It's Only SEC (but I like it....)
GEORGE SOMERVILLE – THE TOUCHDOWN SEC CORRESPONDENT
Postseason week 2
While you could argue that the road to the National Championship game in Miami on 19th January started back in early September, the road gets really narrow from here on in this weekend. Friday and Saturday of this week feature the first round of playoff games on campuses, with SEC teams front and centre. At this stage of proceedings, there are four SEC teams in early action: Alabama, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M.
So while there is still a LOT happening around the conference, it’s no great surprise that the Playoff games dominate the headlines this week.
So it’s time to catch up on what’s been happening in and around the conference! Yup, it’s time for some “It’s Only SEC”….
Here’s what’s going on in SEC country!
this weeks sec Stories
deboer is going nowhere
Tuscaloosa, AL
Michigan hunt for red DeBoer
Michigan is searching for a new Head coach on the back of the sacking of Sherrone Moore.
Among the Coaches linked to the vacancy is Alabama Head Coach Kalen DeBoer.
The media and online chatter were so loud that the Crimson Tide Head coach chose to step away from his Playoff preparations to issue a statement saying he was happy in Tuscaloosa. And not to continue the speculation, but you will note that I didn’t say, “he isn’t going anywhere”. DeBoer’s statement read,
“My family and I are very happy in Tuscaloosa and remain extremely grateful for the support of President Mohler, Greg Byrne, the board and so many others. I have not spoken and have no interest in speaking with anyone else about any other job. I am fully committed to this program and look forward to continuing as the head football coach at the University of Alabama.”
Which really should have been the end of it. I’m pretty sure DeBoer hoped that it was the end of it. However, those words didn’t exactly slam the door shut on DeBoer’s interest in moving to Michigan.
get to the point
This led the Alabama beat writers to follow up at the next available opportunity, which came on Monday at DeBoer’s press conference.
First up was Nick Kelly from AL.com…..”Will you be the Head Coach at Alabama next season”.
This was DeBoer’s answer in full…
“Man, come on, Nick. Alright, I put a statement out yesterday because I just — first of all, our guys handle distractions phenomenally. It’s been that way all season long. They continue to do that. But I also knew that yesterday and today was pretty important. I wasn’t gonna see you until today to address it, so that’s why I put that out there.
A lot of the same things I said before a couple weeks ago when asked, really, the same question. Just feel completely supported. My family loves living here. Just all the things that we continue to build on. I love the progress.
I haven’t talked with anyone. No plans of talking with anyone. I think that’s a lot of what I said a couple weeks ago, and continues to be the same thing. Feel strong about it. Our guys, if there’s any distraction, I haven’t seen it, haven’t felt it. And so, I’m really proud of the way they’ve handled whatever noise that’s out there. And again, we’ve probably, all season long, dealt with enough noise to where it doesn’t surprise me on how they’ve handled this”.
Now. Tell me, folks, if that response answered the question….
So leave it to the good Ol’ Alabama beat writers. Like dogs with a bone, they won’t let up, and up steps Charlie Potter from Bama Online. “One more time, will you be the Head coach at Alabama next season?”
DeBoer’s response, “Nick yes, Charlie yes”.
Ok good. I think we all understand now. Yes? Do we? Good, I think…
tide v sooners rematch
Norman, OK
The whispers are that Alabama has an Oklahoma problem. If you want to be more specific, this current Alabama team and Head Coach Kalen DeBoer appear to have a problem beating Oklahoma.
Last season, the Sooners rolled over Alabama in Norman during their first year playing in the SEC, effectively derailing Alabama’s chances of making the College Football Playoff in Kalen DeBoer’s first year. It was also one of Alabama’s worst performances of the season.
Fast forward almost twelve months, and Alabama “welcomed” the Sooners into Bryant-Denny, seeking revenge. The Crimson Tide came into that game unbeaten after that early-season shock defeat to Florida State. That winning record suddenly stopped when Brent Venables classic defense stopped the Alabama offense in their tracks. Yup, Alabama has an Oklahoma problem.
Now, Kalen DeBoer has a unique opportunity to put paid to that rhetoric with the Tide drawn to face the Sooners in the first round of the College Football Playoff.
Standing in his way AGAIN is an Oklahoma defense which ranks fifth nationally in rushing, seventh in scoring and ninth in total defense. So it’s fair to say that in the wake of a Sooners offense which has been Jekyll and Hyde-like in its performance, their Playoff run has been built on defense. And as they say Defense wins Championships!
Kalen DeBoer and Alabama dearly hope this isn’t true.
the golding era begins
Oxford, mS
When Ole Miss plays Tulane on Saturday, the Pete Golding era as Head coach begins.
I’m certain that Golding will be relieved to get a game under his belt, given the remarkable goings on in Oxford during these last two weeks.
The Rebels are trying desperately to maintain the momentum built during their first 11-game winning season in their history.
“All the pieces are in place to be consistent,” Golding said midweek during press conferences.
“We’ve had a lot of success in this system. We’ve done well with it here,” Golding said. “I love everything about it and know what issues it causes for defenses”.
“Neither team is going to try to reinvent the wheel at this point,” Golding said. “They’re going to be who they are.”
Which points to the fact that this game is another rematch from earlier in the season. Back in September, the Rebels roundly beat the Green Wave 45-10 in Trinidad Chambliss’s first game as a starter for Ole Miss.
After the game, Tulane Head coach, now Florida Head coach Jon Sumrall, lamented his team’s lacklustre performance.
“Just an overall frustrating performance” said Sumrall after the game. “We’re going to sit on this one and let it hurt for a little while, because it should”.
How much it hurt the Green Wave will become evident on Saturday. There are many variables in this game, not least the fact that Sumrall is continuing to coach Tulane through the Playoffs, while Ole Miss did not afford Kiffin the same opportunity. This could end up being the most significant talking point from the game.
And just to take a look back to how old this match-up between these two teams is, because you know I like a bit of college football history. Both Ole Miss and Tulane were founding members of the SEC in 1932; however, the first game between the two dates back to 1893. This game is in fact Ole Miss’ oldest rivalry in which they hold a 44-29 lead in the series.
Aggies in the eye of the hurricane
College Station, TX
Perhaps the most intriguing of the Playoff games from this weekend is when the Miami Hurricanes travel into the noise and chaos of Kyle Field to meet the Texas A&M Aggies.
hurricanes on form
Miami has been a team which has captured the headlines this year. At one point, they seemed to be among the favourites to win the National Championship. However, a mid-season slump saw them fall out of the top 12 rankings, which would preclude them from participating in the Playoffs.
I don’t have enough room for the words needed to describe the Committee’s decision to bring the Hurricanes back into the Playoffs, but they are here, and the game is on Saturday.
Which brings us back to this game. Miami are intriguing. A nationally ranked defense provides some respite for an offense led by Carson Beck which blows hot and cold.
the keys to win this game
So what are the keys to winning this game?
The nearly 103,000 fans making up the 12th Man at Kyle Field will be a deciding factor during this game. Noise is always difficult to manage for the opposition at Kyle Field, and it will be no different for Miami. Hurricanes quarterback Beck has no experience playing against the Aggies, as he did not face them during his time in Athens. So the 12th Man will be a feature even if it is a noon kickoff time.
Almost certainly, the Aggies ‘ defense will be tested; however, they will be a problem for Carson Beck and the Hurricanes. The Aggies ‘ defense is the highest-ranked defense Miami has faced this season, especially in pass defence. When pressed, Beck has been prone to throwing interceptions, which was highlighted by the four interceptions Beck threw against Louisville. Louisville is closer ranked to the Aggies defense than any other Miami opponent this season; however, it is still considered weaker than the Aggies.
can beck be stopped?
However, it’s not that simple to stop Beck. Miami’s offensive line has allowed just eleven sacks this season. This has allowed the ex-Georgia QB to pass for 3,310 yards and 25 touchdowns this season. Beck’s stats are the best production the Aggies have faced this year. Beck, like the rest of the Hurricanes, finished the regular season strong. In the last three games, Beck has thrown for three touchdowns in each game. This is helped by the impressively talented wide receiver Malachi Toney, who has caught 84 passes for 970 yards.
On the other side of the ball, we await to see if the Aggies decline in offensive production against arch foes Texas was an anomaly or whether Marcel Reed and his offensive colleagues have lost form at the most crucial point in the season.
While a number of factors point to an Aggies win, this game has all the makings of a classic.
Lagway hits the exit
Gainesville, FL
In the lead-up to the 2025 season, outside of Arch Manning, there was no greater expectation for a quarterback than DJ Lagway at Florida.
Sadly, because of a combination of injuries, an unsettled team around him, the sacking of his head coach and underperformance, the Lagway era in Gainesville did not live up to expectations. And even sadder for Gator Nation is that the Lagway era is now over, with the Texas native announcing his intention to enter the transfer portal as first reported by ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
“I am truly grateful for the opportunity to have been part of such an incredible program here at the University of Florida,” Lagway posted to social media. “… After much prayer, reflection, and thoughtful consideration, I have decided to enter the transfer portal.”
As reported by CBS Sport’s Chris Hummer, Lagway was keen to stay on at Gainesville for his Junior year however the meeting with new Head coach, Jon Summrall didn’t go as planned. Per Hummer “Jon Summrall questioned who Lagway is as a football player. The new staff opted to challenge the high-priced quarterback, pushing him on his competitiveness and work ethic”.
Whichever way the meeting ended up, Lagway did not come away thinking his future was bright in Gainesville and he has decided to move on.
SEC Nation double header
norman, OK & College Station, TX
With four SEC teams in action this weekend, the SEC Nation team has a unique opportunity, with games on Friday and Saturday.
On Thursday, the Nation crew will be in Norman, Oklahoma, to preview the Alabama v Oklahoma game.
Then after making a swift trip West, the team will be on location in College Station to host their usual Saturday show ahead of the Miami v Aggies game.
This week, the College Chaps welcomed back SEC Nation host Laura Rutledge for their Christmas special.
“we’re going to be doing a really cool pregame show leading into Alabama v Oklahoma and I’ll be on the sidelines for that game too. And we’re also doing postgame.
Then we’re going to do our morning show, the next morning from Texas A&M and then half-time and postgame from there also. It’s going to be a crazy 24 hours of college football but I mean, what a joy – I can’t wait”.
Could not agree more. Let’s have a weekend of great SEC football folks!
P.S. You can listen or watch the full College Chaps Christmas Special with Laura via the links highlighted above.
GEORGE SOMERVILLE
COLLEGE FOOTBALL WRITER
GEORGE IS A LONG STANDING FANATIC OF LIFE AND FOOTBALL IN THE DEEP SOUTH AND WRITES HIS WEEKLY COLUMN CALLED “IT’S ONLY SEC” FOR THE TOUCHDOWN. HE IS ALSO CO-HOST AND ONE THIRD OF THE COLLEGE CHAPS PODCAST, THE UK’S FIRST PODCAST DEDICATED TO THE COLLEGE GAME.