SEC Rewind | Kentucky's hardly alone at 2-0
SEC play starts Saturday for the University of Kentucky, when the Wildcats take their 2-0 record on a trip to Florida. UK is hardly alone in the undefeated category of a league with eight teams in the top 25. Only South Carolina, Arkansas and Vanderbilt have losses.
In order of preseason polling — it's only Week 2, after all — here's a look around the SEC:
WEST
Alabama — Blake Sims got the start under center and threw for 214 yards, but Jake Coker tallied 202 as well in the Crimson Tide's 41-0 win over Florida Atlantic. It was the first time two Alabama quarterbacks have thrown for 200 yards in the same game. (http://cbsprt.co/1uFaB0W)
Auburn — The Tigers have found a running back to replace Tre Mason, who's NFL-bound after helping them to the national title game last season. Cameron Artis-Payne rushed for three touchdowns in Auburn's 59-13 rout of San Jose State, all his scores in the first half. (http://cbsprt.co/1pEl48o)
LSU — Playing in their expanded stadium for the first time, the Tigers shut out FCS foe Sam Houston State, 56-0, in a game that included the longest pass in program history — and on the first play from scrimmage. (http://bit.ly/1qwFBRh)
Ole Miss — After a sloppy first half to open the season against Boise State, Ole Miss put together a complete game in thrashing conference doormat Vanderbilt, 41-3, in both teams' SEC opener. It was the Rebels' largest margin of victory in a game since 2008. (http://cbsprt.co/ZdJtwd)
Mississippi State — UAB exposed some weaknesses as the Bulldogs went on to a 47-34 win, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. The Blazers tallied more total yards than Mississippi State — 548 to 516 — with 435 of those UAB yards coming via the pass. (http://bit.ly/1CFNmtb)
Texas A&M — It was quite an encore for Texas A&M quarterback Kenny Hill. A week after leading the Aggies past South Carolina, Hill threw for 283 yards in three quarters of a 73-3 win over Lamar. Also, A&M played in front of a record crowd of 104,728. (http://trib.in/1lKP47t)
Arkansas — The Razorbacks snapped a 10-game losing streak, making quick work of Nicholls State in a 73-7 victory. Starting quarterback Brandon Allen completed 4 of 5 passes, and each went for a touchdown. (http://cbsprt.co/1rpIa45)
EAST
South Carolina — Reason for concern remains for Gamecocks fans, but at least South Carolina walked away with a win this time. Mike Davis rushed for 101 yards and a pair of scores in what coach Steve Spurrier called "a fun one," a 33-23 victory over East Carolina. (http://cbsprt.co/YnxagS)
Georgia — The Bulldogs were off following a Week 1 win over Clemson. Next up is South Carolina, and Bleacher Report's Andrew Hall offered a list of things Georgia can learn from the way Texas A&M handled the Gamecocks. (http://ble.ac/1xu4lP4)
Florida — The Gators, who didn't play in Week 1 due to a lightning delay, beat Eastern Michigan 65-0 on Saturday but will enter next week's UK game without a key piece of its offense. Tight end Jake McGee is out for the season after breaking his tibia and fibula. (http://es.pn/1q2Kl1W)
Missouri — Toledo, trailing 14-7, intercepted a Maty Mauk pass and had a shot at taking it all the way back to tie Saturday. On the same play, a Missouri receiver caught the defender and forced a fumble, a turning point in the Tigers' 49-24 victory. (http://es.pn/ZdyvXD)
Tennessee — The Volunteers have started 2-0 the last four seasons, including this one after a 34-19 win over Arkansas State. But can they keep it up? Tennessee finished below .500 in every other year of that streak. (http://bit.ly/1pElrjb)
Vanderbilt — Week 2 of the Derek Mason era, which started with a 37-7 loss to Temple, wasn't much better. And sometime during a 41-1 loss to Ole Miss on Saturday, a Vandy fan removed his new Commodores hat and shirt and left Nashville's LP Field. (http://es.pn/1w4Ds2J)
Kentucky — For UK's players, just winning Saturday didn't seem enough. The offense didn't score a touchdown after the first quarter, though coach Mark Stoops "old them to enjoy the victory and not be sulking around. Maybe wasn't as pretty as we'd like it to be, but we're always going to respect wins. We'll take them any time, any way." (http://cjky.it/1CFNHMt)
Jonathan Lintner can be reached at (502) 582-4199. Follow him on Twitter @JonathanLintner.