Around the SEC Week 7: Auburn shakes up the race, Florida answers in Austin
Auburn topples No. 1 Georgia, Florida wins with a new quarterback and Tennessee shuts down Alabama. Plus, Kentucky’s takeaways, Ole Miss’ backfield balance and the personnel questions across the SEC.
By Mark Taylor · Published
Around the Conferences continues with the SEC, part of CFBDepth’s new weekly series covering every FBS conference. Each installment looks beyond the results to examine the performances, personnel developments and turning points shaping the weeks ahead.
Week 7 brought road wins that changed the conference conversation. Auburn overturned a 14-point deficit at Georgia, Florida did the same at Texas, and Kentucky finished its trip to Oklahoma with a pair of late interceptions. Tennessee, Ole Miss and LSU supplied emphatic responses at home, while Arkansas finally ended its conference losing streak.
South Carolina was the lone SEC team off. The other 15 teams played eight games.
Auburn closes the deal in Athens
Auburn 27, Georgia 24
Auburn’s first victory in Athens since 2005 required a comeback, a late takeaway and one final kick. Alex McPherson delivered from 34 yards as time expired, ending Georgia’s nine-game winning streak in the series and handing the top-ranked Bulldogs their first defeat of the season.
The Tigers fell behind 14–0 before scoring 24 consecutive points. Christian Neptune’s touchdown pass to Keshaun Singleton supplied the first response, and Byrum Brown kept the offense moving with 150 passing yards, 115 rushing yards and two total touchdowns. Auburn finished with 192 rushing yards against Georgia’s 113, giving Brown and the offense enough sustained production to recover from the opening deficit.
Georgia still had a response. Gunner Stockton directed a 94-yard touchdown drive to tie the game at 24, but his fumble inside the final minute gave Auburn another possession. Cody Sigler forced it, Sylvester Smith-Reed recovered at the Auburn 44, and a subsequent roughing-the-passer penalty helped put McPherson within range.
That finish completed a decisive advantage in the turnover battle. Auburn committed none and forced three, with AnQuon Fegans and Elijah Melendez providing the interceptions. Jared Smith also blocked a field goal, while McPherson made a 49-yarder before halftime.
Both quarterbacks returned after brief medical evaluations. Georgia’s more consequential lineup change came at safety, where Ja’Marley Riddle made his first start for the Bulldogs in place of injured KJ Bolden. Stockton’s turnovers and Georgia’s scoreless second and third quarters leave plenty to address during the bye.
Auburn improved to 4–2 overall and 2–2 in the SEC before hosting LSU. Georgia fell to 6–1 and 4–1, with Bolden’s availability among the questions leading into Florida.
Florida finds its footing with Tramell Jones Jr.
Florida 27, Texas 24
Tramell Jones Jr.’s first career start became a demonstration of how Florida could sustain an offense around him. Filling in for injured starter Aaron Philo, Jones completed 22 of 35 passes for 155 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions as the Gators recovered from a 17–3 deficit in Austin.
Both touchdown passes went to tight end Lacota Dippre. The second finished a 16-play drive that tied the game and helped establish Florida’s control of possession. The Gators held the ball for 38:11 and ran 81 plays to Texas’ 50, repeatedly asking the Longhorns’ defense to stay on the field.
Jadan Baugh carried 25 times for 91 yards and a touchdown, providing the steady workload behind that approach. Jones supplied the final offensive answer himself: a nine-yard run on third-and-7 after Florida’s defense had recovered the ball with the lead still at three.
Myles Graham created that opportunity by stripping Arch Manning on a sack with 1:58 remaining. Kanye Clark recovered, completing a five-sack performance by a Florida defense that held Texas to 272 total yards. Texas had built its early lead with help from Ryan Niblett’s punt-return touchdown, but its offense could not maintain that separation against the Gators’ pressure.
Jones’ ball security, throws to Dippre and final conversion give Florida useful evidence as it assesses the position alongside Philo’s recovery.
Florida enters its bye at 5–2 overall and 3–2 in league play. Texas, now 4–2 and 1–2, must prepare for Ole Miss while monitoring edge rusher Colin Simmons after his departure with a lower-leg injury.
Tennessee’s pressure keeps Alabama grounded
Tennessee 26, Alabama 10
Tennessee’s third consecutive home victory over Alabama began with field goals and finished with DeSean Bishop. The running back carried 32 times for 159 yards and two touchdowns, allowing the Volunteers to turn an uncomfortable 12–10 halftime lead into a game Alabama could no longer reach.
Cooper Ranvier made four first-half field goals while Alabama’s defense repeatedly limited the damage near its end zone. The Tide briefly found offense through Keelon Russell’s 19-yard touchdown run, but their inability to sustain possessions kept giving Tennessee another chance. Alabama finished with 201 total yards, including 54 rushing, and converted two of 13 third downs.
Four turnovers made those shortages worse. A fumbled exchange at the Tennessee 11 erased a particularly valuable opportunity after Alabama had recovered a muffed punt. Tennessee also collected five sacks, with Tyree Weathersby and Jeremiah Telander recording two apiece. The pressure left Russell and an already depleted offense operating with little margin.
George MacIntyre completed 21 of 31 passes for 197 yards, and Mike Matthews supplied seven catches for 85. Once Bishop began finishing drives, Tennessee no longer needed to rely entirely on Ranvier. The Tide scored nothing after halftime.
Alabama’s availability report now matters almost as much as the offensive review. Receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams and center Racin Delgatty were absent, and cornerback Zabien Brown and running back EJ Crowell left with lower-leg injuries. Coleman-Williams’ recovery from knee surgery adds another complication before Texas A&M visits.
Tennessee improved to 6–1 overall and 3–1 in the SEC, with a trip to South Carolina next. Alabama is 5–2 and 3–2, with protection and ball security to address alongside its injuries.
Kentucky’s defense finishes the job at Oklahoma
Kentucky 21, Oklahoma 13
Kentucky’s fifth consecutive victory came from a defense that kept taking possessions away. Jordan Castell and Ty Bryant each intercepted two passes, and the Wildcats added five sacks to turn a fourth-quarter deficit into a road win.
Oklahoma led 13–7 before Bryant’s interception and 42-yard return gave Kentucky the field position it needed. Kenny Minchey then found Willie Rodriguez for a 12-yard touchdown, the pair’s second scoring connection of the afternoon. Minchey finished 21 of 28 for 158 yards, with Rodriguez catching five passes for 38 yards and both touchdowns.
The defense supplied the final separation. Castell returned an interception 41 yards for a touchdown with 1:17 remaining, and Bryant’s second interception ended Oklahoma’s last possession. The four team interceptions included one on a fake field goal thrown by holder Jacob Ulrich; John Mateer was intercepted three times.
The passing game made costly mistakes, but the failed fake also removed a scoring opportunity. Oklahoma reached the fourth quarter with a lead and could not finish it.
Grant Godfrey led Kentucky with 15 tackles, and Bo Barnes added 10. Mi’Quise Humphrey-Grace and Tavion Gadson each had 1.5 sacks, giving the Wildcats disruption beyond the four interceptions. Rodriguez’s two scores also provided a useful receiving contribution on a day Kentucky needed its limited passing yardage to produce touchdowns.
Kentucky improved to 6–1 and 4–1 in the SEC before hosting Vanderbilt. Oklahoma fell to 3–3 and 1–2, with a trip to Mississippi State offering another test of its protection and ball security.
Ole Miss finds room for two productive backs
Ole Miss 31, Missouri 3
Missouri scored first. Ole Miss supplied everything that followed, scoring 31 unanswered points behind a rushing attack that produced 257 yards and gave Trinidad Chambliss a balanced offense to direct.
Kewan Lacy ran 16 times for 122 yards, while Makhi Frazier added 101 on 15 carries. It was the Rebels’ first game with two 100-yard rushers since their 2022 meeting with Arkansas.
Chambliss completed 20 of 36 passes for 241 yards and three touchdowns, adding a rushing score. Caleb Cunningham caught three passes for 61 yards and a touchdown, and Caleb Odom also reached the end zone. Ole Miss converted nine of 14 third downs and built a 21–3 halftime lead.
Missouri’s 339 passing yards did not solve its inability to run or finish possessions. The Tigers managed 39 rushing yards, converted six of 17 third downs and failed on both fourth-down attempts. Donovan Olugbode’s 127 receiving yards offered substantial production, but Missouri could not turn that movement into another score after its opening field goal.
The Rebels also answered their own mistake. After Lacy lost a fumble in the third quarter, the defense stopped Missouri on fourth down. Sharif Denson led Ole Miss with nine tackles, while Landon Barnes recorded his first career interception.
Ole Miss improved to 5–1 overall and 3–1 in the SEC, with Texas next. Lacy and Frazier’s performance gives the Rebels two productive options for a substantial rushing workload. Missouri heads into its bye at 5–2 and 2–2 with its running game and scoring execution needing attention.
LSU pairs a clean passing day with five fourth-down stops
LSU 31, Mississippi State 0
Sam Leavitt gave LSU the passing performance it needed, completing 31 of 38 attempts for 289 yards and four touchdowns without an interception. The Tigers scored touchdowns on two of their first three possessions, led 21–0 at halftime and never allowed Mississippi State into the game on the scoreboard.
Dilin Jones supplied 142 yards from scrimmage, combining 84 rushing yards with eight receptions for 58. That receiving work gave Leavitt another way to keep the offense moving. Jackson Harris caught six passes for 85 yards and two touchdowns before leaving with an ankle injury, while Eugene Wilson III and Malik Elzy also caught touchdown passes.
The defensive result required more than preventing long gains. Mississippi State reached scoring territory but failed on all five fourth-down attempts, including a chance near the goal line. LSU repeatedly protected its lead by ending those possessions without points. TJ Dottery finished with 12 tackles, and Davhon Keys added 10.
Mississippi State was operating without starting quarterback Kamario Taylor and running back Fluff Bothwell. Parker Puckett’s first start came against a defense able to pressure him while repeatedly winning the decisive short-yardage snaps. Those availability questions follow the Bulldogs into preparation for Oklahoma.
LSU’s injury outlook has improved since the final whistle. Harris said Tuesday that he could have returned if necessary and expected to play against Auburn. Edge rusher Princewill Umanmielen’s status remained a question after he left with a head injury.
LSU reached 5–2 overall and 2–2 in SEC play. Mississippi State fell to 4–2 and 2–2. The Tigers now need to carry their ball security and situational defense into Auburn.
Arkansas finally gets the conference finish it needed
Arkansas 31, Vanderbilt 21
Arkansas ended its 14-game SEC losing streak by protecting the ball, getting two interceptions and taking control late in a game Vanderbilt kept bringing back level.
KJ Jackson completed 21 of 31 passes for 251 yards and added 58 rushing yards and a touchdown. Arkansas did not turn the ball over or allow a sack, giving its offense a stable foundation throughout the afternoon. Cam Settles added two rushing touchdowns as part of a 187-yard team rushing performance.
Vanderbilt had answers early. Jared Curtis threw a touchdown to Junior Sherrill, and rushing scores from Sedrick Alexander and Makhilyn Young helped keep the Commodores even through much of the third quarter. Curtis finished with 274 passing yards, but his two interceptions proved expensive.
Joker Johnson returned the first 25 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter. After Settles put Arkansas ahead 28–21 late in the third, Miguel Mitchell’s interception stopped a Vanderbilt possession that had covered 63 yards. Arkansas then used a nine-play drive and Max Gilbert’s 39-yard field goal to stretch the lead with 24 seconds remaining.
Antonio Jordan added five catches for 74 yards. Arkansas’ protection and turnover-free offense were especially valuable in a game that remained within one score until the final minute.
Arkansas improved to 3–4 overall and 1–3 in the SEC. Vanderbilt fell to 3–4 and 0–4 before visiting Kentucky, where protecting possessions will be particularly important against a defense coming off four interceptions.
Texas A&M gets production and developmental snaps
Texas A&M 41, The Citadel 0
Texas A&M handled its nonconference assignment with 501 total yards and a second shutout of the season. The Aggies led 28–0 at halftime, allowing the afternoon to become useful work for younger contributors before a trip to Alabama.
KJ Edwards rushed for 116 yards, while Jamarion Morrow supplied 54 yards and three touchdowns on eight carries. All three Morrow scores came in the first half. The Aggies finished with 264 rushing yards, establishing enough separation to distribute opportunities across the offense.
Marcel Reed completed eight of 13 passes for 130 yards and a touchdown. Brady Hart then completed eight of 12 for 107 yards and a score during the second half. Hart’s extended appearance gave the backup meaningful game work within a contest Texas A&M already controlled.
The defense allowed 183 total yards. Ray Coney and Tawfiq Byard each recorded seven tackles, with Byard adding 1.5 tackles for loss. It was Texas A&M’s first season with multiple shutouts since 1993.
The level of opposition limits how much this result can establish about the Aggies’ SEC prospects. It did provide productive rushing work, a comfortable game for the defense and opportunities beyond the starting lineup. Texas A&M improved to 4–3 overall while remaining 1–3 in conference play. Alabama will provide a considerably different measure of that progress.
What comes next
LSU at Auburn pairs two winners whose defenses supplied decisive stops, while Ole Miss travels to Texas with a backfield that just produced two 100-yard rushers. Alabama’s personnel situation will draw attention before Texas A&M arrives, particularly with the Tide trying to restore an offense held to 10 points in Knoxville.
Tennessee visits South Carolina after the Gamecocks’ bye. Kentucky hosts Vanderbilt, and Oklahoma travels to Mississippi State in a meeting of offenses looking to recover from difficult finishes.
Florida and Georgia both have a week off before meeting October 31 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The Gators can assess Philo’s recovery alongside Jones’ successful first start, while Georgia has time to address its turnovers and monitor Bolden. Those availability decisions will help shape a matchup that looks different after the two teams’ Week 7 results.
