By BJ Bennett
SouthernPigskin.com

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Five league teams, in their own ways, had defining performances over the weekend.

Auburn
The homestanding Tigers tied their largest margin of victory ever over LSU with a 41-7 dismantling of their division rivals. Auburn had more than double the total yards of the visiting Tigers (566-280), scored on four straight possessions to open the game and held LSU to 0-of-13 on third down conversions. At halftime, Auburn led 31-7. Quarterback Nick Marshall and the offense averaged over ten yards per pass and over six yards per rush. On a primetime stage, Gus Malzahn’s Tigers looked like the defending SEC champions.

Florida
In gut-check time for the Gators, trailing 9-0 on the road in the fourth quarter, Florida responded with what could prove to be a defining final period at Tennessee. Head coach Will Muschamp turned to true freshman quarterback Treon Harris, who led the Gators on two scoring drives. Kicker Austin Hardin booted a game-winning field goal with 6:20 remaining. Florida dominated the line of scrimmage, holding the Volunteers to 28 yards rushing on 29 attempts. Tailback Matt Jones ran 23 times for 114 yards. With their season seemingly on the brink, the Gators showed a very real poise and toughness.

Kentucky
After recruiting elite talent to Lexington and working tirelessly to change the program’s culture, head coach Mark Stoops and the Wildcats got their signature win. Kentucky scored 21 points in the fourth quarter to beat South Carolina for just the second time since 2000. Running back Jojo Kemp, operating mostly out of the shotgun, carried the ball 17 times for 131 yards and three touchdowns. The Wildcat defense intercepted Dylan Thompson three times, with Bud Dupree returning one for a late game-tying score and Ashely Lowery ending the Gamecocks’ final drive. Kentucky is now 4-1, with a pair of victories in the SEC.

Mississippi State
Quarterback Dak Prescott and the Bulldogs simply overwhelmed 6th ranked Texas A&M. With the 48-31 victory, Mississippi State has now beaten top ten teams in consecutive games for the first time in school history. The Bulldogs were near-perfect on offense, passing for 270 yards and rushing for 289. Linebacker Richie Brown tied a school record with three interceptions of Kenny Hill. In a game where Mississippi State held a 48-17 lead late, both Prescott, in terms of the Heisman Trophy race, and the Bulldogs, in terms of national contention, showed the rest of college football just how good they can be.

Ole Miss
Validation came in the most fitting of forms as the Rebels won their first game ever over a number one team with a 23-17 triumph over Alabama. Ole Miss was confident and aggressive down the stretch, shutting out the Crimson Tide in the fourth quarter and scoring two touchdowns in the game’s final five-and-a-half minutes. Quarterback Bo Wallace was clutch, throwing three touchdown passes. Defensive back Senquez Golson clinched the victory with a stunning interception in the back of the endzone as Alabama was driving for a game-winning score. History has been made at Ole MIss, along with a jump right into the title race.