A couple of losses by the two Tennessee schools on Alabama’s schedule were the only marks on what was a good week for the Crimson Tide’s overall strength of schedule. Ole Miss barely snuck by Vanderbilt but a slight hangover was expected while Texas A&M and Mississippi State got huge SEC wins.
Week 1: Wisconsin – Win vs. Hawaii 28-0
Joel Stave had his first poor performance of the year but the Badgers stood behind their defense and run game. Taiwan Deal and Dare Ogunbowale combined for 232 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.
Next week: Iowa, 11:00 am CST, ESPN
Week 2: Middle Tennessee State – Loss at Illinois 25-27
A 51-yard field goal knocked of the Blue Raiders, who just missed out on a huge road win. Brent Stockstill had another big game, throwing for 332 yards and three touchdowns.
Next week: Vanderbilt, 6:00 pm CST, CBSSN
Week 3: Ole Miss – Win vs. Vanderbilt 27-16
The Rebels finally found some issues in an ugly win over the Commodores. Chad Kelly had his lowest completion percentage of the season and threw two interceptions. Jaylen Walton and Laquon Treadwell were the keys to the offense, accounting for more than half of the total offense. Robert Nkemdiche got another rushing touchdown because why not?
Next week: at Florida, 6:00 pm CST, ESPN
Week 4: Louisiana Monroe – Loss at Alabama 0-34
Next week: at Alabama, 3:00 pm CST, SECN
Week 5: at Georgia – Win vs. Southern 48-6
Greyson Lambert threw two touchdown passes and one incompletion while Nick Chubb and Sony Michel averaged 9.8 yards per carry. The team looks complete and ready to finally push head coach Mark Richt toward a national championship.
Next week: Alabama, 2:30 pm CST, CBS
Week 6: Arkansas – Loss vs. Texas A&M 21-28 (OT)
This may have been the Razorbacks best performance of the season but the defense still had a huge weakness against a strong passing game. They kept their passes short and simple (9.0 YPA) while having a strong running game (5.7 YPC) led by Alex Collins.
Next week: at Tennessee, 6:00 pm CST, ESPN2
Week 7: at Texas A&M – Win vs. Texas A&M 28-21 (OT)
Kyle Allen and Kyler Murray are perfect for a two-quarterback system and the Aggies offense is continuing to roll. Christian Kirk may be the best freshman in the country, accounting for 250 more all-purpose yards and two touchdowns.
Next week: Mississippi State, 6:30 pm CST, SEC Network
Week 8: Tennessee – Lost at Florida 27-28
The streak continues and Butch Jones doesn’t seem to have the answers to make Tennessee great again. The Vols blew another double-digit lead but the season can still be a success, starting with a win against the SEC West this weekend.
Next week: Arkansas, 6:00 pm CST, ESPN2
Week 10: LSU – Win at Syracuse 34-24
24 carries, 210 yards, 3 touchdowns. That is Leonard Fournette’s average game so far this season. That’s insane.
Next week: Eastern Michigan, 6:00 pm CST, ESPNU
Week 11: at Mississippi State – Win at Auburn 17-9
Dak Prescott had another huge game, completing multiple passes to seven different receivers, in an SEC West win. The Bulldogs are still in the race for the division and are likely to finish in at least the top half of the SEC.
Next week: at Texas A&M, 6:30 pm CST, SEC Network
Week 12: Charleston Southern – Win at Citadel 33-20
The Buccaneers improved to 3-1 and had three different players rush for over 100 yards and combined for seven touchdowns on the ground. Mike Holloway and Darius Hammond lead a strong and consistent rushing attack into conference play.
Next week: BYE
Week 13: at Auburn – Loss vs. Mississippi State 9-17
Sean White got his first start and although he looked decent, the offense still struggled all night on the Plains and couldn’t find the endzone on four trips to the red zone. The Tigers need to bounce back this weekend before getting back into conference play in two weeks in Lexington.
Next week: San Jose State, 3:00 pm CST, SEC Network
Caleb Turrentine is a contributor at Touchdown Alabama Magazine. Follow him on Twitter, @CalebTurrentine.
