B&S Week 11 game-by-game recaps
Week 11 did not dissapoint. Savor these final two weekends.
By: The Waco Kid, The Hammer, Bossman Slim
Harold Perkins was all over the Razorback QBs on Saturday. Photo via Wesley Hitt, Getty
Another week and another insane weekend across the SEC and entire country. How can you not love college football, man? It’s pure chaos every week. In terms of the CFP race, Tennessee's chances got significantly better with Oregon and UCLA both falling in the PAC-12. USC now remains the only one-loss team in the PAC-12 and the conference’s hopes are all riding with Lincoln Riley and the Trojans. Alabama also got back on track with a thrilling win on the road at Ole Miss. Cadillac Williams and Auburn took down A&M, who continues to look worse and worse each week. The Aggies have now lost 6 straight games for the first time in 50 years. And finally, Vanderbilt has won an SEC game! The Commodores went into a cold, soggy KRoger Field in Lexington, KY and took down Mark Stoops and the Wildcats. Hats off the Clark Lea, the entire Vandy staff and the whole Commodore team.
In a surprising turn of events, all three of us went over .500 against the spread this week. Bossman went 5-2 and both The Hammer and Waco Kid went 4-3. I believe this is the first time all year that we have pulled that off. Better late than never, I always say. Apologies to those who faded out picks last week because we finally got some games right. Enough about our picks though, let’s dive into these wild games from Saturday.
#5 Tennessee 66 - Missouri 24
Bossman Slim: I nearly got this one right, at least on the Mizzou score side of things, picking them to put up 21. However, I was off by over 20 on what Tennessee would hang on this fourth-ranked-in-the-SEC Mizzou defense. The final score of this game is a little deceiving. Mizzou was still in this game well into the third quarter, and at one point had it at 28-24 with 8:55 to go in the third. That didn’t last long though, as Tennesse punched right back 25 seconds later on a long Jalin Hyatt wheel route TD that put Tennessee up 35-24. After that the UT offense was off to the races and never looked back. Even Joe Milton got in on the action late, using his rocket launcher arm for a 46-yard TD pass and 59-yard pass that put the Vols at the 1-yard line with 1:57 to go in the fourth. I’ll repeat this - the Mizzou defense was ranked fourth in the SEC coming into this game and held the Georgia Bulldogs, the #2 scoring offense in the country coming into last week to 26 points. All Tennessee did was post 66 on them to go along with video game numbers like 724 total yards, 460 passing yards and 264 rushing yards. Heupel was getting a little bit of revenge on Eli Drinkwitz and knows the Vols need style points as they eye a playoff berth. Tennessee travels to South Carolina next week and Mizzou will get to break their two game slide as they take on cupcake New Mexico State.
The Hammer: I picked Tennessee to win and cover, but I did not think they’d drop 66 points on Mizzou. The Tiger defense has been strong all year, but they got worked on Saturday. Josh Huepel does such a good job of scheming up plays to get his guys the ball in space. It’s really fun to watch, and a ton of other coaching staffs in the SEC could learn a thing or two from the Vols offensively. And just like I mentioned in the preview, Tennessee ran this one up. Like it or not style points do matter to the CFP committee and the Vols went into the 4th quarter up 49-24 and went ahead and scored 17 more points for good measure. I’ve got no issue with this, it's a reality of the CFP and it's up to Mizzou to stop them. Don’t want to give up 66 points? Then stop the opposing offense. From here, Mizzou will need to win out to make it to 6-6 and sneak into a bowl game. They have New Mexico State and ARkansas at home so that game against the Razorbacks will be huge for the Tigers.
The Waco Kid: Yikes, Missouri’s strongest part of their game was non-existent on Saturday as their defense gave up 66 to Tennessee. That is not indicative of any SEC team, those kind of points are like the first round of high school football playoffs where the number 1 seed is pitted against the 12 seed in an all out blood bath. It seemed as though everyone who touched the ball on the Vol offense scored with ease. This march was led by Hendon Hooker, throwing for 355 yards and finding the end zone thrice, while rushing for 50 yards and adding another six. He also had two receivers eclipse the 100 yard mark as both Jalin Hyatt and Bru McCoy passed that century mark. On the ground Mizzou could not control the line of scrimmage, and allowed another 260 yards. This was a track meet and the orange and white were running the 100 meter dash while the Tigers were slowly running the mile. Tennessee is in an interesting predicament; they have one loss to the number one team in the nation who will most likely win the SEC Championship and go to the Playoffs. If Georgia were to win in Atlanta and TCU, Ohio State, and/or Michigan were to lose one more game, UT may be on the brink of their first CFP appearance. Now Ohio State and Michigan still must play each other so one will lose and the committee will have to decide which teams have the better pedigree and deserve to have a shot at the title. If TCU loses, as well, we may be looking at an all Big 10/SEC playoff but more than likely those in charge will suck on the USC/Lincoln Riley teet and allow them entrance so they can get pummeled in the first round. This year is turning out to be very intriguing for SEC fans because there is also a scenario where LSU wins the SEC and throws everything into chaos. I love it.
#7 LSU 13 - Arkansas 10
Bossman Slim: I picked all favorites this week, which is why I am not a betting man and Vegas would own me if I was. Arkansas gave the Tigers all they could handle even without KJ Jefferson on a frosty day in Fayetteville. After LSU put up an average of 40 ppg in their last three games, this Arkansas defense did their job and contained the Tigers attack all day. Late in the first quarter was a turning point in the game. The Razorbacks forced a fumble and recovered it deep in their own territory giving their offense a goal to go situation from the 10. The Arkansas offense was unable to punch it in and Sam Pittman elected to go for it. LSU stuffed a Malik Hornsby run and the Hogs turned it over on downs. Had they kicked a field goal, the outcome may have been different. While LSU’s offense struggled all day, the defense showed up, particularly Harold Perkins, who is an absolute freak (4 sacks, 4 TFLs, 1 PD and 1 QB hurry). A big question is now looming for Arkansas going into next year if KJ Jefferson decides to go to the NFL - who replaces him? Malik Hornsby has been ineffective through the air in two starts, Cade Fortin has shown some flashes through the air but is a redshirt senior and may or may not come back due to the COVID year rule. The Hogs have Malachi Singleton, a 4-star QB committed from Kennesaw, GA, and may also look to the portal. It could be an interesting offseason in Fayetteville if KJ Jefferson leaves. The Hogs have Ole Miss at home next week before finishing off the season with Mizzou in the Battle Line rivalry. LSU has UAB next week before playing Texas A&M in Kyle Field to close their regular season.
The Hammer: Heading into this game, everyone thought the betting line was off. LSU only a 3 or 3.5 point favorite? Even with KJ Jefferson’s health in doubt? Well, Jefferson didn't play and Vegas still nailed this game somehow. It was a cold, blustery morning in the hills of Northwest Arkansas and both teams played like they were in several feet of snow offensively. Neither team topped 300 yards offensively, and Jayden Daniels only had 84 yards passing and one interception on 8/15 attempts. For several weeks now, Daniels has done everything for LSU on offensive and he laid an egg on Saturday. Luckily for Tiger fans, their run game stepped up and former walk on Josh Williams went to work. Williams toted the rock 19 times and ran for 122 yards and a TD. Along with Harold Perkins, Williams won this game for LSU. Speaking of Harold Perkins, he is looking like the best defensive player in college football. I’m sure there are others who have a good case for that title, but Perkins is causing complete mayhem every week in the opponent’s backfield. On the day, Perkins finished with 8 tackles, 4 sacks, 4 TFLs, a pass deflection and forced fumble. He completely ruined anything Arkansas was trying to do offensively. Malik Hornsby was totally ineffective with Perkins spying him and third stringer Cade Fortin looked slightly better through the air, but ultimately couldn't get the job done. LSU clinched the SEC West title with this win, and just like that the Brian Kelly era is off to a piping hot start in Baton Rouge.
The Waco Kid: While LSU won, this was a lot closer than most people expected. Arkansas has been a team that struggles to find wins and the Tigers have been a team that continues to win games no one thought they should. So naturally I thought that this would be at least a two score game not a three point contest. And on top of that Jayden Daniels has had the Bayou Bengals scoring points left and right so for this to be a 13-10 contest was just baffling. It seems Chip Kelly’s crew may have played down to competition. The majority of their production, offensively, came on the ground from LSU running back Josh Williams who led both teams with 122 yards and one touchdown. He accounted for more than half of opponent Arkansas’ total yards on offense. With their win over the Razorbacks the Tigers secured a spot in the SEC Championship against the leader of the East and nation, Georgia. They cannot be as awful on offense when facing the Dawgs or their trip to Atlanta will be short and quick. They still have to play Texas A&M which may determine if they have an outside shot to make the playoffs but if they win out they will be sitting up there in the rankings with the best of the best.
Vanderbilt 24 - #24 Kentucky 21
Bossman Slim: I was off by a week! I picked Vandy over South Carolina last week, but instead the Commodores time was THIS week against a top 25 Kentucky team. It was also a frigid day in Lexington as there was snow on the ground and both teams battled the elements throughout the game. Mike Wright started in place of the injured AJ Swann and put on a show, rushing for 126 yards and a TD, including a 59-yard TD run in the first quarter where he sprinted untouched to the endzone. The Commodores also came up with big play after big play in this one, blocking a field goal, picking up multiple 3rd and longs, getting timely sacks, and biggest of all picking up a first down on 4th & 11 driving late in the game. Eventually the Commodores would score on that drive to go up 24-21, and Vandy would hold UK on their final drive and get a turnover on downs to seal the victory. Kentucky was able to run the ball on Vandy, as Chris Rodriguez rushed for 162 yards and two TDs, but it wasn’t enough in the end. Will Levis was pedestrian, averaging 4.7 yards per attempt through the air and only mustering 109 passing yards on 11/23 and 1 INT. Yikes. Great win for Vandy that should give them confidence that the program is headed in the right direction. Vanderbilt gets a resurgent Florida team at home next week before they end the season with a likely thumping from rival Tennessee, while Kentucky must regroup quickly ahead of a showdown with Georgia.
The Hammer: Let’s go Vandy! What a win for the Commodores on the road in Lexington. I had written of Vandy’s chances to win an SEC game after they failed to beat South Carolina a week prior. Turns out, I was just incorrect on which SEC team they would beat. Hats off to Clark Lea, his staff and this team for not throwing in the towel and fighting hard as hell to scratch out this win. AJ Swann was out hurt, so Mike Wright got the call and played a heck of a game, throwing for 184 yards, one TD and one interception on 12/23 passing attempts. But the real story here was both Mike Wright and Ray Davis on the ground. Wright ran the ball 11 times for 126 yards and a TD and Ray Davis rumbled for 129 yards and a TD on 26 carries. That guy is just a workhorse, man. He’s fun to watch carrying the rock. On the Kentucky side, Chris Rodrigues continues to run well, finishing with 162 yards and 2 TDs on 18 carries. Unfortunately, Will Levis laid an egg. It was snowing in Lexington, so the weather didn't do him any favors but Levis had a putrid day, passing for 109 yards and one interception on 11/23 attempts. And let’s not pretend Vandy has some great pass defense, just look at what Spencer Rattler was able to do a week ago. This season has been a huge disappointment for Kentucky and Mark Stoops has some work to do in order to get the Big Blue train back on the tracks. I guess Kentucky really is a basketball school, huh?
The Waco Kid: Goodness, Vanderbilt hasn’t won an SEC game in 7 years and not only did they end that streak they did it against a team that was thought to be top tier in the East at the beginning of the season. Behind Chris Rodriguez and Will Levis this Wildcat team was supposed to have the offensive firepower of Tennessee or at the very least Georgia. Unfortunately, the cards did not fall that way in Lexington this season and Big Blue finds itself at 6-4 with only two games left to salvage their 2022 campaign. The loss to Vandy will be a blemish on everything that Mark Stoops has done for this program but to go into 2023 with a bowl victory and building off an 8 win season could be very beneficial to this mid tier East team. CRod was still impressive in their loss rushing for over 160 and two scores but the inability of Will Levis to get going was ultimately the offense’s demise. This could be because the weather was not ideal for a passing game plan but the Commodores played in the same conditions and their air attack was the difference between a win and a loss. Mike Wright was able to throw for 190 and a score for Vandy but it was his dual threat ability that kept them in the game as he toted the ball for 126 yards and a touchdown. The boys from Nashville finally got that SEC win monkey off their back but finish out the season against Florida and Tennessee, both games they will most likely lose handily. Kentucky hosts number 1 Georgia on Saturday (which they will lose) and then face rival Louisville to close out the regular season. Both teams combined will have a hard time winning two games out of their remaining competition but a week ago I was saying VU wouldn’t win another game this season, so let’s buckle in and watch to see who hangs around in the race for the middle of the East.
#9 Alabama 30 - #11 Ole Miss 24
Bossman Slim: The Rebels gave Alabama all they could handle in this one, but scoring 7 total points in the second half doesn’t cut it. Ole Miss took a 17-14 lead into the break but were unable to muster much after halftime. Their final four drives were: punt, punt, turnover on downs, turnover on downs. The Ole Miss defense held up well, holding Alabama to field goals on critical drives, but the offense could ultimately not get the job done. Bryce Young played like the Heisman winner he is, posting a 21/33, 209 yard 3 TD night. The Rebels ran the ball well as they have all season, putting up 191 yards and 2 TDs, but had drives stall when they could least afford it. Credit to the Bama defense and credit to Nick Saban for keeping his team focused after they were all but eliminated from playoff contention. The Tide get cupcake Austin Peay next week ahead of the Iron Bowl, while Ole Miss travels to Arkansas before their rendezvous with Mike Leach in the Egg Bowl.
The Hammer: Lane and the Rebels fought hard and had a chance to win this one at the end, but ultimately came up short. After a fast start offensively, the Rebs only managed 7 points in the second half as the Tide defense tightened up. Jaxson Dart was getting beat up all night but played admirably throwing for over 200 yards and not turning the ball over. Quinshon Judkins continues to run over any opponent in his way, finishing with 135 yards and 2 touchdowns on 25 carries. He’s been the best running back in the SEC in 2022 and he is a true freshman. On the Alabama side, they are still having a hard time really moving the ball on offense and only had 317 total yards in this game. But they made plays when they needed to and thanks to another great effort from Bryce Young, who went 21/33 for 209 yards and 3 TDs, found a way to win. The Ole Miss defense put the clamps down on Alabama’s run game, only allowing 108 yards rushing on 36 attempts. And clearly they didn’t give up many chunk plays in the passing game either. They kept Alabama in front of them and forced the Tide to drive down the field methodically, but with Bryce Young throwing the ball, Alabama was able to execute at a high enough level to win. Tough loss for the Rebels and a much needed win for Alabama.
The Waco Kid: Heck of a game between master and protege. I thought the Rebs might be able to catch Bama with their guard down and take advantage. It looked like they might have in the first two quarters when they entered halftime with a 17-14 lead over the Tide. But like many times before, Saban made his mid game adjustments and came out firing on all cylinders. Bryce Young ended the game with over 200 through the air and three scores, keeping his far out Heisman hopes alive. Saint Nick once again made Lane Kiffin accept that he is his daddy and will be for all of time. Regardless of if Kiffin stays in Mississippi or perhaps finds new residency up the road in Auburn, Alabama. The message boards are heating up with talks of a move to the Plains but to me this seems like a lateral move. And if it is a move that is made, it cements the fact that Kiffin is only in the coaching business for the money. He does not care about the programs, kids or winning and I do not understand who would want to hire a guy that could leave at any sign of a bad season. Both Mississippi and Bama should win the remainder of their games and both will end the season in the top 15 and play in very good bowl games. While that is a disappointment to Tuscaloosa fans, the Rebs are riding high with a two loss season.
Florida 38 - South Carolina 6
Bossman Slim: Anthony Richardson seems to be finding a bit of a groove late in the season. AR-15 amassed 212 yards of total offense and 3 TDs by himself, helping Florida to race out to a 21-0 lead before South Carolina could blink. Some of the throws Richardson made in this one showed exactly why NFL scouts are salivating over his talent even through his inconsistent play this year. Montrell Johnson Jr. and Travis Etienne are emerging has one helluva duo, as both had a TD and 100+ yards rushing. Etienne popped off an 85 yard run in the first quarter that was a sight to see. Billy Napier has this team headed in the right direction after some speed bumps early in the year. On the other side, South Carolina has much work to do. The Gamecocks run defense was porous all day, allowing 374 yards on the ground to the Gators. You ain’t gonna win giving up 374 yards in the run game. At this point in the year, I think it’s safe to say that Spencer Rattler has not been the answer Gamecocks fans were hoping for but they may have to suffer through one more year with him under center. Credit to the Florida defense as well, who held the USC rushing attack to just 44 total yards and the Gamecocks to 193 yards of total offense. Dominant win by Florida, who should post another win next week against Vanderbilt. South Carolina is about to run into a double buzz saw as they get Tennessee next week (uh oh), and close out the year with rival Clemson (oh boy).
The Hammer: Wow, I picked Florida to win and cover, but this was a total beatdown. South Carolina was down 24-0 midway through the second quarter and never even put up a fight here. Billy Napier is doing an excellent job of improving his team as the season goes on. Florida is much better now than they were back in September. A big part of that is Anothny Richardson, who is looking better and better in this offense. He’s still got a long way to go as a passer but he is making better decisions and running effectively. Montreal Johnson runs with a serious attitude and no one on South Carolina wanted to tackle the young man. Johnson finished with 161 yards and a TD on 24 carries. Etienne got to 100 yards and a TD on just 8 carries and Richardson added another 96 yards and a touchdown on the ground. The Gamecocks had no answer for the Florida run game. The Gamecock offense, as we’ve known all year, is just not good at all. They had no run game, no pass game and no rhythm all game. The Gamecock’s only touchdown wasn't even on offense. They ran a fake punt and their punter threw a 48 yard touchdown. Beamer ball, baby! South Carolina continues to be great on special teams but unfortunately their offense is awful and their defense is average at best. Mix those three phases together and you get a below average football team.
The Waco Kid: South Carolina looked really bad this past weekend. I had no faith in them due largely in part to their quarterback but they have repeatedly proven me wrong and have even looked impressive at times throughout the season. The game against Florida was the exact opposite and reaffirmed my suspicions about the Gamecocks. Spencer Rattler only managed 145 yards in the air and added an outstanding -13 yards on the ground. Those kind of numbers wouldn’t beat Florida Atlantic much less UF. To make matters worse AR15 has been on fire these past few weeks and does not seem to be slowing down anytime soon. He only threw for 112 yards but scored twice with those low numbers and added almost another 100 on the ground as well as a touchdown. Richardson is by no means the best QB in the country but the fact that he is such a threat running the ball has kept defenses on their toes and honest to their roles. One mistake by the defense can lead to six points when you have a play caller like that. The Gators became bowl eligible with last Saturday's win and will look to finish out the season with 8 in the victory column. Next up is Vanderbilt which should be a blowout before facing in-state rival Florida State which by that time could be a top 25 match up. Either way UF is rolling and will take that momentum into next season with hopes and dreams of a shot at the 2023 Natty.
#1 Georgia 45 - Mississippi State 19
Bossman Slim: Not too much to say here - this one went how I expected it to go, as I picked UGA 48-MSST 23. It just isn’t the Bulldogs year…not those Bulldogs, it is their year, but the Bulldogs from Starkville. Mississippi State hung around until mid-third quarter, and then Stetson Bennett and his receiving corps took over. Ladd McConkey scored on back to back drives to open the second half, sprinting for a TD on a 70-yard run and following it up with a 17-yard TD catch on the next drive to make it 31-12 Dawgs. It was pretty much over after that. Georgia’s defense gave up some big plays and weren’t spectacular, giving up 308 total yards on the night but were plenty good enough to get the win. Another good win for the Dawgs on their march to Atlanta. Mississippi State gets cupcake ETSU next week before their Egg Bowl showdown with the Lane Train, while Georgia takes on Kentucky before closing the regular season with the Ramblin’ Wreckage at Georgia Tech.
The Hammer: Here we have another example of a talented defense shutting down the Mike Leach air raid. If a team can get pressure on Cowboy Will Rogers with just 4 guys, Mississippi State is in trouble. This result wasn't hard to see coming at all. Georgia is elite and Mississippi State is average. The Dawgs offense continues to chug along. Todd Monken does a great job of spreading the ball around and using all the weapons at his disposal. You never know who Georgia will target and who will step up and have a big game. For instance, Ladd McCkonkey, aka the Wild Irish Laddy, ended up as the Dawgs leading rusher with 1 carry for 70 yards and a TD. Monken will hand the ball to 3-4 different running backs, tight ends, wide receivers, you name it. Just a great job of mixing things up, confusing defenses and always giving them different looks. Georgia keeps rolling.
The Waco Kid: No surprise here, again Georgia did what they were supposed to and put away an inferior team. Mississippi State looked like an offensive juggernaut the first few weeks of the season but since then they have struggled to find consistency. Chalk it up to defenses figuring Mike Leach out or an increase in level of competition but either way the Bulldogs have hit their struggling point. The good thing is that they have already clinched a bowl game spot and will probably split the last two games. Winning over East TN State and losing to Ole Miss. As for the other Bulldogs they have turned a corner in the season and will play lesser competition to finish out the regular season. Regardless of the outcomes of these last two games, Georgia has already solidified its spot in the SEC Championship against LSU. That game will most likely be the best they play until they reach the National Championship. Stetson Bennett threw some interceptions against MSU but the pros he exhibited far exceeded the mistakes which led to a one sided game. He ended the victory with 3 passing scores and one more on the ground. The Dawg offense can be slowed but has yet to be stopped and with what they can do on defense, there might not be a team that can compete with them the rest of the 2022 season.
Auburn 13 - Texas A&M 10
Bossman Slim: Where to begin with this one. We’ll start with Auburn, who created an unbelievable experience under the lights at Jordan-Hare. Cadillac Williams has infused life into this program that was floundering and directionless only two weeks ago. His message of unity and heart has taken hold in the Auburn family, and it showed on the Plains against Texas A&M. Scoring only 13 points should not get you a win, but when you’re playing this Aggies team, you really don’t need many points to get a win. Robby Ashford struggled much of the night, and only mustered 60 yards, 1 TD and 2 INTs through the air. The Tigers also had three turnovers on the night and only found the endzone once in the game. You see that stat line and would think the Tigers probably lost this game. Then you see that Auburn ran for 270 yards on the Aggies, held A&M to -2 yards of offense in the third quarter and 215 yards of total offense, and then it makes sense again. We could write 20 pages on what went wrong from A&M in this game and another book about what has gone wrong this season, but it’s bad for the Aggies. Real bad. The other thing that was real bad in this game was the officiating, which flubbed two different fumble calls and a targeting penalty late in the game which may or may not have cost the Aggies the game. It was probably the worst sequence for an SEC officiating crew I’ve seen all year, and that’s saying something. It’s very obvious what needs to happen in College Station, but absent of firing Jimbo which isn’t feasible with the buyout, an offensive coordinator is the obvious plan B. Great win for Auburn and a feel good story for Cadillac. The Tigers take on Western Kentucky next week before the Iron Bowl, while Texas A&M gets cupcake UMass before finishing the regular season with LSU.
The Hammer: What an atmosphere at Jordan Hare and what a win for Cadillac Willaims. The Auburn faithful sold out the stadium to see 3-6 Auburn play 3-6 Texas A&M. Robby Ashford is athletic but he’s a bad QB. He can’t throw and he showed that yet again. But Coach Caddy had a plan and he stayed with it: run the damn ball. The Tigers only passed 13 times all game and ran the ball 55 times for 270 yards. Texas A&M continues to struggle against the run, even when the threat of the passing game is nonexistent. DJ Durkin did an excellent job at Ole Miss, and was a proven DC long before he arrived in Oxford, but he’s been pretty bad so far at A&M. That said, his defense only gave up 13 points so that side of the ball is far from the biggest issue in College Station. Jimbo Fisher’s offense looked like a high school team yet again, only mustering 215 total yards against a weak Auburn defense. Having Devon Achane out with injury, along with what seems like half their team on both sides of the ball (A&M has been ravaged by injuries in 2022), really hurt the Aggies in this one. But that offensive performance was pathetic. Remember what I just said about Monken and how he does such a good job of mixing things up on offense with different formations, motions and spreading the ball around? Jimbo does none of that. He rarely gives the defense anything to think about pre-snap and never makes the defense uncomfortable. It’s baffling. I’m not even going to get into individual player performances, which were not good, because this all falls on Jimbo in my mind. Injuries or not, there is talent there and his offensive scheme and system is not working at all, but the adjustments have been minimal. Disastrous situation in College Station.
The Waco Kid: The best summation of this game was from a tweet that read “the officials killed us but the offensive line buried us”. A truer statement could not have been made. The SEC officiating in the final minutes of the fourth quarter was absolutely atrocious. Auburn was given a first down when they were clearly a yard and a half short of the marker on a third down attempt. The next two plays resulted in two fumbles, both recovered by A&M and both given back to the Auburn offense. Now the first one was up for debate the Tiger player may have been out of bounds when the ball was recovered which would have ended the play. On the second fumble, the ball was clearly out before Tank Bigsby’s knee hit the ground, but AU hurried to the line of scrimmage and snapped the ball so the refs could not stop for review (like they would have anyways). The cherry on top was a targeting on A&M’s wide receiver Jalen Preston by an Auburn defender. This of course was waived off even though there was clear, forcible contact to his head/neck area by the crown of the defender. It was the definition of targeting, and at the least should have been a helmet to helmet contact call. Instead, the game continued and War Eagle was handed another call. All of this should not have mattered but due to the poor play of the Aggie offensive line, Jimbo and company found themselves down late in the game. Freshman QB Connor Weigman had no time in the pocket and besides the obvious impact to his decision making, it clearly made him uncomfortable holding the ball for over two seconds. Still he threw for 121 yards and a touchdown and TAMU was able to move the ball despite being down their top playmaker, Devon Achane. With that loss the Ags can no longer make a bowl game and their only goal this season is to and I quote “piss in LSU’s cornflakes.