Week 10 SEC Letter Grades: South Carolina Through Vanderbilt

Written By Tucker Harlin

By Tucker Harlin

SOUTH CAROLINA: A

The big question this week was what version of South Carolina was going to show up in Williams-Brice Stadium. It was the good one.

The start of this game was reminiscent of the start in the Gamecocks’ loss to LSU in the third week of the season. They came out and scored a pair of touchdowns, but the Aggies clawed back to their only lead of the game in the second quarter.

But unlike in the loss to LSU, the Gamecocks slammed the door on the Aggies in the second half.

The run game tore apart Texas A&M the same way Lisa tore apart Johnny in the cult classic film The Room.

Both LaNorris Sellers and Rocket Sanders ran for over 100 yards, giving the Aggies a taste of their own medicine.

The defense turned Marcel Reed over twice in the second half, one of which was a strip sack by Tonka Hemingway to seal a victory. The night ended with a field storm at Williams-Brice Stadium.

TENNESSEE: B

Tennessee’s 28-18 win over Kentucky was closer than desired, but it really wasn’t far off from a spot in the A tier.

The defense took two early punches in the mouth and another early in the fourth quarter, but it responded accordingly. The Vols turned a struggling Wildcats offense over three times in the win, the last of which gave the Vols their largest lead of the game.

The offense was a handful of dropped passes from a spectacular outing. Nico Iamaleava finished the night 28/38 for 292 yards and a touchdown pass.

Dylan Sampson got his on the ground, including this hard fought run to break a program record for rush touchdowns in a single season.

The win wasn’t pretty, but the Vols are still in the SEC championship and College Football Playoff races.

TEXAS A&M: D

Trips to Williams-Brice Stadium late in the season aren’t advised for College Football Playoff contenders. Texas A&M found that out the hard way in a 44-20 road loss to South Carolina.

The Aggies fell to a two-touchdown deficit early on. They came back and took a three-point lead late in the first half, only to surrender 27 unanswered the rest of the way.

What’s been a solid defense all season was ravaged by a 286-yard and three touchdown performance by the Gamecocks. Texas A&M couldn’t sack a quarterback that’s been playing behind one of the more suspect lines in the SEC all season.

The Aggies were a shell of the output they produced on the ground against LSU while turning the ball over twice in the second half.

Unfortunately, the Aggies didn’t leave Williams-Brice Stadium without potential torn ligaments, just like Tennessee in 2022. Running back Le’Veon Moss was carted off the field after sustaining a hit to his right knee on the sideline.

VANDERBILT: B

Outside of the win over Alabama, none of Vanderbilt’s wins are about what it does to win rather than what its opponent does to lose.

The Commodores didn’t complete a single pass in either the second or third quarter. They play a disciplined brand of football; they’re sure to not do anything detrimental while allowing you to make the bad mistakes.

Missed field goals, a lost fumble, and a clock management error all occurred on the other sideline late in the game.

Diego Pavia was just 9/22 for 143 yards and two touchdown passes. It wasn’t special, but it was enough for Pavia to beat Hugh Freeze for the third straight time.

The best part of this win for Vandy is the fact it’s going bowling for the first time in six seasons.

Tucker Harlin
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