SEC Stock Report: Whose stock is up and whose is down after Week 8
It’s finally the bye week for several teams around the SEC with several other huge matchups slated for Halloween Saturday. Before we get there though, we need to know whose stock is up and whose is down after Week 8.
Stock Up: Sam Leavitt
No quarterback in the SEC is playing better than Leavitt right now. He’s put up 14 touchdowns in his last four games. Leavitt leads the SEC in passing yards and passing touchdowns. Against Auburn he was incredible, putting up 441 yards of offense and four touchdowns with no interceptions. So much has been made about the accuracy and interception struggles, but Leavitt is top five in the SEC in both completion percentage and passer rating.
Stock Down: Whatever is happening in College Station
Texas A&M is not a good football team. The lack of progression from Marcel Reed has been alarmingly visible, and the disinterest from the team when things go sideways was on display once again. The team that made the playoff a season ago is currently 4-4 with games remaining against South Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas, and Tennessee. There’s a legitimate chance that they go 4-8 after being ranked in the preseason Top 10.
Stock Up: Shane Beamer
What. A. Win.
Afterwards, Beamer let people know about it too. The disdain that these two programs and fanbases have for each other hasn’t waned since they stopped being division rivals. After the game Beamer brought up all the conspiracy theories from the 2022 blowout, and made sure everyone knows those comments and theories can be put to rest too. Beamer is fully off the hot seat after beating two ranked opponents the past two weekends. Without jinxing anything, it looks like everyone remaining on their schedule is beatable besides maybe Georgia, who also lost to Auburn two weeks ago.
Stock Down: People that hate parity
Everyone had to know that this was coming. You don’t add two blue blood teams to the conference and a ninth conference game and have it end well for everyone involved. Seasons finishing with 9-3 and 8-4 records would not just be the norm, it would be considered a good season. Looking at a season’s overall success through that lens won’t be easy for SEC fans, but the sooner they can do that, the better we’ll all be mentally.
Is it absurd to think that Kentucky is sitting atop the SEC standings on their own at this point of the year? Yes, but it’s not just the SEC either. Oregon is also 4-3, and after Week 8 only three teams were undefeated. That is the fewest at this point of the season since 1977.
