Week 2 was an opportunity for SEC Hot Seats coaches to stymie their critics and get a victory. While some did, others did not. As for one who did not…

After an ugly week one loss to Georgia State, more disappointment was in the cards for the Volunteers. Jeremy Pruitt and Tennessee are off to an 0-2 start for the first time since 1988.

Tennessee led BYU 13-3 at the half and would maintain their lead until late in the fourth quarter. Then, with only seventeen seconds remaining, this happened:

The sixty-four yard gain allowed BYU to set up a game-tying field goal to force overtime. Both teams scored a touchdown in the first overtime. Then in double overtime, Tennessee would be held to a field goal from the BYU 23-yard line. BYU would then run three plays, capped off by Ty’Son Williams touchdown from five yards out. Tennessee would fall by a final score of 29-26.

The Volunteers will get another chance to get into the win column when they host Chattanooga before beginning their SEC gauntlet.

Matt Luke and Ole Miss bounced back in a big way. The offense got going and the defense continued to show improvement in their 31-17 victory over Arkansas.

Quarterback Matt Corral threw for two touchdowns and running back Scottie ran for two touchdowns. The Rebels racked up 483 yards of offense.

Ole Miss hosts Southeastern Louisiana then an upstart Cal team before heading to Tuscaloosa to take on the giant that is Alabama. If the Rebels can win the next two, they will be in position to get to a bowl game, which would be a big accomplishment in Luke’s second full season as head coach.

As mentioned above, Arkansas was defeated by Ole Miss, 31-17. With the loss, Chad Morris is now 3-11 as head coach of Arkansas.

In the loss, Morris made a change at quarterback. Nick Starkel entered the game in the second half and completed 17 of 24 passes for 201 yards and a touchdown. Starkel is expected to start this week at Colorado State. Can he build on his success from last week?

The Arkansas defense has also had issues of their own. The Razorbacks gave up 483 yards of offense to Ole Miss, and allowed eight of fifteen third down conversions. They will be tested again this weekend against a Colorado State offense who averages 543.5 yards per game.

While no one can deny Morris took over a difficult situation, a 1-2 start is not what the Arkansas administration signed up for.

Barry Odom and Missouri bounced back in a big way. There was no hangover from the loss to Wyoming as the Tigers rolled over West Virginia, 38-7. The passing game was solid as Kelly Bryant tossed 3 touchdowns, the rushing game was solid as Larry Rountree ran for 104 yards, but the most important thing was no turnovers.  The Missouri defense had three interceptions on the day.

Missouri figures to be a factor in the SEC East and barring any trips to Laramie, Wyoming, Odom will be on solid footing.

Will Muschamp has found himself a future quarterback in Ryan Hilinski. Filling in for injured Jake Bentley, Hilinski completed 24 of 30 passes for 282 yards and 2 touchdowns. Unfortunately, this week he will face Alabama, and not Charleston Southern.

The Gamecocks enter the matchup as heavy underdogs. I would venture to say not even the biggest South Carolina homer would expect them to win this weekend. The question is how competitive can the Gamecocks be in this game.

Perhaps Hilinski can restore the Gamecocks’ season the way Jake Bentley did when he took over as quarterback in 2016. South Carolina won in four of his six starts that season.

Perhaps…

OUTTA HERE!