Questions Ahead of Week 3 of SEC Football
By Tucker Harlin
How are we already a quarter into the 2024 college football season?
So far we’ve seen 13 of 16 SEC teams take on a power four opponent, so for the most part we’ve at least learned something about almost everyone.
Fortunately, this is the last weekend where the majority of SEC teams play against non conference foes this season.
Here are my biggest questions ahead of Week 3 of SEC football.
CAN OKLAHOMA’S OFFENSIVE LINE GET IT TOGETHER BEFORE TENNESSEE COMES TO NORMAN?
Credit: University of Houston Athletics
This is the question Tennessee fans will be most interested in this week as the Sooners are the next team on the horizon after Kent State.
Offensive line chemistry is one of the most underrated parts of a potent offense. This transfer heavy group is still trying to gel, and that process hasn’t been helped by a serious injury to tackle Geirean Hatchett.
If there’s a position group where you can’t afford a bad injury, it’s the offensive line.
Houston’s defensive line was able to stuff the Sooners on the ground last week for just 75 yards. That same defensive line surrendered nearly 200 rush yards to UNLV a week prior.
The Tulane defensive line didn’t do so well against Kansas State last week, but it has a pair of strong interior cloggers in Patrick Jenkins and Eric Hicks.
If Oklahoma can’t keep the Green Wave out of the backfield, it’s going to be a long night when Tennessee comes to Norman.
HOW DOES SOUTH CAROLINA FARE AGAINST A STRONG OFFENSIVE LINE?
Credit: University of Kentucky Athletics
South Carolina hasn’t been anything flashy to start 2024, but its defensive line is one of the few bright spots it showcases.
Tonka Hemingway is still causing trouble in the interior while Georgia Tech transfer Kyle Kennard and freshman Dylan Stewart have been problems on the edge for opposing offensive lines.
However, it should be noted that LSU has an offensive line filled with All-SEC talent, including an All-American tackle in Will Campbell that can neutralize the effects of either Kennard or Stewart.
Old Dominion’s offensive line surrendered four sacks and nine tackles for loss in its loss to East Carolina last week, and Kentucky’s offensive line has now been a known weak spot for each of the last three seasons.
If South Carolina wants any shot at LSU Saturday, it has to find a way to break through on the defensive line.
The quarterback play and offensive line simply haven’t been good enough for the Gamecocks to get by against a revamped LSU defense, so an ugly, low scoring game is what they’re hoping for.
HOW WILL MISSOURI AND ALABAMA PERFORM AGAINST RESPECTABLE POWER FOUR OPPONENTS?
Credit: USF Athletics
Missouri, Alabama, and Ole Miss are the last three SEC schools that haven’t faced a power four opponent yet.
I’m purposely avoiding Ole Miss in asking this question because Wake Forest doesn’t look any stronger through the first two weeks of the season.
Mizzou in particular has not been in a tight situation yet this season.
Sure, Brady Cook lost a fumble against Murray State and threw an interception against Buffalo, but he’s not had to lead his team in a one score game in the fourth quarter yet.
Boston College is fully capable of creating long, drawn out possessions with its run first offense and medium passing plays, something that will keep the Tigers on their toes.
Even though it had to fight for three quarters against USF last week, I’m a bit more confident in Alabama’s ability to handle its competition this weekend than Missouri.
Wisconsin has struggled twice against non power four teams in the first two weekends, and it doesn’t have an offense with big play capability.
WEIGMAN OR MERTZ: WHO’S MORE LIKELY TO KEEP HIS JOB AFTER SATURDAY?
Credit: University of Florida Athletics
Graham Mertz and Conner Weigman both had pretty horrific outings in Week 1.
In Weigman’s defense, Notre Dame was by far the best defensive team the Aggies will play this season so it could’ve just been a one off.
However, it isn’t like the Aggies don’t have a competent backup should Weigman struggle again. Tennessee native Marcel Reed proved to be a viable option for the Aggies when they had gone through three quarterbacks in the Texas Bowl, and Jaylen Henderson had some starting experience at the end of the 2023 regular season.
What’s going on at Florida is very similar to the quarterback situation at Tennessee in 2023.
In this analogy, Graham Mertz is the lame duck Joe Milton was for the Vols and D.J. Lagway is the Gators’ equivalent to Nico Iamaleava.
Mertz doesn’t have the accuracy issues Milton did, but he’s neither brings the excitement on the field nor among the fan base the way Lagway does.
It’s important to remember Lagway’s first start was against Samford, but the big plays in that game were something Florida just hasn’t been able to get out of Mertz.
If I had to choose between the two, I’d say Mertz is more likely to lose his job to Lagway than Weigman to Reed, but neither are safe in their current position.
