What we learned from Week 11 in the SEC

It proved to be an eventful weekend in the SEC yet again.

Let’s try and reel it in and recap what went down, shall we?

1. Alabama remains the king of the SEC West

Another year, another division title for Nick Saban. Alabama’s win over Mississippi State, and the subsequent loss that was dealt to Auburn over Georgia gives the Crimson Tide another punched ticket to Atlanta. This marks the sixth time under Saban that the Tide have been in the SEC Championship (‘08, ‘09, ‘12, ‘14, ‘15, ‘16) and the third time in a row. And as it stands right now, it would be wild to suggest that the Tide won’t win the SEC Championship for the third year in a row, and fifth in their last five appearances after dropping their first back in 2008 to Florida.

2. Mizzou IS capable of winning SEC games after all!

The Tigers finally ended their lengthy drought on Saturday as they picked up a victory over Vanderbilt. SEC wins had eluded Missouri since last October, and after an 11-game losing streak, the Tigers finally have been able to find a positive. They still likely won’t be playing in the postseason this year with a mark of 3-7 to this point in the year. However, in a year where positives have been hard to come by, let’s let Missouri have this one shall we?

3. Auburn missed Kamryn Pettway dearly

The impact felt by the hoss’ absence in Saturday’s game against Georgia was more than marginal. The Tigers rushed for 127 yards against the Bulldogs run defense. There’s no telling of how well he’d have played - Georgia’s run defense is one of the best in the SEC and country according to most advanced metrics, and they were still able to get lots of success - but Pettway had been running all over teams left and right. His absence certainly contributed to Auburn’s loss on Saturday, and his health going forward will be crucial to how Auburn finishes the year.

(AMENDMENT: Incorrectly said that Auburn gained 37 yards rushing. It was 127. Apologies)

4. Florida is still clinging to the lead of the SEC East

The Gators survived a late rally by South Carolina to remain on top of the SEC East division. In doing so they knocked the Gamecocks out of contention, and with the help of the Tennessee Volunteers, the Kentucky Wildcats were KO’ed from contention as well. The Gators’ hopes of winning the SEC East now rely on them taking a victory from LSU next week, and that of course is a task easier said than done.

5. Texas A&M’s November woes march on

A&M seems to be on the brink of another late-season collapse after falling to Ole Miss on Saturday. The loss to the Rebels puts the Aggies at 7-3 with a 4-3 record in conference. 8-4 looks to be on the horizon unless A&M can withstand their final game of the year against the visiting LSU Tigers on Thanksgiving, and it will be then that questions could again arise about Kevin Sumlin and whether or not he is built to last in College Station.