 48, Vanderbilt 34 
And You Care Because … South Carolina won ugly, scoring 24 straight points after spotting Vanderbilt 14 with Darrius Sims returning the opening kickoff for 91-yard score an C.J. Duncan catching an eight-yard touchdown pass for the Commodores. USC turned it around with Dylan Thompson throwing two touchdown passes and Brison Williams returning an interception 53 yards for a score. Vandy wouldn’t go away, pulling within seven late on Tommy Openshaw’s second field goal of the game, but Thompson put it away on a one-yard run. 
What Else? South Carolina QB Dylan Thompson completed 22-of-34 passes for 237 yards and three touchdowns, and he ran for a score. 
– Vanderbilt QB Wade Freebeck completed 11-of-20 passes for 168 yards and a score with a pick
– Total Yards: South Carolina 449 – Vanderbilt 379
– South Carolina WR Pharoh Cooper caught ten passes for 114 yards, and he ran twice for 74 yards 
Game Rating: C+ 

Sept. 20 at Arkansas 52, Northern Illinois 14 
And You Care Because … Korliss Marshall took the opening kickoff for a score, Darius Philon returned a fumble for a touchdown, and Josh Williams ran for a 15-yard score as Arkansas took a 21-0 first quarter lead and cruised from there. Brandon Allen ran for a score and threw for two more, and Marshall closed out the scoring with a 27-yard touchdown run. Drew Hare threw two touchdown passes for NIU, but the Huskies never threatened. 
What Else? Arkansas gained 215 passing yards and 212 on the ground
– Arkansas QB Brandon Allen completed 15-of-22 passes for 199 yards and two scores, and he ran for a touchdown 
– NIU QB Drew Hare completed 18-of-29 passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns, and he ran five times for 17 yards
– Time of Possession: Arkansas 34:38 – Northern Illinois 25:22 
Game Rating: C- 

Sept. 20 Texas A&M 58, at SMU 6 
And You Care Because … For the first time since 2006, Texas A&M is 4-0, courtesy of a blowout of SMU in Dallas. QB Kenny Hill once again ignited the Aggie offense, accounting for 322 total yards and two touchdown passes in just the first half alone. The Mustangs, playing their first game without head coach June Jones, could muster a pair of field goals Cody Rademacher in the second and fourth quarters. 
What Else? The Aggies got some valuable reps for backup QB Kyle Allen, who responded by going 8-of-15 for 130 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions. Early routs are going to benefit A&M in the event that Hill ever misses any time. 
– The Mustangs are also beginning life without starting QB Neal Burcham, who’s out for the season. Garrett Krstich and Kolney Cassel were harassed all day, while completing only 14-of-29 throws. 
– The Aggie D continue to mature, posting eight sacks in the blowout. Sophomore LB Shaan Washington had two sacks, while five other players made stops behind the line of scrimmage. 
– Krstich showed decent mobility in and out of the pocket, which are going to be mandatory when lining up behind the SMU blockers. Sacks removed, he rushed for 52 yards. 
Game Rating: C 

Sept. 20 Georgia 66, Troy 0 
And You Care Because … The Bulldogs got a huge day from their vaunted rushing attack, namely RB Sony Michel, for their most lopsided win in 56 years. Georgia scored at will on overmatched Troy, jumping out to a 45-0 halftime lead, and posting their highest point total since 1994. The Trojans are now 0-4, the first time that’s happened since 1982. 
What Else? Michel rushed for 155 yards and three touchdowns on only 10 carries. His performance was the highlight of a 367-yard rushing attack that was the most prolific of the Mark Richt era. 
– Troy QB Brandon Silvers won’t be looking over his shoulder after sitting this one out following last week’s concussion. Backup Dontreal Pruitt struggled to lead the Trojans, completing 16-of-27 passes for 158 yards and a pick. 
– The Bulldogs didn’t need much from QB Hutson Mason, who was coming off a rough effort in last week’s loss to South Carolina. The senior only attempted 11 passes before giving way to Brice Ramsey, completing eight for 97 yards and two touchdowns. 
– An early deficit meant Troy had to quickly abandon its running game, while putting more pressure of Pruitt. Leading rusher Jordan Chunn was only able to carry the ball six times for 20 yards. 
Game Rating: C