By: Michael Spiers

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

Week 1 of the 2024 SEC season was a mixed bag for one of the nation’s most dominant conferences.

While many SEC teams took care of business in nonconference matchups, the conference struggled in high-profile games against ranked opponents. The SEC went 1-3 against ranked teams, raising questions about its early-season strength and readiness for top competition.

The standout victory of the weekend was Georgia’s 34-3 dismantling of No. 14 Clemson.

The No. 1 Bulldogs looked every bit the part of a national championship contender, dominating both sides of the ball, once they settled in.

Georgia’s running back depth stood out, rushing for 169 yards against Clemson’s NFL-talent-loaded defensive front.

Freshman RB Nate Frazier emerged as a future star, leading the backfield with 84 yards and a touchdown.

Despite the impressive win, Georgia’s offense had a slow start, punting on three of its first five drives, struggling to convert scoring opportunities.

Clemson couldn’t keep up with Georgia’s depth in the second half, but the sluggish first half could be an issue against stronger offensive teams later in the season.

Elsewhere in the conference, however, the results were less encouraging.

Florida suffered a 41-17 blowout loss to No. 19 Miami.

The Gators struggled offensively, with quarterback Graham Mertz leaving due to injury. Freshman DJ Lagway showed flashes of promise, but the offensive line’s struggles, giving up three sacks and allowing constant pressure, were a significant problem. Florida’s defeat leaves the team searching for answers.

Texas A&M also fell short, losing 23-13 to No. 7 Notre Dame.

While the Aggie defense did well to limit Notre Dame’s quarterback, Riley Leonard, to just 158 passing yards, the offense faltered.

Quarterback Conner Weigman struggled with decision-making, throwing two costly interceptions. Texas A&M had opportunities to make a statement in head coach Mike Elko’s debut, but missed chances and mistakes cost them the game.

LSU continued its recent trend of struggles in season openers, losing 27-20 to No. 23 USC in Las Vegas.

The Tigers, despite being favored, failed to capitalize on key moments and displayed a lack of discipline. Costly penalties, including an unsportsmanlike conduct foul and a targeting penalty, contributed to LSU’s defeat.

The Tigers also struggled with tackling, allowing USC’s running backs to break free for extra yards on multiple occasions.

LSU’s wide receiver depth remains a strength, but the team’s defensive and disciplinary issues need to be addressed quickly.

On the positive side, most of the SEC teams dominated their nonconference matchups, though many of these victories came against inferior competition.

Alabama cruised to a 63-0 victory over Western Kentucky, with new head coach Kalen DeBoer’s aggressive defense making a strong debut.

Arkansas posted a 70-0 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff, with Utah transfer Ja’Quinden Jackson leading the Razorbacks’ rejuvenated ground game.

Auburn’s offense also shined in a 73-3 win over Alabama A&M, showcasing an explosive new-look passing attack led by freshmen receivers.

Tennessee, Mississippi State, and Missouri all secured comfortable wins, with Tennessee defeating Chattanooga 69-3, Mississippi State routing Eastern Kentucky 56-3, and Missouri shutting out Murray State 51-0.

SEC newcomers Oklahoma and Texas also started their seasons with dominant wins. Oklahoma dismantled Temple 51-3, while Texas blanked Colorado State 52-0.

There were some close calls in the conference, though. South Carolina narrowly escaped with a 23-19 win over Old Dominion, thanks to timely defensive plays from edge rushers Kyle Kennard and Dylan Stewart.

Vanderbilt, meanwhile, earned a hard-fought 34-27 overtime victory against Virginia Tech, with quarterback Diego Pavia providing a much-needed spark for the Commodores.

Kentucky’s 31-0 victory over Southern Miss was notable for being one of the shortest games in recent history, as it was called off with 9:56 left in the third quarter due to weather.

Quarterback Brock Vandagriff, who transferred from UGA, impressed in his first significant action, completing 12 of 18 passes for 169 yards and three touchdowns, despite the shortened game.

As the SEC moves forward into Week 2, teams will look to build on their successes and correct the issues that emerged in the opening week.

For some, like Georgia and Alabama, the season is off to a strong start. But for others, particularly those who lost marquee matchups, there is work to be done to meet the high expectations of the SEC.