South Carolina: Is the Competition On?

In the past, South Carolina HC Steve Spurrier has been no stranger to changing quarterbacks to fit his offense. On Saturday, QB Dylan Thompson started in place of an injured Conner Shaw and did not disappoint Gamecock fans with his 330 yards passing and 3 touchdowns. That's an accomplishment Shaw has not be able to reach since his days of becoming a starter for the 8th-ranked Gamecocks.

Thompson gives the Gamecocks an ability to move the ball through the air, which could open up Spurrier's playbook to take more vertical shots down the field in the passing game. However, Shaw has made it hard for defenses to contain him with his elusive running-style and his ability to make plays when things break down. Spurrier will have a decision to make as both players will be under intense scrutiny from this point forward. 

Could Penn State ask for any more?

Penn State had several opportunities to leave out of Charlottesville with a victory, but four missed field goals prevented them of a great opportunity. For the second straight week, the Nittany Lions lose a close one and will continue to look for a new way to open up a chapter in the Bill O'Brien era. Tip your hat off to Mike London's Virginia Cavaliers, who played well down the stretch to come up with their second victory of the season. 

What Happened?

Louisiana-Monroe played like a team expecting to win and not just compete. Once Arkansas QB Tyler Wilson went down, the Warhawks began to play with an extra sense of urgency and aggression that kept the Razorbacks off-balance. Wilson's presence certainly could have given the Razorbacks an edge, but what happened to the other key players on that explosive offense? The defense gave up a whopping 550 yards and allowed the Warhawks to convert on six-of-seven fourth down attempts. The Razorbacks will have to go back to the drawing board before the No.1 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide roll into Fayetteville. 

Welcome to the SEC

Both Florida and Georgia welcomed Texas A&M and Missouri to the conference with losses on Saturday night. Texas A&M could not have played any better in the first half, as they found multiple ways to keep the Gators' offense, defense, and coaching staff out of sync. However, second half adjustments allowed the Gators to come out with more balance as they began to play smart football. QB Jeff Driskel finally begin to play like a highly-touted QB recruit and led the Gators to a 20-17 victory in College Park, Texas. 

Missouri moved the ball fairly well against Georgia's defense, but Bulldogs' LB Jarvis Jones displayed why he could be on his way to another All-American season. Jones ended the game with eight total tackles, an interception, and a forced fumble (both led to scores for the Bulldogs). QB James Franklin played a balanced game, but there were times when Georgia's defensive speed overwhelmed him in his read progressions. 

Although both games were not out of reach for the newcomers, they learned that "old man football" wins games in this league. 

Tulane S Devon Walker

DraftNasty.com sends its thoughts and prayers to Tulane S Devon Walker, who was involved in an on-field collision with a fellow teammate. We wish him a safe and speedy recovery moving forward.