Week seven was an exciting week for LSU and Texas A&M, disappointing for Auburn and Florida, and downright devastating for Arkansas and Tennessee. Also, Missouri and Vanderbilt continued their bottom dweller ways. We are now in week eight of the season and Hot Seats now claims eight coaches. Let’s get started with one of our new additions.

That would be you, Derek Mason. 

We are nearly a month removed from Vanderbilt defensive lineman Nifae Lealao calling out Alabama. Vanderbilt then went on to get pummeled 59-0 by the Crimson Tide. After their most recent loss to Ole Miss, Vanderbilt is now 0-4 in the SEC, giving up over 49 points per game. 

It is not a stretch to say Vanderbilt may not win a conference game this season. Mason will be on the hot seat for the foreseeable future.

Barry Odom makes a triumphant return to Hot Seats. 

The highlight of Missouri’s season came when they tied Georgia at 21 in the second quarter in Athens. Predictably, they went on to lose 53-28. Like Vanderbilt, Missouri is still in search of their first SEC win. 

The Tigers will step down in class over the next two weeks as they host Idaho then travel to UConn. If either game draws over 30,000 fans I will be impressed. 

I now present Butch Jones. 

After coming off one of their best bye weeks in a long, long time, it still did not result in a win. The Volunteers fell 15-9 to South Carolina and have now failed to score a touchdown in their last ten quarters of play. 

It is no longer a question of if, but when for Butch Jones. Tennessee fans have made it known they are fed up with losing. 

Opposing fans have a different opinion.

Now the embattled Jones has to take his team on the road to Alabama. 

Bret Bielema just witnessed the difficulty of playing at Alabama. The Crimson Tide scored on their first offensive play as Damien Harris raced seventy-five yards for a touchdown. It was another difficult day at the office for Bielema and the Razorbacks as they were drummed 41-9. 

Arkansas remains winless in the SEC at 0-3 on the year. Bielema’s career SEC record goes to 10-25. It may be time to look into the MAC or Sunbelt, Coach!

Jim McElwain makes Hot Seats debut.

Yes, it is unusual to see a coach who has won his division back to back on the hot seat, but it would make sense if you have watched this team. Florida already has three losses and could easily have two more had it not been for blunders by both Tennessee and Kentucky. It has been an ugly season for Florida and the 19-17 loss was the latest example of that. The Gators outgained the Aggies 371 to 263, but still were unable to come away with a victory. 

Then there are the uniforms they wore last Saturday. Letting his team wear those should be a fireable offense alone. 

And speaking of fireable offenses.

Jim McElwain can deny it all he wants, but I know for a fact that is him.

Hot Seats welcomes back Gus Malzahn.

All was well as Auburn led LSU 20-0 in the second half. Then it all slipped away as LSU finished off a furious rally in the fourth quarter. LSU won the game 27-23 and questions are aplenty surrounding Gus Malzahn.

Offensive-minded Malzahn saw his team get held to fifty-six yards and zero points in the second half. Many are critical that the offense became too conservative. Whether it was a lack of aggressiveness or adjustments by the LSU defense, the offense  fell flat in crunch time. 

Adding to the frustration is Auburn’s winless streak in Tiger Stadium dating back to 1999. Malzahn is now 0-3 in Tiger Stadium as head coach of Auburn. 

Auburn alumnus and former fullback Heath Evans also added fuel to the fire by posting this tweet right after the game.

Alrighty then.

As for the current head coach, he will look to rebound against an Arkansas team that just gave up 308 rushing yards to Alabama.

Kevin Sumlin continues to fan the flames.

Texas A&M is now 5-2 after a win at Florida. He now heads into a bye week before a stretch run which will ultimately determine his fate at Texas A&M.

What a huge win for Ed Orgeron.

You have to give a lot of credit to Orgeron for rallying LSU after falling down 20-0. It looked like things were getting away from the Tigers, but then they stormed back thanks to a dominant defense, a gritty offense, and a huge punt return by DJ Chark. The phrase “one team, one heartbeat” was on full display as they completed the comeback in front of the 2007 National Championship team and several other former Tigers in attendance. 

Now Orgeron leads the Tigers to Oxford to take on Ole Miss where he was the head coach from 2005 to 2007. He is downplaying that and rightfully so. LSU has lost their two games at Ole Miss. Orgeron and the Tigers will look to end that streak as they take on a high flying Ole Miss offense featuring the SEC’s leading passer Shea Patterson and a host of talented receivers.