October 25, 2026
By Jim Baxter
THE SEC CONTINUES TO BE A CONFERENCE WHERE NOTHING IS GUARANTEED
Another Saturday in the Southeastern Conference, and another reminder that rankings don’t mean a damn thing once the football is kicked off.
We saw South Carolina shock Tennessee, Texas knock off a Top 10 Ole Miss team, Alabama bounce back against Texas A&M, and LSU put together one of its better offensive performances of the season.
Meanwhile, Kentucky continues to quietly build an impressive résumé, and Oklahoma did just enough to escape Starkville with a victory.
With November approaching, the SEC championship race is getting interesting, and the College Football Playoff picture is becoming increasingly complicated.
Let’s take a drive around the conference.
SOUTH CAROLINA 27, NO. 11 TENNESSEE 24
Sometimes It’s Better to Be Lucky Than Good
I’ve already shared my thoughts on this game, but it deserves another mention.
South Carolina found a way to win a football game that Tennessee had every opportunity to put away.
The Gamecocks jumped out to a 14-0 lead before allowing Tennessee to score 21 unanswered points in the second quarter.
For much of the afternoon, it looked like another disappointing performance was unfolding in Columbia.
But LaNorris Sellers wasn’t finished.
Sellers accounted for 306 yards of total offense and three touchdowns, including a fourth-quarter touchdown run that tied the game.
Then Dylan Stewart made the play of the afternoon.
His strip sack of Tennessee quarterback George MacIntyre gave South Carolina an opportunity to win the football game.
Malik Orsan delivered with a 48-yard field goal as time expired.
Here’s my problem.
South Carolina still isn’t playing consistently good football. The Gamecocks continue to make too many mistakes, and the offense remains far too dependent on Sellers creating something with his legs.
But I’ll give them credit for one thing.
They didn’t quit.
And sometimes that’s enough.
JB’s Take: This was a tremendous win for South Carolina, but I’m not ready to declare that the Gamecocks have turned the corner. I’ve seen too much inconsistency from this football team. Tennessee, meanwhile, let a game slip away that it should have won.
NO. 19 TEXAS 34, NO. 7 OLE MISS 27
The Longhorns Aren’t Dead Yet
I’ve been critical of Arch Manning this season, and I believe much of that criticism has been justified.
But Texas deserves credit for what it accomplished Saturday night.
The Longhorns jumped out to a 24-3 halftime lead against an Ole Miss team that entered the game ranked seventh nationally.
Then things got interesting.
Ole Miss battled back to tie the game at 24 before Texas regained control in the fourth quarter.
Manning finished with 212 passing yards, one passing touchdown, two interceptions and two rushing touchdowns.
Those numbers aren’t going to convince me that Manning has suddenly developed into an elite quarterback.
But he helped his team win an important football game.
The bigger story for Texas was Raleek Brown, who rushed for 157 yards.
For Ole Miss, this was a disappointing performance from Trinidad Chambliss.
He completed just 25 of 52 passes and threw three interceptions.
I’ve been impressed with Chambliss this season, but this wasn’t one of his better performances.
JB’s Take: Texas may have saved its playoff hopes, but I’m still not sold on the Longhorns as a championship contender. Ole Miss has now suffered its second loss, and Chambliss needs to demonstrate that he can perform consistently against quality competition.
NO. 13 ALABAMA 31, TEXAS A&M 20
Keelon Russell Continues to Impress Me
Alabama needed a response after last week’s loss to Tennessee.
The Crimson Tide got one.
Keelon Russell threw for 311 yards and three touchdowns as Alabama scored 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to put away Texas A&M.
I’ve had Russell on my Heisman radar, and performances like this are why.
He’s a talented young quarterback with the ability to make throws at every level of the field.
What impressed me most was Alabama’s ability to finish.
The Crimson Tide trailed 20-17 entering the fourth quarter, but Russell directed two touchdown drives to secure the victory.
Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed threw two interceptions, and the Aggies committed three turnovers.
You aren’t going to beat Alabama in Tuscaloosa making those kinds of mistakes.
However, Alabama still has issues.
The Crimson Tide struggled to establish a consistent running game, and that’s something that could become a significant problem against better defensive teams.
JB’s Take: Alabama remains dangerous because of Russell and its passing attack. But if the Crimson Tide wants to make a serious championship run, it must develop more balance offensively.
NO. 18 LSU 38, AUBURN 17
Sam Leavitt Is Starting to Look Dangerous
I’ve been watching Sam Leavitt closely this season, and Saturday’s performance against Auburn was impressive.
Leavitt completed 32 of 45 passes for 387 yards and three touchdowns without throwing an interception.
He also contributed 54 rushing yards and another touchdown.
That’s 441 yards of total offense from the LSU quarterback.
The Tigers finished with 552 yards of total offense while holding Auburn to just 271.
That’s domination.
Jackson Harris was outstanding, catching nine passes for 178 yards and two touchdowns.
What I liked about LSU was its offensive execution.
The Tigers attacked Auburn through the air, protected the football, and consistently created opportunities for explosive plays.
Auburn simply didn’t have an answer.
JB’s Take: LSU is becoming a football team that nobody should overlook. Leavitt is playing himself into the conversation among the better quarterbacks in the SEC, and if this offense continues improving, the Tigers could become a serious problem in November.
NO. 12 KENTUCKY 34, VANDERBILT 17
Are We Giving Kentucky Enough Respect?
Here’s a question.
Why aren’t more people talking about Kentucky?
The Wildcats improved to 7-1 with a convincing victory over Vanderbilt.
And this wasn’t a game where Kentucky needed some miraculous fourth-quarter comeback.
The Wildcats controlled the second half, outscoring Vanderbilt 20-7.
Kenny Minchey completed 19 of 26 passes for 203 yards and a touchdown without throwing an interception.
Kentucky finished with 376 yards of offense while limiting Vanderbilt to 262.
Perhaps more importantly, the Wildcats didn’t turn the football over.
That’s how you win football games in the SEC.
Will Stein has Kentucky playing disciplined football, and the Wildcats are positioning themselves as legitimate contenders in the conference.
I’m not ready to put them in the same category as the nation’s elite teams, but I certainly wouldn’t want to play them right now.
JB’s Take: Kentucky is one of the more interesting stories in college football this season. The Wildcats aren’t winning with hype. They’re winning football games. There’s a difference.
OKLAHOMA 23, MISSISSIPPI STATE 15
A Win Is a Win, But Oklahoma Still Has Questions
Oklahoma traveled to Starkville and escaped with an eight-point victory over Mississippi State.
John Mateer had a productive afternoon, completing 22 of 29 passes for 283 yards and two touchdowns.
Isaiah Sategna III was outstanding, catching eight passes for 164 yards and a touchdown.
The Sooners finished with 467 yards of total offense.
So why was this game still competitive late?
Because Oklahoma continues to struggle with consistency.
The Sooners led 17-0 early in the third quarter but couldn’t completely put Mississippi State away.
The Bulldogs eventually cut the lead to eight points in the closing minutes.
Oklahoma committed nine penalties, and that’s another area that needs attention.
JB’s Take: Mateer has the talent to make Oklahoma dangerous, but the Sooners need to start playing complete football games. At this point in the season, simply surviving isn’t enough if you have championship aspirations.
JB’S BIGGEST TAKEAWAYS
1. SOUTH CAROLINA GETS THE BIGGEST UPSET
The Gamecocks knocking off No. 11 Tennessee was the biggest surprise in the SEC this weekend.
But one victory doesn’t erase the problems that have plagued this football team.
2. TEXAS MAY HAVE SAVED ITS SEASON
The Longhorns desperately needed a signature victory, and they got one against Ole Miss.
Whether they can build on it remains to be seen.
3. KEELON RUSSELL IS THE REAL DEAL
Alabama’s young quarterback continues to demonstrate why I believe he belongs in the Heisman conversation.
His development could determine how far Alabama goes this season.
4. LSU IS GETTING DANGEROUS
Sam Leavitt’s performance against Auburn was one of the better quarterback performances in the conference this weekend.
The Tigers are beginning to look like a team capable of making some noise.
5. KENTUCKY DESERVES MORE ATTENTION
Seven wins against one loss.
That’s not an accident.
Will Stein deserves considerable credit for what he’s building in Lexington.
JB’S FINAL THOUGHTS
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again.
The SEC isn’t necessarily a conference filled with dominant football teams this season.
It’s a conference filled with talented football teams that are capable of beating one another on any given Saturday.
There’s a difference.
We’ve seen Alabama look outstanding one week and vulnerable the next.
We’ve seen Texas struggle, then turn around and defeat one of the nation’s highest-ranked teams.
We’ve seen Tennessee dominate Alabama, only to turn around and lose to South Carolina.
And we’ve seen Kentucky quietly establish itself as a legitimate contender.
The biggest question heading into November isn’t necessarily which team has the most talent.
It’s which team can consistently execute, protect the football, avoid unnecessary penalties, and perform under pressure.
Because from what I’ve seen this season, nobody in this conference is unbeatable.
And that should make the final month of the regular season one hell of a ride.
Jim Baxter
JB Talking Sports
Where Experience Meets the Game.
