Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images
By Chris Marler
Arguably the biggest day of college football for the 2025 season has not disappointed. A quartet of notable SEC games were played in the early slate. Here’s a recap of everything you may have missed.
Inept Auburn offense loses in Aggieland
Auburn did nothing offensively for three quarters against Texas A&M. That’s not hyperbole. Going into the final drive they had 152 yards of offense and their only score was set up by a 72 yard interception return to the two yard line.
Auburn’s offensive woes weren’t just on the offensive line this week, as they were in Norman a week ago when they allowed ten sacks on Jackson Arnold. This week they nearly cut that in half, allowing only five. That’s an improvement, but it wasn’t nearly enough. The Tigers were 0-for-12 on third down against the Aggies. Not only that but the Tigers average yards to go on third down was over 11.
“Offensively, that was unacceptable. Our defense played their tails off, well enough to win the game. We have two weeks to prepare for Georgia, and we’ll take that time to reevaluate everything related to our offense…” – Hugh Freeze after Auburn’s 16-10 loss at Texas A&M pic.twitter.com/HvvwRyN1GM
— The Next Round (@NextRoundLive) September 27, 2025
The Aggies did not struggle on offense, and finished the game with 414 total yards with 207 on the ground and through the air. Marcel Reed finished with 207 yards passing, but the MVP of the game was RB Le’Veon Moss who paced A&M with 139 yards rushing on 21 carries and a touchdown.
Auburn ends September at 3-2 and will get a week off before hosting Georgia. Texas A&M improves to 4-0 and will host Mississippi State.
Arkansas’ loss to Notre Dame may actually be answered prayer
Arkansas hosted Notre Dame in what felt like a make or break moment for Sam Pittman’s tenure in Fayetteville. The game ended poorly and Sam Pittman’s job at Arkansas may have as well.
Notre Dame destroyed Arkansas, 56-13. And, it could’ve been worse. Much worse.
The Irish took a 42-13 lead at halftime, and they never looked back. They ended the game with 641 yards of offense including 431 through the air on just 32 attempts.
Arkansas’ offensive struggles were perhaps the biggest surprise. Facing a defense that allowed 30 points to Purdue a week ago, the Hogs managed just 13 points and their lone offensive score was on a one yard rush from 6-foot-8, 345 pound offensive lineman Shaq McRoy who was lined up at fullback from the one yard line.
Now comes the interesting part, the buyout for Pittman is a little more quirky than most coaching contracts. Pittman signed a new contract in June of 2022 following Arkansas’ nine-win 2021 season. That contract included a clause where the buyout total differs depending on whether or not he has a winning or losing record at the time of his firing. Pittman is currently 29-26 which would guarantee him a $9.6 million payday. That number drops to $6.9 if he has a record below .500.
NEW: Sam Pittman sends a message to Arkansas fans wanting him fired:
“If I was the fans I’d be mad at me too. Hell, I’m mad at me, to be perfectly honest.” https://t.co/m1KuTdYMGx pic.twitter.com/yKTW6Z8nCD
— On3 (@On3sports) September 27, 2025
Mississippi State and Tennessee play in thriller
Mississippi State and Tennessee got unfairly hidden under a slew of incredible matchups this Saturday. However, they delivered one of the best games of the entire slate.
Tennessee won in overtime 41-34.
The win helped the Vols avoid their first 0-2 start in SEC play since 2019. For Mississippi State, it was their 13th consecutive loss in SEC play, but the Bulldogs have clearly turned a corner in year two under Jeff Lebby.
More SEC News
