Best, worst SEC teams after Week 2

The SEC took one on the chin in Week 1 after suffering some losses to lesser competition, but the nation's top conference rebounded in a big way and now have three teams in the Top 25 ranking.

Here is our power ranking for the SEC after Week 2, from worst to best.

14. Tennessee (0-2). The Vols dropped their first two games of a season for the first time since 1988 after an overtime loss at home to BYU, allowing a 70-yard pass near the end of regulation that allowed the Cougars to kick a field goal and force the extra period. On Monday, Jeremy Pruitt compared the football program to the Titanic. Do with that what you will.

13. Vanderbilt (0-2). The other SEC team in the Volunteer State isn't doing much better, thanks to some shoddy quarterback and offensive line play in losses to Georgia and Purdue by a combined 42 points. Up next is LSU.

12. Arkansas (1-1). The Razorbacks lost by two touchdowns at Ole Miss this week and are now 1-19 in their last 20 games against Power 5 teams, have lost 12 straight SEC games, and dropped to 0-9 in league play under second-year head coach Chad Morris.

11. Ole Miss (1-1). The Rebels adopted a run-heavy strategy on Saturday to knock off Arkansas by two touchdowns, but had some issues with turnovers that could cost them against better competition. Mississippi should be over .500 next week with a likely win over Southeastern Louisiana in Week 3.

10. Kentucky (2-0). Good news and bad news for the Wildcats this week. The good: they became one of three unbeaten teams in the Eastern Division: The bad: starting quarterback was lost for the season with a torn knee ligament. Transfer QB Sawyer Smith is up next, but UK has a tough slate ahead of them.

9. Missouri (1-1). After an ugly Week 1 loss to Wyoming, Kelly Bryant and the Tigers got back on track with an impressive W over West Virginia. South Carolina comes to town next week.

8. South Carolina (1-1). Jake Bentley is out and Ryan Hilinski is in at quarterback after the former was injured, and the results looked good: the Gamecocks smacked Charleston Southern by 62 points while racking up a school record 775 yards in the process. Next up is No. 2 Alabama in Columbia.

7. Mississippi State (2-0). Kylin Hill and Tommy Stevens were injured in the Bulldogs' win over Southern Miss. Hill returned, but quarterback Stevens did not with what Joe Moorhead called an upper body injury. Should Stevens be unavailable this week, Keytaon Thompson could come into play after he took his name out of the transfer portal.

6. Texas A&M (1-1). Most people thought the Aggies would lose at No. 1 Clemson, as they did, but quarterback Kellen Mond didn't have a good day in the 24-10 loss. In two weeks' time, A&M will meet Auburn in a game that will have an impact near the top of the Western Division standings.

5. Florida (2-0). Feleipe Franks completed 93 percent of his pass attempts in the Gators' rout over UT-Martin, making better decisions and taking advantage of improved protection. Suddenly, Florida looks like they can hang with Georgia in the Eastern Division race.

4. Auburn (2-0). Bo Nix looked more confident against Tulane a week after scoring the game-winner with seconds left against Oregon in the Tigers' opener. He'll get one more tune-up against Kent State before starting four of his first career SEC games on the road.

3. Georgia (2-0). Ask anybody who knows football, and they'll probably tell you that UGA is the second-best team in the South, but after what LSU did at Texas, right now the Bulldogs get bumped a spot. A pair of relatively easy games to start the season (Vandy, Murray St.) has allowed Georgia to rest their starters in the second half, just in time for their home rematch against Notre Dame, an early season litmus test.

2. LSU (2-0). It's a new day for the Tigers' offense after Joe Burrow threw for over 100 yards to three different receivers in a national statement win at Texas this week. After beating Georgia by three touchdowns last season, LSU only looks better this time around.

1. Alabama (2-0). No one's breaking any news here that the Crimson Tide are still the gold standard in the South and one of the two playoff locks in the nation along with Clemson. Bama hasn't lost to the SEC East in nine years, and this week South Carolina will look to change that. Good luck.

Stanford makes decision on KJ Costello in USC game

Neither of the quarterbacks that started the season for their teams will be on the field when Stanford and USC play each other in Week 2 on Saturday.

Stanford quarterback K.J. Costello was ruled out of the game after taking a hit to the head last week, head coach David Shaw told reporters on Thursday.

Costello exited Stanford's eventual Week 1 victory over Northwestern after he was hit in the head and neck area. He was in a sliding motion when the hit occurred, and officials did not call targeting on the play.

Redshirt sophomore Davis Mills will start in his place.

Mills was a five-star recruit, according to the industry-generated 247Sports Composite, which also ranked him the No. 1 quarterback prospect coming out of high school in the class of 2017, ahead of both Tua Tagovailoa and Jake Fromm.

Southern Cal will start true freshman Kedon Clovis in the game after learning that J.T. Daniels tore his ACL and meniscus in the Trojans' Week 1 win over Fresno State.

Nebraska plays Maurice Washington after suspension

Looks like Maurice Washington's suspension lasted exactly one half of football.

The running back was on the field when Nebraska played the third quarter of their season opener against South Alabama, ending the debate on whether or not he would play at all this week.

Huskers head coach Scott Frost had said in a radio interview at halftime that Washington would join the team for the second half of the game.

Washington's appearance on the field will likely result in Frost facing questions about the decision as the player is currently facing felony child pornography charges in the state of California after being arraigned in April.

Washington was charged with a felony count of possessing a video or photograph of a person under 18 who is engaging in or simulating sexual conduct and one misdemeanor count of posting a video or photograph of a person engaging in or simulating sexual conduct without consent, leading to the person suffering emotional distress.

He was also recently cited by university police, along with three other Nebraska football players, for possession of drug paraphernalia, but none of them will face criminal charges.

Washington was third on the Huskers with 455 rushing yards and three touchdowns last season as a true freshman after being cleared to join the team last summer following some academic uncertainty issues.

Tight end to retire after serious neck injury

A college football player has decided to walk away from the game forever after suffering a serious injury. 

South Carolina tight end Kiel Pollard announced on Friday that he will retire from football after suffering a broken neck that would have kept him off the field for more than a month.

"Ever since I was 3 years old, my life has involved football," Pollard said on Instagram.

"Last week I did something that every football player knows not to do, I ducked my head while blocking. As I waited on the exam table I thought everything was straight. To my surprise, after the MRI was completed and what felt like the longest 2 hours of my life, I was informed that I would be out for 4-6 weeks with a broken neck.

"I was perfectly fine with that. I felt no pain and my body was tired so I felt that rest was in order. This week that changed when I found out that last Tuesday would be my last time playing football. Not that I'm not able, but that it's not safe for me to do so. I have loved football and always will! It was my desire to rock Willy B Stadium this year and then play in the NFL but I am aware that God has greater plans for my life!

"I KNOW THAT I AM MORE THAN FOOTBALL!!! Please don't feel sorry for me because football has been good to me. Football has provided me with a great education in which I will be graduating in December this year! I am smart enough to know God doesn't give anyone a gift that he doesn't plan on using! So with that being said one chapter ends and another begins! 87 out"

Pollard played in 38 games for the Gamecocks over three seasons, catching 17 passes for 203 yards and two touchdowns, and was set to occupy the team's primary receiving tight end position.

Doctors stumped by USC player's mystery illness

Bru McCoy was the prize prospect for USC earlier this year, but the five-star wide receiver is yet to make an impact with the team as he battles an illness that has doctors stumped.

McCoy has been sidelined every day for the past three weeks with a fever that doctors have been unable to explain despite numerous attempts, according to the Los Angeles Times.

"I cannot tell you how many specialists we've got him in front of, just to try to figure this damn thing out," McCoy's father, Horace, told the publication.

McCoy was ranked as the No. 1 athlete and No. 9 overall player in the nation, according to the industry-generated 247Sports Composite, and ultimately committed to USC in January and enrolling in the school two days later.

But after the departure of Kliff Kingsbury, who took the head coaching job with the NFL's Arizona Cardinals after briefly serving as USC's offensive coordinator, McCoy decided to leave L.A. and enrolled at Texas, where he participated in spring practice. Finally, McCoy elected to go back to USC, enrolling in June.

Trojans head coach Clay Helton says that McCoy's condition has improved somewhat and that the player has been able to take part in team meetings, but that he was not at full health just yet.

Dabo on how Trevor Lawrence has changed

Trevor Lawrence is arguably the best player in college football right now, but his head coach says the Clemson quarterback still has room to grow. 

One of the most highly-touted prospects in recent memory, Lawrence won the starting job four games into the 2018 season and helped lead the Tigers to their second national title in three years.

Dabo Swinney says he sees a difference between Lawrence then and Lawrence now.

"Just his composition is very different," Swinney told SiriusXM Radio. "I mean, his weight. He's strong. He's fast. All of his explosive measurables are up. I'm just really proud of him and how he's grinded in that weight room to get his body in the best possible shape that it could be."

Lawrence completed over 65 percent of his passes last season, threw 30 touchdowns, four interceptions, and had a near-perfect passer rating. During Clemson's postseason run, he threw eight touchdowns and no picks for the first 15-win college football team in 121 years.

That he apparently has room to improve is bad news for anyone on Clemson's schedule in the future, and very good news for the Tigers as they look to unseat Alabama as the top program in the nation.

Texas WR arrested on weapons charge

College football's arrest rap sheet added another name recently as Texas wide receiver Joshua Moore was arrested earlier this month and charged with unlawful carrying of a weapon, the Austin American reports.

The details surrounding the arrest have not been made public, but the Longhorns program is aware of the incident involving the player, and he has been practicing with the rest of his teammates since the arrest.

"We have talked with him and his family and are handling this internally at this time, but will continue to monitor the legal process," Texas head coach Tom Herman said. "We will determine any further action upon the completion of that process."

A former four-star recruit who was named by 247Sports as the No. 10 overall player in the state of Texas, Moore appeared in six games for the Longhorns as a true freshman before a season-ending injury. In that time, he caught seven passes for 53 yards and a touchdown.

Harvey Updyke still hasn't paid for Auburn tree poisoning

One of college football's most infamous fans appears to be in trouble with the law again.

Harvey Updyke, the Alabama fan who poisoned the oak trees at Toomer's Corner in Auburn, has been told to appear before a court after it was discovered that he has only paid $5,000 towards his $800,000 restitution penalty for ruining the trees, according to WRBL (Georgia).

"Harvey Updyke has never left my radar," Lee County District Attorney Brandon Hughes told the network. "We have been keeping an eye on his payments, or more specifically his non-payment, and he has made exactly two payments for a total of $200 in the past year.

"Because of that, we have been looking for him for close to a year, and we finally found him."

Updyke was originally given a three-year split sentence with five-years probation. He will appear in court on Oct. 30 to explain why he has missed the payments.

District Attorney Hughes seems intent on making sure Updyke pays the rest of the money, saying, "As long as I am in this office and he is still breathing, I am going to be a bur in his side under his saddle and make sure he pays what he owes."

Texas starting center out indefinitely after injury

Tom Herman is already trying to get the Texas offense back in a crucial preseason, and now it looks like he'll have another problem to deal with reaching that goal. 

Starting center Zach Shackelford suffered a foot sprain during practice on Thursday and will be out indefinitely, school officials said in a statement.

But the news isn't all bad, as Shackelford should be back in the middle of the line when Texas opens their season on Aug. 31 against Louisiana Tech. His absence from the remainder of the team's practices is likely a precautionary measure to prevent the injury from getting any worse.

In all likelihood, the Longhorns will turn to right guard Derek Kerstetter at the starting center position with Shackelford out.

Shackelford started as a true freshman in the 2016 season and has been one of the team's best players on offense. Last season as a junior, he started 10 games.

3-star athlete commits to South Carolina

Will Muschamp added another potential play-maker to his 2020 recruiting class on Thursday when three-star athlete Eric Shaw announced he committed to South Carolina.

Shaw committed to the Gamecocks over Auburn and Tennessee, and he received offers from Florida, LSU, Texas A&M, and Kentucky coming out of Notasulga, Ala. 

The 15th-ranked overall athlete in the country, according to the industry-generated 247Sports Composite, Shaw will play the tight end position when he enrolls in school.

"The way they use tight ends is appealing to me," Shaw said after his official visit to Columbia. "They use their tight ends more than anybody. They put five tight ends in the league in nine years. That's pretty exciting and something I pay attention to."

Though there was some interest in Auburn and Tennessee, ultimately it was the presence of tight ends coach Bobby Bentley that swayed Shaw into committing to South Carolina.

Shaw's commitment follows that of three four-star players, including quarterback Luke Doty, running back MarShawn Lloyd, and wide receiver Mike Wyman.

Michigan OL out indefinitely after leg injury

It appears Michigan will be without one of their blockers when the season begins. 

Offensive lineman Andrew Steuber is out indefinitely with a leg injury suffered during their practice on Tuesday, according to a report from 97.1 FM.

Steuber was in a competition for the starting right tackle position with freshman Jalen Mayfield, but with Steuber out of the picture, it looks like Mayfield will win the job after all by default.

This week, Michigan offensive coordinator Josh Gattis said that he was impressed with both Steuber and Mayfield, but that the team was not able to declare a starter at the position yet.

Steuber had a slight edge to win the job himself, or at least to get meaningful snaps as a reserve. He played in 13 games last season, including two starts at right tackle.

Michigan opens their season on Aug. 31 against Middle Tennessee State.

Sam Ehlinger says Texas is ‘extremely confident’

Time will tell if Texas is finally "back" this coming season, but quarterback Sam Ehlinger believes the Longhorns are ready to put themselves into national prominence again.

"We're extremely confident in where we're at as a program right now," Ehlinger told reporters after a recent practice. "We're going to do everything in our power to be the best that we can be. And the best we can be will be a lot of fun."

Last season, the Longhorns improved off a 7-6 record in Tom Herman's first outing as head coach, going 10-4 overall in 2018, including a victory over Oklahoma.

Ehlinger and his 41 total touchdowns played a major role in that resurgence, and now the Austin native finds himself on a short-list of Heisman Trophy candidates going into the 2019 season.

He became the sixth Power 5 quarterback in the last 20 years to pass for at least 25 touchdowns and run for at least 15 more in the same season, helping lead Texas to a Sugar Bowl victory over Georgia.

Texas will have several chances to prove that they're back in the next few months, especially in their early-season matchup against LSU in Week 2.

Former LSU player says he was wrong about Joe Burrow

Joe Burrow had his fair share of critics after transferring from Ohio State to LSU, including former standout Ryan Clark, who didn't think the quarterback could handle the load.

But after watching Burrow in practice, Clark says he takes it all back. 

“I admit when I’m wrong,” Clark said on Twitter. “I wasn’t excited when Joe Burrow came to LSU after losing the OSU QB battle. I was hard on him, but today he made some BIG time NFL throws while I watched him at practice. I’m legit excited about what he can do at QB in this offense. We finally got a guy!”

After leaving Ohio State last year, Burrow arrived at LSU and won the starting quarterback job after a competition with Myles Brennan. 

In his one year as the Tigers’ starter, Burrow completed 57.8 percent of his pass attempts for 2,894 yards, throwing 16 touchdowns and five interceptions. As a rusher, he amassed 399 yards off 128 carries and scored seven additional touchdowns.

He looked particularly impressive in LSU’s win over UCF in the Fiesta Bowl, going 21 of 34 for 394 yards (the school’s fourth-most in a bowl game) and recorded a school-record four passing touchdowns.

Now, Burrow goes into his second season looking to run a more up-tempo, no-huddle style offense and get the Tigers back into the national spotlight.

Najee Harris says Bama’s No. 1 RB spot is up for grabs

The starting running back position at Alabama is technically vacant after the departure of Josh Jacobs and Damien Harris to the NFL this offseason, but most observers think Najee Harris has the job sealed up.


But Harris doesn’t consider himself the primary option just yet. 

“I feel like we should all be ready,” Harris told reporters. “I don’t really feel like I have a No. 1 spot. I feel like we’re all competing for it, especially in camp right now. So I don’t really think about none of that. I think about all the stuff I’ve got to work on personally, like my alignment, my blitz pickups, and my reading out the runs and all that stuff. I don’t really think about the year right now.”

High-profile running backs like Harris typically get playing time right away, but the former five-star recruit had to wait his turn behind players like Josh Jacobs, Bo Scarborough, Damien Harris, and even quarterback Jalen Hurts, all of whom handled most of the load during his freshman season.

Despite that talent in front of him, Harris still got some exposure, playing in all 14 games for the Tide as a true freshman in 2017 and finishing as their fourth-best rusher. Last season, he saw more snaps, rushing for 783 yards and four touchdowns on 117 attempts.

Harris has been the No. 1 back with the first-team offense during Alabama’s spring and fall practices, and, despite his own reluctance to admit so himself, should eventually get the nod in time for their Aug. 31 opener against Duke.

Oklahoma loses Tre Norwood for 2019 season

One of the nation’s top defensive backs won’t be on the field this coming season.

Oklahoma cornerback Tre Norwood will miss the entire 2019 season after suffering an injury in a recent practice, head coach Lincoln Riley announced on Friday.

Norwood was spotted leaving practice on Tuesday with the help of crutches, and afterwards, reports emerged saying that it appeared the player would have to miss significant time.

Riley did not indicate what injury Norwood was suffering, but reports indicate that the player hurt his knee during his last practice.

A junior from Fort Smith, Ark., Norwood started 14 games last season for the Sooners, mostly at cornerback, but also logging meaningful snaps at safety and nickelback.

Norwood had 58 tackles, five pass breakups, an interception, and a sack last season, with his pick coming in the final minutes of the Big 12 Championship Game which helped the Sooners run out the clock on Texas and help clinch a CFB playoff berth.

Without him in the rotation, Oklahoma should rely more on Bookie Radley-Hiles to fill in the vacant corner. Last season, the Sooners ranked 124th in FBS in overall defense and 129th in passing yards allowed per game.