SEC PRIMER (Week 1): Laughter, joy and NIL arrive with season openers
STAFF REPORT
Back by popular demand.
And a little earlier than last year…
The Primer brings us to a new season full of laughter and joy. We are dancing around the Maypole as the University of Tennessee prepares to run through the “T” and scalp Bowling Green on a Thursday night in Knoxville.
Are you giddy yet?
Chances are you already were long before the season opener. It’s a shame we don’t play this game all year.
Then again, that would erase the excitement of opening day. Actually, with perpetual motion, it would erase any opening day. but that’s digression.
So, what does new season bring us?
The talk of NIL and new playoff and transfer portals are old news. So is stating Alabama will win another national title… or Clemson will… or Georgia. We need a new drug to take heading into 2021.
Might we provide one? How about Texas A&M as the favorite to win the SEC and a national title this year?
Why not? The Aggie faithful believe JImbo Fisher can do it else why give him a new contract worth $9 mil? They have a host of starters returning. They get Bama at home and Kellen Mond is gone (OK, bad joke).
Don’t like that one? OK, what about Georgia? After they face Clemson this weekend, there is no one on their regular season schedule that should beat them. No one. Says a lot about the East, right?
If the Dogs lose to Clemson, they have no wiggle room, which might make them better. Concentration levels should be high each week.
If they top the Tigers, they will never leave the top 5. We wouldn’t be surprised to see them vault to the top of the polls with an impressive win.
Chances are Alabama will be waiting for them in Atlanta in December but it’s about time for Kirby Smart to figure out a way to beat Nick Saban. He’s had enough chances, this one might actually take.
Is there anyone in the West to challenge the Crimson Tide? Ole Miss might but the Rebels also need to figure out how to beat Arkansas and Auburn.
LSU? Are you kidding?
Auburn? Um, let’s see if they can get through the season without a COVID-19 forfeit first.
The weekend opens in Tennessee where Josh Huepel shows off his new orange pants, at least let’s hope he has the you-knows to pull it off. It should be required for all UT coaches to wear orange pants at least during home games.
It would give us a reason to watch.
And so we begin. Let’s enjoy the revelry and pomp and circumstance of a new season.
Remember – everybody is 0-0 at this very moment… unless you are reading this on Sunday.
OPENING DAY STATS
Last time the SEC had all members won on opening weekend – 2009 (SC/A&M were not members but both won that year)
(Before last year) Most season-opening losses for the conference – 6 in 2016
Last opening season loss (for each SEC team) plus longest in school history (as SEC member):
Alabama – 2001 (@UCLA); 30 (1904-34)
Arkansas – 2020 (Georgia); 9 (1997-2005)
Auburn – 2016 (Clemson); 11 (1935-46)
Florida – 2017 (Michigan); 27 (1989-2017)
Georgia – 2013 (@ Clemson); 12 (1997-2008)
Kentucky – 2020 (@ Auburn); 8 (1987-94)
LSU – 2020 (Miss St); 13 (2003-15)
Miss St – 2016 (South Alabama); 15 (1933-48)
Missouri – 2020 (Alabama); 12 (non-SEC) (1902-13)
Ole Miss – 2020 (Florida); 16 (1947-62)
South Carolina -2020 (Tennessee); 14 (2000-13)
Tennessee – 2019 (Ga State); 12 (1995-2006)
Texas A&M – 2017 (@UCLA); 21 (non-SEC – 1901-21)
Vanderbilt – 2020 (@ Texas A&M); 6 (1970-75)
SEC PRIME INTERVIEW OF THE WEEK
Phil Kornblut of South Carolina Radio Network talks Clemson-Georgia football as well as the new quarterback of the South Carolina Gamecocks.
SEPT. 2-6 Schedule/Notes
Bowling Green (0-5) at Tennessee (3-7, 3-7 SEC)
Thursday, 7 p.m. CDT • SECN
Knoxville, Tenn. • Neyland Stadium (102,455)
Series: UT leads 1-0 (Last: 2015 – UT, 59-30, played in Nashville)
WHAT ABOUT UT/BG
Tennessee opens the season on a Thursday night (against Bowling Green) for the third time and first since 2016.
The Vols will have seven “Super Seniors” on this year’s squad. They have 10 players who have transferred from a Power 5 school on the roster.
Tennessee is 7-0 all time verses MAC teams.
RRS PREDICTION: Tennessee 35, Bowling Green 20 (UT favored by 35.5)
Louisiana-Monroe (0-10) at Kentucky (5-6, 4-6 SEC)
11 a.m. CDT • SECN
Lexington, Ky. • Kroger Field (61,000)
Series: UK leads 4-1 (Last: 2014 – Ky., 48-14)
WHAT ABOUT LA-MON/KY
Mark Stoops enters his ninth season as Kentucky’s head coach, which ties him with Fran Curci for the longest tenure. Saturday’s game with Louisana-Monroe will be his 100th game, which also ties a school record (with Curci). He is the second-longest tenured coach in the SEC behind Nick Saban.
UK has won 11 consecutive non-conference games, dating back to the 2017 Music City Bowl loss to Northwestern.
RRS PREDICTION: Kentucky 27, Louisiana-Monroe 6 (UK favored by 31)
Rice (2-3) at Arkansas (3-7, 3-7 SEC)
1 p.m. CDT • SECN+ / ESPN+
Fayetteville, Ark. • Reynolds Razorback Stadium (72,000)
Series: Ark. leads 35-29-3 (Last: 1991 – Ark, 20-0)
WHAT ABOUT RICE/ARK
Arkansas will face old Southwest Conference foe Rice for the first time since 1991. Rice was the last team Arkansas faced in the old conference. The Owls are the Razorbacks seventh-most common opponent.
Arkansas returns its top six tacklers including Grant Morgan, who had 111 stops.
Redshirt freshman Jalen Catalon led FBS freshmen in tackles with 99 in 2020.
RRS PREDICTION: Arkansas 26, Rice 16 (ARK favored by 19.5)
Alabama (13-0, 10-0 SEC) vs. Miami (8-3)
2:30 p.m. CDT • ABC
Atlanta, Ga. • Mercedes-Benz Stadium (71,000)
Series: Bama leads, 14-3 (Last: 1993 - Bama., 34-13)
WHAT ABOUT BAMA/MIAMI
Teams last met in the 1993 Sugar Bowl, won by Alabama that led to the ’92 national title.
Under Nick Saban, Alabama has won all 14 openers, six in Atlanta, gaining 6,157 yards to the opponents’ 3,007.
Tide LB Will Anderson (So) enters the season having recorded seven sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss last season as a freshman. His 60 quarterback pressures led the nation.
Miami has 19 of 22 starters returning to their team. They return 91 percent of their production from last year.
Last time Miami opened the season against the No. 1 team was 1988 vs. Florida St, winning 31-0. The Canes have nine all-time wins vs. No. 1 team, tied for most with Alabama and Notre Dame.
Miami averaged 8.6 TFL per game last year, which ranked fourth in the country.
RRS PREDICTION: Alabama 31, Miami 14 (Alabama favored by 19.5)
Louisiana Tech (5-5) at Mississippi State (4-7, 3-7 SEC)
3 p.m. CDT • ESPNU
Starkville, Miss. • Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field (61,337)
Series: Miss St leads 10-3 (Last: 2018 - MSU, 45-3)
WHAT ABOUT LA TECH/MISS ST
Miss St broke 21 school passing records in Mike Leach’s first season.
Last year’s 51-32 win over Missouri gave the Bulldogs 10 consecutive seasons with a game scoring 50 or more points.
RRS PREDICTION: Mississippi State 35, La Tech 17 (Miss St favored by 23)
Central Michigan (3-3) at Missouri (5-5, 5-5 SEC)
3 p.m. CDT • SEC Network
Columbia, Mo. • Faurot Field (62,621)
Series: First meeting
WHAT ABOUT CENTRAL MICH/MIZZOU
Missouri’s Conner Bazelak was the highest rated freshman quarterback a year ago, passing for 236.6 ypg, good for fourth in the SEC. He played in all 10 games for the Tigers.
In its previous 130 season-openers, Mizzou has won more than two-thirds of them, going 83-42-5 all-time (65.7 percent). Mizzou has won 20 of its last 24 season-openers.
RRS PREDICTION: Missouri 24, Central Michigan 17 (MIZZOU favored by 14)
Akron (1-5) at Auburn (6-5, 6-4 SEC)
6 p.m. CDT (SEC+)
Auburn, Ala. • Jordan-Hare Stadium (87,451)
Series: AU leads, 1-0 (Last :1988, AU 42-0)
WHAT ABOUT AKRON/AU
Auburn LB Zacoby McClain led FBS with 113 total tackles and averaged 10.3 tackles per game, good for third in the SEC.
Auburn was one of just six teams that averaged less than 1 turnover per game (among teams that played at least 10 games).
RRS PREDICTION: Auburn 37, Akron 13 (AU favored by 37)
Eastern Illinois (1-5) at South Carolina (2-8, 2-8 SEC)
6 p.m. CDT (SEC+)
Columbia, S.C.. • Williams-Brice Stadium (77,559)
Series: First meeting
WHAT ABOUT EI/SC
South Carolina begins the season on a 9-game losing streak.
South Carolina will start former graduate assistant Zeb Noland, who had been brought in from North Dakota State where he was Trey Lance’s backup. Luke Doty was poised to be the starter but suffered a foot injury in camp.
Both Arkansas and South Carolina begin their 30th year as a member of the SEC. SC is 100-133-1 while Arkansas is 94-138-2
RRS PREDICTION: South Carolina 30, Eastern Illinois 14 (No Line)
Florida Atlantic (5-4) at Florida (8-4, 8-2 SEC)
6:30 p.m. CDT • SEC Network
Gainesville, Fla. • Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Steve Spurrier-Florida Field (88,548)
Series: UF leads 3-0 (Last: 2015, UF 20-14)
WHAT ABOUT FAU/UF
Florida led the FBS in touchdown passes with 46 in 2020, the fifth time in school history.
Florida’s SEC record since Dan Mullen’s arrival in 2018 is 19-7, third best behind Alabama and Georgia.
Florida’s opponent – FAU – was 115th in scoring offense last year, averaging 18.9 points per game.
RRS PREDICTION: Florida 45, FAU 20 (UF favored by 23.5)
Kent State (3-1) at Texas A&M (9-1, 8-1 SEC)
7 p.m. CT • ESPNU
College Station, Texas • Kyle Field (102,733)
Series: First meeting
WHAT ABOUT KSU/A&M
Texas A&M led the SEC in total defense a year ago, averaging 317.3 ypg allowed. The Aggies were No. 2 in rushing defense nationally, giving up 92 yards per game.
Haynes King will start at quarterback for A&M, the first player to start other than Kellen Mond since the 2018 opener against Northwestern State, 36 games ago.
A&M Isaiah Spiller needs 18 yards to reach 2,000 career rushing yards.
RRS PREDICTION: Texas A&M 45, Kent State 13 (A&M favored by 28.5)
East Tennessee St (4-3) at Vanderbilt (0-9, 0-9 SEC)
7 p.m. CT • SEC+
Nashville, Tenn. • Vanderbilt Stadium (40,350)
Series: VU leads, 1-0 (Last: 2019 - VU, 38-0)
WHAT ABOUT ETSU/VU
Vanderbilt opens the season on a 10-game losing streak.
Vanderbilt is one of three schools where the head football coach and athletic directors are alumni of the school (MIchigan and Oklahoma State).
The Commodores have not had a conference winning record since 2012 (James Franklin).
RRS PREDICTION: Vanderbilt 33, East Tennessee St 14 (No Line)
LSU (5-5, 5-5 SEC) at UCLA (3-4)
7:30 p.m. CDT • FOX
Pasadena, Calif. • Rose Bowl (91,136)
Series: First meeting
WHAT ABOUT LSU/UCLA
LSU’s trip to UCLA is the first ‘true’ road game since the Tigers went to Seattle to face Washington in 2009.
This will be only the second game LSU has played in the state of California. The other was in 1984 when the Tigers defeated USC at the LA Coliseum.
In UCLA’s opening win, several transfers were key in the win including RB Zach Charbonnet (Michigan) rushed for 106 yards on just six carries with 3 TDs. Former Alabama player Ale Kaho blocked a punt that was covered for a touchdown. Three others made starts for the Bruins.
RRS PREDICTION: LSU 35, UCLA 34 (LSU favored by 3)
Ole Miss (5-5, 4-5 SEC) vs. Louisville (4-7)
Monday, 7 p.m. CDT • ESPN
Atlanta, Ga. • Mercedes-Benz Stadium (71,000)
Series: First meeting
WHAT ABOUT OM/LOUIS
Ole Miss QB Matt Corral finished the season as the nation’s leader in total offense averaging 384.9 ypg. He is the fourth SEC player to do that.
The Rebels set a school record for offense with 555.5 ypg last year.
RRS PREDICTION: Ole Miss 44, Louisville 27 (OM favored by 10)
RRS PRIME MATCH UP OF THE WEEK
Georgia (8-2, 7-2 SEC) vs. Clemson (10-2)
6:30 p.m. CDT • ABC
Charlotte, N.C. • Bank of America Stadium (74,867)
Series: UGA leads 42-18-4 (Last: 2014 - UGA, 45-21)
WHAT ABOUT CLEM/UGA
Last opening season loss for each team came against each other in back-to-back years, 2013-14. Neither team has lost an opener since. This is the fourth top 5 matchup since 2000 (Bama/FSU’17; LSU/Ore ’13; Miami/FSU ’04).
JT Daniels became the starter at QB for Georgia in late November and the Bulldogs went 4-0, including a comeback win over Cincinnati in the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl. It was the first season since 2006 that UGA had three different starting quarterbacks (D’Wan Mathis and Stetson Bennett).
Before the end of the 2020 season, Clemson had played 127 games without losing back-to-back games, a current FBS streak).
With just two starts at QB, DJ Uiagalelei ranks sixth with two 300-yard passing games.
Georgia was minus-2 in turnovers last year. Opponents scored 34 points off 15 T/Os.
RRS PREDICTION: Clemson 23, Georgia 20 (CLEM favored by 3.5)