Cupcake Wars, Week 2: The Weaker Opponents Facing SEC Teams This Weekend

Jacksonville State Gamecocks at Auburn Tigers, Noon ET, SEC Network
To my knowledge, Jacksonville State is the only Division I program aside from South Carolina to use the nickname "Gamecocks." (They also call their plush version of the mascot "Cocky.") That bird was chosen as a replacement for the original moniker of Eagle Owls, "a rare predatory bird found near the Arctic circle." In case you were wondering, JSU is in Alabama. No, I don't get it either. Auburn 56, Jacksonville State 10

Fresno State Bulldogs at Ole Miss Rebels, 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2
The Bulldogs were once a feared toppler of Power 5 teams, but that reputation has waned in recent years. In any case, the colors of Fresno State were basically developed through a form of institutional marriage counseling.

The colors evolved out of an argument by women from Fresno Normal School and men from Fresno Junior College. The women were seeking blue and white to the men's red and white. A compromise was struck with the school adopting red and blue.

Ole Miss 45, Fresno State 20

Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at Alabama Crimson Tide, 4 p.m. ET, SEC Network
Want to perform the national anthem at a Middle Tennessee athletics event. They'd love to have you! Alabama 47, Middle Tennessee 13

Toledo Rockets at Arkansas Razorbacks, 4 p.m. ET, SEC Network
One of the things you find out doing something like Cupcake Wars is that there are a variety of people and groups credited with coming up with and approving various teams' nicknames. In the case of Toledo, there was no initiative to create a name; no referendum was held; nothing like that. It just came from some dude.

Pittsburgh writers pressed James Neal, a UT student working in the press box, to come up with a nickname. Despite UT's 32-12 loss, the student labeled the team "Skyrockets," obviously impressed by his alma mater's flashy performance against a superior team.

They can hope for the same thing this week, I suppose. Arkansas 42, Toledo 14

Ball State Cardinals at Texas A&M Aggies, 7 p.m. ET, ESPNU
#everyathletematters. Whatever that means. Texas A&M 63, Ball State 24

Arkansas State Red Wolves vs. Missouri Tigers, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN3
Really, Mizzou, you've got to stop this thing about traveling to obscure non-conference opponents' stadiums. In any case, Arkansas State has the same coach that they had last season. This is a big deal for them, as its the first time the Red Wolves have pulled off the feat in five years. Of course, the school also had its worst record since 2010, so ... Missouri 35, Arkansas State 3

East Carolina Pirates at Florida Gators, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN2
ECU uses a cannon at home games for celebrations and such. There was a time when they stopped firing the cannon for the reason you might imagine.

After the player scored a touchdown, he inadvertently ran in front of the cannon, which was placed just beyond the end zone, and when fired it knocked him to the ground. This set off a frenzy of questions about the safety of the cannon by administrators and fans.

Apparently, the fact that it was a cannon was not enough of a clue. Florida 47, East Carolina 23