— While LSU had an open date this weekend, the 11 other Southeastern Conference teams were in action.
The SEC saw the Ole Ball Coach struggle and an “urban” renewal at Florida.
And Vanderbilt accomplished a feat that had not been done since Ghostbusters topped the box office.
 
No. 4 Tennessee Volunteers vs. No. 6 Florida Gators
After trading touchdowns in the first half, the Gators’ defense shut out the Volunteers in the second half for a 16-7 win.
“Our defense played outstanding tonight,” Florida coach Urban Meyer said in a news release. “[Quarterback] Chris [Leak] made some tremendous plays when he had to, and I thought our special team did well tonight. It was a huge win for us, but we’ve got a lot of work to do.”
Although Leak was sacked five times and failed to throw a touchdown pass for the first time in 24 games, he completed 17 of 26 passes for 179 yards and no interceptions.
The lone touchdown for the Gators was an 18-yard run by receiver Andre Caldwell, who Leak pitched the ball to on a fake option play. Caldwell later left the game with a broken leg.
The Volunteers opened the game with Rick Clausen at quarterback, but Erik Ainge played most of the game.
Florida improves to 3-0 (1-0 SEC) and Tennessee falls to 1-1 (0-1 SEC).
 
Alabama Crimson Tide vs. South Carolina Gamecocks
The Crimson Tide rushed for 338 yards and defeated the Gamecocks 37-14, which resulted in Coach Steve Spurrier’s first ever 0-2 start in the SEC.
Tailback Kenneth Darby led the Alabama running game with 145 yards and a touchdown.
Crimson Tide quarterback Brodie Croyle also rushed for a touchdown, while only passing for 115 yards and a touchdown.
“We ran the ball 10 times better than we have all year,” Croyle said in a news release. “When we do that, we don’t have to throw as much.”
The Crimson Tide defense held the Gamecocks to 71 yards rushing and 185 passing.
The Gamecocks fall to 1-2 overall and 0-2 in the SEC. Alabama, which won its SEC opener, is 3-0 overall.
 
Arkansas vs. No. 1 Southern California
After one quarter, the Trojans had a 28-7 lead, and defeated the Razorbacks 70-17.
USC had 736 yards of total offense to the Razorbacks’ 326.
Trojan quarterback Matt Leinart threw for 381 yards and four touchdowns, and tailback Reggie Bush rushed eight times for 125 yards and a touchdown. Bush also had three catches for 70 yards and a touchdown.
Arkansas quarterback Robert Johnson passed for 91 yards and a touchdown but left the game in the second quarter with a sore back.
The Razorbacks are 1-2 overall and 0-1 in the SEC.
 
Ole Miss Rebels vs. Vanderbilt Commodores
Tailback Jeff Jennings scored his third touchdown of the game with less than two minutes remaining to lift Vanderbilt to a 31-23 win over the Rebels.
The last time the Commodores started 3-0 was in 1984. This is also the first time they begin 2-0 in the SEC since 1956.
“It felt good out there today,” Jennings said in a news release. “Our line blocked very well, and our backfield went out just to get the job done.”
Vanderbilt quarterback Jay Cutler threw for 308 yards and led the offense to a season-high 523 yards.
The Commodores led 24-3 in the third quarter, but the Rebels surged back with 20 unanswered points with 8 minutes remaining.
Ole Miss falls to 1-1 overall and 0-1 SEC under first-year coach Ed Orgeron.
 
Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. Tulane Green Wave
Tailback Jerrious Norwood scored two touchdowns to lead the Bulldogs to a 21-14 win over the Green Wave, who “hosted” the game as their season opener at the Independence Bowl in Shreveport.
The game was scoreless going into the half, but the Bulldogs scored 14 unanswered points in the third quarter.
The Green Wave responded with a 14-point run, but in the fourth quarter, Tulane’s Israel Route muffed the punt, and the Bulldogs recovered at the Tulane 17.
Norwood ran for a 17-yard go-ahead touchdown on the next play.
On 21 carries, Norwood rushed for 99 yards.
The win improved the Bulldogs’ record to 2-1, but they are 0-1 SEC play.
 
Louisiana-Monroe Indians vs. No. 7 Georgia Bulldogs
Georgia showed its depth Saturday by defeating the Indians 44-7 without four starters.
Bullbog tailback Danny Ware rushed for 109 yards in place of Thomas Brown, who had a slightly separated shoulder.
“I felt confident going into the game because I knew our line was going to get the job done,” Ware said in a news release. “I told myself it was on my shoulders, and I had to go out and get the job done.”
Tight end Leonard Pope did not play because of an unspecified disciplinary reason, but his backup Martez Milner had three catches for 79 yards and a touchdown.
Sean Bailey, the Bulldogs’ No. 1 receiver, and linebacker Jarvis Jackson also missed the game because of injury.
The Bulldogs are 3-0 overall and 1-0 in the SEC.
 
Ball State Cardinals vs. Auburn Tigers
After struggling to run the football their first two games, Auburn rushed for 390 yards against the Cardinals for a 63-3 win.
Kenny Irons started at tailback for the first time this season and led the Tigers with 147 yards on the ground including two of the team’s seven rushing touchdowns in the game.
Quarterback Brandon Cox had his second consecutive game without an interception. He completed 16 of 19 passes for 171 yards and a touchdown.
After allowing 23 points in their season-opening loss to Georgia Tech, Auburn’s defense has only given up a combined three points in their last two games, including a shutout of Mississippi State in week two.
The Tigers are 2-1 overall and 1-0 in the SEC.
 
Kentucky Wildcats vs. Indiana Hoosiers
Indiana quarterback Blake Powers threw four touchdowns to defeat the Wildcats 38-14.
The Hoosiers also excelled on the ground, where tailback Chris Taylor carried the football 17 times for a personal best 176 yards.
“Every time I got the ball, it seemed like the hole was wide open,” Taylor said in a news release. “[Offensive lineman] were determined. They were fighting, and they worked to do a good job this game. I give all the credit to them.”
Indiana held Kentucky scoreless in the first half, and the Wildcats only gained 217 yards of offense.
The Hoosiers are on their first 3-start since 1984.
The Wildcats dropped to 1-2 on the season. They have yet to play an SEC opponent.