SEC Week 1 Recap: Alabama falls and QBs shine

Melina Myers-Imagn Images

By Chris Marler

To say that week one was wild and eventful would be the understatement of the century.

College football fans waited eight long months, and Week 1 delivered. While LSU-Clemson stole the spotlight Saturday night, here’s what you may have missed elsewhere.

Alabama lost

Oh you already heard? Well, let’s talk about it anyway.

Alabama went on the road to Florida State and got embarrassed. This was not a fluke, “oh no, we had a bunch of bizarre turnovers in the rain,” type of loss. Florida State lined up and out-schemed and out-coached Alabama for 60 straight minutes.

This may not be the same 2-10 Florida State team from a year ago. But, it’s definitely not the same Alabama team from several years ago. It may not even be the same Alabama team from just one year ago, and that’s a scary thought for Alabama fans.

DJ Lagway is still special

DJ Lagway’s health was a big concern this offseason and throughout fall camp. He made it to game one healthy and productive just like Florida fans, and Billy Napier, were hoping.

Florida beat Long Island University 55-0, and Lagway sat the second half. He only threw for 120 yards, but he was an extremely efficient 15-of-18 with three touchdowns.

The modest yardage feels like a win, showing growth in an area we didn’t see enough last year: accuracy and effectiveness on intermediate routes.

Ole Miss growing pains

Austin Simmons will put up monster numbers in Lane Kiffin’s offense. Dating back to his time as the offensive coordinator at Alabama, eight of the last 11 QBs under Kiffin have thrown for at least 30 touchdowns and/or 3,000 yards passing.

Simmons finished his first start with an impressive 341 yards passing and three touchdowns. The main concern is the two interceptions he threw in the first quarter against lowly Georgia State.

John Mateer might be the real deal

Oklahoma transfer quarterback John Mateer looked exceptional in week one, despite the fact that the Sooners were playing Illinois State. Oklahoma fans said all offseason that the defense was good enough to be a legitimate contender this season if they had adequate quarterback play.

They had that in Mateer on Saturday night. He completed 81 percent of his passes and had 416 yards of offense with four touchdowns. Offensively, and statistically, it was the best showing for any Oklahoma signal caller in their Sooner debut since Baker Mayfield.

Returning and overlooked QBs have big nights

Whenever Taylen Green and Diego Pavia appear in quarterback rankings, the reaction is often critical. Remember that Green averaged nearly 300 yards per game last season for Arkansas and Pavia finished the 2024 season with 28 touchdowns and four interceptions.

They are both much more than game managers.

Each quarterback had a stellar start to their 2025 campaign. Green finished with six touchdowns, tying an Arkansas single game record. Pavia finished with an 80 percent completion percentage (20-of-25) with 319 yards of offense and three touchdowns.