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Jim McElwain's young Gators face their biggest challenge of the year, as they host the No. 3 Ole Miss Rebels down in "The Swamp."
Ole Miss may possess the most impressive resume of any team in the early portion of the 2015 season. After averaging 74.5 points per game through their first two contests, Hugh Freeze's team went into Tuscaloosa and had its way with Alabama. Quarterback Chad Kelly has brought a dynamic element to the quarterback, along with much-needed consistency.
A significant matchup in this game will pit Florida's deep secondary versus Ole Miss' vaunted stable of receivers. These two units are potentially the biggest strengths of the respective sides.
Additionally, how will Florida signal-caller Will Grier fare against an athletic Ole Miss defense? UF's young offensive line will have to protect Grier against the likes of the Nkemdiche brothers (among others). It also needs to give Grier time to find targets down the field (such as Antonio Callaway). It's a major storyline pertaining to this contest.
The late victory versus Tennessee was big for McElwain's team. It extended the winning streak over the Vols to 11 games, and it helped to keep Florida perfect in both conference and overall play.
With that said, it'll need to rebound quickly. Florida is facing a team with the aspirations of featuring in the College Football Playoff.
Is Derek Mason's job in jeopardy with a loss this week?
Vanderbilt is struggling...there's no other way to put it.
Sitting at 1-3, the Commodores are teetering on the brink of a very poor season from a record standpoint. It lost the season opener at home to Western Kentucky. With all due respect to the Hilltoppers, an SEC realistically shouldn't lose at home to a team residing in Conference USA.
Mason is a combined 4-12 thus far in his career as the head coach in Nashville. Surely, this isn't the record he had in mind when taking over the job initially. This weekend, Vandy travels to Murfreesboro to take on a 2-2 Middle Tennessee State team.
With no other obvious wins on the schedule, Vanderbilt needs a victory in this contest. It's an opportunity for the Commodores to not only rack up points, but also confidence.
A loss here would erase any positivity created from the 47-7 victory over Austin Peay two weeks ago. If one believes in moral victories, a 27-16 loss last week at Ole Miss would classify as one. Regardless, it was still a defeat.
Should Vanderbilt lose this game, Mason's job could seriously be in jeopardy. There's a real chance his team could go winless the remainder of the way without a win in this contest.
Is this an elimination game for two SEC East foes?
South Carolina will travel to Missouri this weekend in what could be an SEC East Division elimination game.
Both teams already have a loss in conference play. While not entirely impossible, it'd be very difficult for either team to win the division with two conference losses.
Quarterback play will go a long way in determining the winner of this contest. In his first collegiate start, South Carolina true freshman signal-caller Lorenzo Nunez went 12-of-22 for 184 yards and two touchdowns in a victory over UCF. He also rushed for 123 yards on 18 carries. Missouri's ability to keep him in the pocket will be key. If Nunez can escape to the perimeter, he will pick up big chunks of yardage with his mobility.
Maty Mauk and Drew Lock both played in the loss to Kentucky last week. Mauk is the more experienced option, but Lock is more talented in terms of throwing the football. Will the freshman be given a longer look in this contest?
It will be something to watch for going forward.
Quick hits: Will Auburn's offense get going against San Jose State? In last week's 17-9 loss to Mississippi State, the Tigers didn't register an offensive touchdown. In Gus Malzahn's career at Auburn (as a head coach or offensive coordinator), this had never happened before. Eastern Michigan heads to Baton Rouge to take on LSU. Will Leonard Fournette rush for 300 yards in this contest? EMU is dead-last in rushing yards allowed per game...After a tough conference victory over Missouri, Kentucky play host to Eastern Kentucky. Can Mark Stoops' team avoid the emotional hangover against a fellow in-state program?
