1. Alabama v. Vanderbilt
Going into the game, Alabama secured the top seed with a perfect 4-0 overall record, including a 1-0 mark in conference play after a week 4 victory against Georgia. On the other hand, Vanderbilt, unranked, had a 2-2 overall record and was 0-1 in conference play.
Right from the start, sophomore running back Sedrick Alexander rushed for a 7-yard touchdown, with sophomore kicker Brock Taylor adding the extra point for Vanderbilt. Just 43 seconds later, sophomore star Randon Fontenette intercepted a pass and returned it 29-yards for a touchdown, extending Vanderbilt’s lead to 13-0. Alabama responded with junior running back Jam Miller scoring an 8-yard touchdown with senior kicker Graham Nicholson adding the extra point making the game 13-7.
Alexander scored again for Vanderbilt with a 1-yard touchdown, and Taylor followed up with the extra point. Five minutes later, Taylor nailed a 51-yard field goal, pushing the lead to 23-7. By halftime, Vanderbilt held a 23-14 advantage.
After halftime, Alabama’s junior quarterback Jalen Milroe ran for a 14-yard touchdown,with Nicholson adding the extra point, bringing the score to 23-21, with Vanderbilt still in the lead
Each time Alabama scored, Vanderbilt quickly responded. Quarterback Diego Pavia threw for 252-yards and two touchdowns, leading the Commodores to a stunning upset. The final score was 40-35.
2. Tennessee v. Alabama
Both Alabama and Tennessee entered Week 8 coming off victories in Week 7. The Vols secured a 23-17 victory over the Florida Gators in overtime, while Alabama defeated the South Carolina Gamecocks.
The game remained scoreless until the second quarter, when Alabama’s freshman wide receiver Ryan Williams caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jalen Milroe. Kicker Graham Nicholson added the extra point, putting the team up 7-0 heading into halftime.
Tennessee took some time to respond after the half, but junior running back Dylan Sampson scored on a 2-yard touchdown, with freshman kicker Max Gilbert adding the extra point to tie the game.
Alabama could only respond with a 35-yard field goal from Nicholson, but the Vols were quick to score a touchdown with a minute left in the third.
Going into the fourth, Alabama sophomore running back Justice Hayes scored a 7-yard touchdown, and Nicholson added the extra point once again putting them up 17-14.
From that point on, the Vols were determined to win. Sophomore wide receiver Chris Brazzell II caught a 16-yard pass from freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava. Gilbert added the extra point, but he wasn’t done yet. To finish the game, he kicked a 41-yard field goal, securing a 24-17 upset victory over Alabama.
Tennessee and Alabama flip-flopped seedings, with the Vols moving from 11th to 7th and Alabama dropping from 7th to 11th.
3. Tennessee v. Arkansas
Entering week 6, Tennessee, who was seeded fourth, comes off a win against Oklahoma, securing a 25-15 victory, while Arkansas, unranked, follows a tough loss to A&M, falling short 21-17.
During the first quarter the game started slow with only Arkansas scoring a 20-yard field goal from senior kicker Kyle Rasmey. For the remainder of the first half no one scored, ending the half with the Razorbacks leading 3-0.
Right after halftime, the Vols responded with junior running back Dylan Sampson scoring two 4-yard touchdowns just four minutes apart, and freshman kicker Max Gilbert finishing it off. The Vols now lead 14-3.
From then on the Razorbacks make a comeback, shutting down the Vols by being the only ones to put points up. The final is 19-14 with the Razorbacks upsetting the Vols. Tennessee moves down to an eighth seed, while Arkansas continues to be unranked.
4. Clemson v. Louisville
Clemson, ranked 11th at the time, came off a bye week, but their last game was a 48-31 win against Virginia. Louisville, unranked, also came off a win, defeating Boston College 31-27.
To start the game, Louisville’s senior kicker Brock Travelstead made a 21-yard field goal, giving his team a 3-0 lead. With 16 seconds left in the first quarter, Clemson’s sophomore wide receiver Antonio Williams caught a 12-yard pass from junior QB Cade Klubnik for a touchdown, and freshman kicker Nolan Hauser added the extra point to make it 7-3.
Clemson wasn’t able to score until the fourth quarter, when senior running back Phil Mafah ran for a 3-yard touchdown, with freshman kicker Nolan Hauser adding the extra point. Despite the score, Clemson still trailed 26-14. Louisville quickly responded with freshman running back Isaac Brown breaking free for a 45-yard touchdown. Clemson added another score, but it wasn’t enough, as they fell short and lost 33-21.
Clemson is now ranked 23rd, while Louisville is ranked 22nd.
5. A&M v. South Carolina
South Carolina, unranked, made a statement right from the start, scoring two quick touchdowns. Freshman QB LaNorris Sellers ran for a 23-yard touchdown, with kicker Alex Herrera adding the extra point.
Two minutes later, tight end Joshua Simon caught a 15-yard pass from Sellers for a touchdown, with Herrera adding the extra point. The score was 14-0 until A&M began to respond, with kicker Randy Bond nailing a 52-yard field goal to make it 14-3.
To begin the second quarter, Bond came through for A&M with a 55-yard field goal, cutting the lead to 14-6. However, Herrera answered for the Gamecocks, connecting on a 25-yard field goal to extend the lead to 17-6.
A&M took some time to respond, with junior running back Amari Daniels breaking off a 56-yard touchdown run and senior wide receiver Jabre Barber catching a 2-yard pass from freshman QB Marcel Reed. Bond added the extra point on both touchdowns, giving A&M a 20-17 lead.
To end the half, Herrera kicked a 44-yard field goal, keeping the Gamecocks in the game by tying the score at 20-20.
After halftime, the Gamecocks shutdown A&M, preventing them from scoring, and went on to upset them 44-20.
