SEC ROUNDUP
No. 3 Alabama 24, Auburn 22 (4OT): John Metchie caught a scoring pass from Bryce Young in the fourth overtime to give Alabama a comeback victory over host Auburn. Freshman Kool-Aid McKinstry tipped away T.J. Finley’s pass in the final OT and Young hit Metchie just as he did in the previous one. Alabama (11-1, 7-1 Southeastern Conference) moves on to face No. 1 Georgia in the SEC championship game with its College Football Playoff hopes on the line. The Tigers (6-6, 3-5) dropped their fourth straight game after smothering the Tide’s offense most of the way.
LSU 27, No. 14 Texas A&M 24: Max Johnson hit Jaray Jenkins with a 28-yard scoring pass down the right sideline with 20 seconds left, and host LSU knocked off Texas A&M to give coach Ed Orgeron a triumphant send-off in his final game in Tiger Stadium. LSU had lost a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter and looked to be on the brink its first losing season since 1999 when Johnson, who’d been sacked six times in the second half, came alive on fourth-and-6 from the LSU 19. Johnson kept the Tigers alive with a decisive pass over the middle to tight end Jack Bech and then hit Jenkins for a 31-yard gain. An 11-yard pass to Malik Nabers put LSU on the 28, setting up the go-ahead score three plays later and setting off a wild celebration in Death Valley while Orgeron smiled from ear-to-ear on the sideline.
Florida 24, Florida State 21: Anthony Richardson came off the bench and led host Florida to a win over Florida State that made the Gators bowl eligible a week after firing coach Dan Mullen. Richardson replaced turnover-prone Emory Jones early in third quarter and played significant snaps for the first time in a month. The dynamic freshman completed 5 of 7 passes for 55 yards, including a 5-yard touchdown to Justin Shorter that gave the Gators (6-6) some breathing room in a tight game.
Tennessee 45, Vanderbilt 21: Hendon Hooker threw for 156 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 75 yards to lead host Tennessee. Jabari Small rushed for 103 yards and two touchdowns as the Volunteers (7-5, 4-4) grabbed bragging rights over their intrastate rival Commodores (2-10, 0-8). Tennessee receiver Cedric Tillman caught six passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns, After taking a hit on an option play, Hooker left the game with 8:03 left in the fourth quarter holding his left hand. He was replaced by Joe Milton.
Clemson 30, South Carolina 0: Will Shipley ran for 128 yards and a touchdown and Clemson’s defense smothered host South Carolina for its seventhstraight win in the Palmetto State rivalry. The Tigers (9-3; No. 23 CFP) won their fifth straight this season and matched the longest win streak in the series that they set from 1934-40. Clemson’s defense limited South Carolina (6-6) to 206 yards, its second lowest output this season.