SEC Off to Flawless Start in Week 1

The Southeastern Conference did not lose a game in Week 1.

All 16 SEC teams that played between Thursday and Sunday won, a sweep that spanned four states, three time zones and every level of competition on the schedule. The results ranged from a one-point escape in Atlanta to a 66-point outburst in Gainesville, but the outcome was the same across the board: SEC 16, everybody else 0.

Missouri opened the slate Thursday night, defeating Arkansas-Pine Bluff 54-14 at Faurot Field. Oklahoma followed Friday with a 51-0 shutout of UTEP, its sixth consecutive win in that series.

Saturday carried the bulk of the schedule, and the SEC did not waver. Alabama defeated East Carolina 48-10. South Carolina shut out Kent State 57-0. Kentucky beat Youngstown State 45-13, and Georgia routed Tennessee State 63-3 at Sanford Stadium. Texas defeated Texas State 59-7, and Texas A&M shut out Missouri State 50-0.

The lone close call came in Atlanta, where Auburn held off Baylor 17-16 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Tennessee was far more comfortable in a 56-9 win over Furman, and Arkansas defeated North Alabama 31-14.

Vanderbilt beat Austin Peay 28-9, and LSU posted the weekend’s most decisive result, defeating Clemson 51-10 in Baton Rouge. Mississippi State defeated UL-Monroe 62-13, and Florida closed Saturday’s schedule with a 66-21 win over Florida Atlantic.

Ole Miss closed the weekend Sunday night in Nashville, outlasting Louisville 41-38 in the SEC’s second-closest game of the week.

Sixteen games. Sixteen wins. A perfect Week 1 for the SEC.