SEC roundup: Arkansas falls to Toledo
The Arkansas Razorback entered their Saturday contest against the Toledo Rockets expecting to improve on their No. 18 rankings. After all, the Razorbacks are one of the SEC powers, while Toledo is just some school from Ohio that plays in the MAC.
Unfortunately for those who support Arkansas, they went home shocked and devastated. The Razorbacks were beaten, 16-12, with Toledo quarterback Phillip Ely throwing for 238 yards and a touchdown. Arkansas actually racked up more than 500 yards of total offense, but continuously failed to polish off drives.
With this loss, Arkansas is certain to fall out of the Associated Press’ Top 25 and might not be back anytime soon. If the Razorbacks can’t beat the Rockets at home, what are the chances they can hang with the powerhouses in the SEC throughout the fall. Once again, it appears like Arkansas is going to fall short of its preseason hype.
Ole Miss rolls over Fresno St.
The Ole Miss Rebels look like a team with one of the best offenses in the country. The Rebels eclipsed 60 points last week and hammered Fresno State in Oxford, Miss., beating the Bulldogs, 73-21. Ole Miss rode a 28-point first quarter explosion to break the game open. Quarterback Chad Kelly was sublime in victory, throwing for 346 yards and four touchdowns on 20-of-25 passing. Quincy Adeboyejo was his main target, catching five passes for 120 yards and a trio of touchdowns.
Auburn escapes Jacksonville State in extra time
The Auburn Tigers came into Saturday as the sixth-ranked team in the nation, ready to play the FCS’ Jacksonville State Gamecocks. As a 38.5-point favorite, most expected a blowout by halftime. Instead, Auburn has to rally from a 20-13 deficit in the final two minutes before winning in overtime, 27-20.
Auburn played poorly throughout, allowing 438 offensive yards and turning the ball over three times. However, the Tigers were able to rectify their performance in the nick of time, giving them a chance to compete further for a championship. Had Jacksonville State won, it would have been the biggest upset in college football history in terms of odds.
Tennessee loses in overtime to Oklahoma
The Tennessee Volunteers had never lost a game at home when it led by 17 or more points. Then the Oklahoma Sooners came to town, and that statistic is no longer accurate.
Tennessee took a 17-0 lead in the first half only to watch as Oklahoma came back and won the game in double overtime, 31-24. The No. 19 Sooners were able to take down the 23rd-ranked Volunteers behind receiver Sterling Shepard, who caught seven passes for 74 yards and a pair of touchdowns, including the game-tying score with under a minute remaining in the fourth quarter. Tennessee quarterback Joshua Dobbs could not put the game away, struggling throughout with a miserable performance of 13-of-31 for 125 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
