Top SEC teams squeak by in weekend college football play

The GIST: With more shifting power dynamics than Succession, the top dogs of this century’s most dominant football conference, the SEC, continued to look overwhelmingly average this Saturday, while its less successful teams ran the show. On the latest episode…

The SEC: As you read, then-unranked Florida upset the conference’s pecking order with a dub over Tennessee. And while the still–No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs’ and now–No. 13 Alabama Crimson Tide’s wins felt uneventful by comparison, in reality, the SEC’s most feared squads were lucky to escape South Carolina and South Florida, respectively.

• Georgia’s and Alabama’s notoriously powerful offenses stalled Saturday — the Tide entered halftime tied 3–3, while the ’Dawgs were actually down 14–3 at the half. Both limped to wins thanks to lockdown defense in the final two quarters.

• Meanwhile, SEC basement team Missouri earned the win of the weekend. They upset then–No. 15 Kansas State 30–27 with this game-winning field goal which set the conference record for longest made kick. Sheesh.

The close calls: Bama and Georgia weren’t the only top-ranked titans who squeaked by on Saturday. New–No. 4 Florida State barely survived Boston College 31–29, and the on-field action matched the off-field drama as now–No. 19 Colorado roared back to beat Colorado State 43–35 in double-overtime after losing Heisman hopeful Travis Hunter to injury.

• But the weekend’s wildest call belongs to the refs in Iowa State’s 10–7 loss to Ohio. They ruled a clearly fair field goal wide, robbing Iowa State of three crucial points that could’ve led to a comeback. Brutal.