SOUTH CAROLINA: A

A 50-7 win over Akron another simple test for an SEC team, but South Carolina needed simple after the first three weeks of the season.

The offensive line still surrendered three sacks, but that number is better than what we saw it give up in the first three weeks. The run game was on point once again as the Gamecocks ran for 273 yards, 133 of which were quarterback Robby Ashford.

Ashford also threw for 243 yards and a pair of touchdowns on the day against the Akron secondary.

Defensively, South Carolina only let the Zips rack up 154 yards of offense.

The Gamecocks have a bye before hosting Ole Miss at the beginning of October.

TENNESSEE: A

Tennessee’s victory at Oklahoma wasn’t its prettiest win under Josh Heupel, but the more I pondered, the more impressive I realized this win was.

Heupel had to adapt his play calling for a more conservative game plan with tackle Lance Heard out. The rush output was at times ugly with the looks the Sooner front was throwing at it, but pair it with a few deep shots that hit and everything was alright for the Vols on offense.

The defense was far and away the most impressive aspect of Tennessee’s win, making life miserable for the Oklahoma offense.

On the ground, it stuffed the Sooners for just 36 yards, hitting them in the backfield 11 times. Following the possessions when Nico Iamaleava was strip sacked, the Vols took the ball right back one play into both possessions. They also scored a safety for a second consecutive week, tackling running back Jovantae Barnes on the goal line.

But above all, Tennessee went into Norman at night in the midst of a raucous environment knowing it was going to be an emotional day for its coach who had won a national title at Oklahoma and won. Not only was it a revenge victory for Josh Heupel but it was the Vols’ first road win against a Top 15 foe in 18 seasons.

So while it wasn’t pretty, it was beautiful enough for Tennessee to earn an A this week.

TEXAS: A-

Hard to be too judgmental over a 51-3 win against ULM, but Arch Manning threw a pair of interceptions to the Warhawks in the first half.

The first one was a throw in the direction of a pair of receivers with four different ULM defenders around them. The second one wasn’t as much on Arch, although he did but a tad too much mustard on it, causing it to carom to the Warhawk defender.

Other than those two instances, there wasn’t much else that went wrong for the Longhorns Saturday.

The defense held General Booty and the offense to just 111 scrimmage yards.

Offensively, Arch threw for 258 yards and a pair of touchdown passes. On the ground, the Longhorns racked up 239 yards, including 124 and three touchdowns from starting running back Jaydon Blue.

The Longhorns will have their SEC welcome next week when the reeling Mississippi State Bulldogs come to town.

TEXAS A&M: C+

A 26-20 win over Bowling Green isn’t good looking, but part of me is wondering if Bowling Green is actually a pretty solid group of five team this season. The Falcons had a close call at Penn State back in Week 2.

Offensively, a lost fumble and third down efficiency were the only real issues for the Aggies. The run first game plan was executed to their liking.

The defense stuffed the run but had some issues against the pass. The Falcons jumped on the Aggies to start the second half as quarterback Connor Bazelak connected with Harold Fannin Jr. for a 65-yard score.

The Aggies never trailed, they just couldn’t pull away.

They’ll have some work to do ahead of the Southwest Classic in Dallas next week coming off that performance.

VANDERBILT: C

I have no idea what’s going on with Vanderbilt football right now.

One week, it beat what many considered a dark horse contender for the ACC. Two weeks later, it lost to a rebuilding Georgia State team out of the Sun Belt in a game where it hardly led. The very next week, it came out and led for much of the game against the seventh best team in the country in Missouri.

Diego Pavia uncorked a deep pass to receiver Joseph McVay for the first score of the game, and the defense did as much as it could to keep the Tigers from finding the end zone.

The Dores successfully forced overtime, but the upset bid fell short when kicker Brock Taylor hooked a field goal attempt left that would’ve tied the game.

I put out a piece about the two different versions of Vandy that come out from game to game, and despite the loss, this was the good version of the Commodores.

There’s no doubt this team is a lot better than it was a season ago, but a path to bowl eligibility is a cumbersome road.

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