The SEC posted another stellar week across the board in Week 2 of the season. They stretched their lead in the (kinda real) standings for records against non-conference Power Four opponents at 8-2. This upcoming week will feature five conference games including the most anticipated game of the season between LSU and Ole Miss in Oxford.
Here’s the stock report after Week 2.
Stock Up: LSU Defense
LSU’s offense got a majority of the headlines following its Week 1 win over Clemson. It took three interceptions from quarterback Sam Leavitt and one of the most absurd halftime stat lines imaginable for that to change in Week 2. LSU allowed zero yards of total offense at halftime on Saturday night. Louisiana Tech finished the game with minus-3 rushing yards on the night, and the Tigers now rank No. 1 in the nation in total defense.
Stock Down: Negative Narratives about Steve Sarkisian
Sarkisian and the Texas offense waited until the last minute to show any signs of life, but when it counted most, they showed up in a big way. Texas completed a 20-point come-from-behind victory against the No. 1 team in the country. It was the first time in 22 years that any No. 1 team held a 20+ point lead in the fourth quarter and lost. The Longhorns struggled at times to get their biggest playmakers the ball, but in the final frame in Austin on Saturday night, the offensive line took over and showed just how high the ceiling is for this year’s team. And more importantly, they reminded everyone in burnt orange and white why it’s okay to believe that this season.
Stock Up: SEC Heisman odds
The top players in the current Heisman odds are primarily from other conferences, but there are several players whose stock continues to soar. No one has seen their stock rise more than Kamario Taylor from Mississippi State. At the start of the season just two weeks ago, he had the 41st best odds to win the award at 150-to-1. After two games, he currently has the ninth best odds at 25/1. Those are also the third-best odds of any player in the SEC. The conference currently has seven of the top 15 players on the board.
Stock Down: Ryan Silverfieldingtonville
Arkansas sucks. Last year was a historic offseason in the world of college football hiring cycles. A record 38 jobs came open at the FBS level. That included six different coaching changes in the SEC. There were splash hires made everywhere except Arkansas. There has been nothing done since the hiring of a new coach, whose name I (jokingly) refuse to learn or acknowledge. On Saturday they went to Mormon country to play a Utah team who also has a new head coach, and they got absolutely trounced. It’s so bad that most fans don’t even care if the head coach is fired and want the AD that hired him fired instead.
Stock Up: Kalen DeBoer not listening to his offensive coordinator
It was an ugly first half in Lexington for Alabama. The Tide had 0.3 yards per rush and just five rushing yards total at the break. They were trailing Kentucky at halftime, and the offense looked putrid. Good teams and good coaches make halftime adjustments, and that is seemingly what happened with Alabama. Or maybe not? Apparently there was a comms issue with the staff during the game that affected their ability to communicate the plays.
That’s when things miraculously got better.
Stock Down: Bad Weather
There were so many rain delays once again in Week 2. There’s only so much caffeine I can drink and so many times I can hear the in-stadium DJ play John Fogerty’s “Have you ever seen the rain.” Please make it stop.
