JOHN ZENOR

AP Sports Writer
Alabama head coach Nick Saban walks to the Alabama student section to salute the fans postgame, a rare occurrence, after an NCAA college football game against Tennessee, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Saban had asked for fans to be loud and help build momentum during his call-in show earlier in the week. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Early angst aside, Alabama-LSU game is once again a huge factor in SEC West
Alabama and LSU enter their annual SEC West showdown having both emerged from some stumbles. The eighth-ranked Crimson Tide host the 13th-ranked Tigers on Saturday night with both having ambitions that begin with division titles.
 
Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne (1) throws a pass during the first half an NCAA college football game against Mississippi State, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Thorne, Auburn win first SEC game, 27-13 over Mississippi State to snap 4-game losing streak
Payton Thorne passed for 230 yards and three first-half touchdowns and Jarquez Hunter ran for a season-high 144 yards to lead Auburn to a 27-13 victory over Mississippi State.
 
Vanderbilt quarterback Ken Seals (8) looks to throw a pass against Georgia in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
No. 12 Ole Miss faces yet another SEC team looking for its first league win. This time it’s Vandy
The Ole Miss Rebels will spend another Saturday trying not to become an opponent’s first Southeastern Conference victim. For the third straight week, the 12th-ranked Rebels face a team still desperate for its first league win.
 
Mississippi NCAA college basketball head coach Chris Beard speaks during Southeastern Conference Media Days, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023, in Birmingham, Ala. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Chris Beard’s hiring, Flanigan’s addition raises hopes for Ole Miss basketball season
Mississippi is set for its first season under coach Chris Beard. The hiring of the former Texas and Texas Tech coach immediately raised the Rebels’ profile and long-term expectations.
 
Alabama wide receiver Jermaine Burton (3) celebrates his first down catch during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Tennessee, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Also pictured is Alabama offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor (74). (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
SEC games this season have featured sacks galore, except for defending champion and No. 1 Georgia
It has been a veritable sackfest in the Southeastern Conference this season, for better and worse. Nobody has made more sacks than Texas A&M, and few have allowed more than Alabama, South Carolina and Arkansas.
 
Alabama NCAA college basketball player Aaron Estrada speaks during Southeastern Conference Media Days, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023, in Birmingham, Ala. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
No. 24 Alabama turns to transfers and freshmen after stellar season shadowed by controversy
Alabama will find it hard to duplicate last season’s run to the No. 1 overall NCAA Tournament seed. The Crimson Tide returns only one starter and three scholarship players from a team that won the Southeastern Conference championship.
 
FILE - Mississippi State forward Tolu Smith (1) drives to the basket around Auburn forward Johni Broome (4) defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023 in Auburn, Ala.. (AP Photo/Butch Dill, File)
Johni Broome, transfers lead Auburn into season and freshman Aden Holloway aiming to take the point
Auburn forward Johni Broome has a message to anyone sleeping on the Tigers this season. The preseason first-team All-Southeastern Conference pick says those people are “going to be woken up real soon.”
 
Texas A&M NCAA college basketball player Wade Taylor IV speaks during Southeastern Conference Media Days, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023, in Birmingham, Ala. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Texas A&M and Tennessee return stars, other teams load up with new faces in tightly bunched SEC
Texas A&M and Tennessee return top players like Wade Taylor IV and Santiago Vescovi. Alabama and Arkansas mined the transfer portal to replace a departed pair of NBA first-round picks apiece.
 
Alabama head coach Nick Saban gets reactson the sideline during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Tennessee, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Nick Saban enjoying his resilient Alabama team even if the ride has been bumpy
No. 9 Alabama hasn’t been making anything look easy this season. The Crimson Tide eked out a win over Arkansas, sputtered at South Florida, survived the Mississippi game and needed a huge second-half surge to defeat Tennessee.
 
Alabama defensive back Malachi Moore (13) salutes the fans during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Tennessee, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Milroe, No. 11 Alabama stage huge second-half rally, top No. 17 Tennessee 34-20
Jalen Milroe passed for two touchdowns, Jihaad Campbell returned a fumble for a score in the fourth quarter and No. 11 Alabama uncorked 27 straight second-half points in rallying for a 34-20 victory over No. 17 Tennessee.
 
LSU NCAA women's college basketball head coach Kim Mulkey speaks during Southeastern Conference Media Days, Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023, in Birmingham, Ala. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Reese, defending national champ LSU and rebuilt South Carolina leading way in SEC
Tennessee coach Kellie Harper was among the millions watching Angel Reese and LSU claim the national title. It was a high note both for the Southeastern Conference, which also had South Carolina in the Final Four, and women’s college basketball.
 
Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze walks on the sideline in the first half of an NCAA college football game against LSU in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Kiffin and Freeze history in mix as No. 13 Ole Miss visits Auburn, eager to keep SEC momentum
Hugh Freeze is set to lead Auburn against his former team for the first time. The slumping Tigers host 13th-ranked Ole Miss on Saturday trying to snap a three-game losing streak.
 
Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton III (7) runs for yardage during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Texas A&M, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
No. 17 Tennessee visits No. 11 Alabama for rivalry tilt a year after their dramatic top 10 showdown
 
Mississippi NCAA college basketball head coach Chris Beard speaks during Southeastern Conference Media Days, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023, in Birmingham, Ala. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Ole Miss’s Beard heads into season as lone new head coach in SEC
Mississippi’s Chris Beard is the SEC’s lone new head coach a year after six programs made changes at the top. It’s a big hire for a program that languished near the bottom of the league last season, but also notable for another reason.
 
Kentucky NCAA college basketball head coach John Calipari speaks during Southeastern Conference Media Days, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023, in Birmingham, Ala. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Deep, talented SEC hoops relying heavily on newcomers -- except Tennessee and Texas A&M
The Kentucky Wildcats no longer preside quite so comfortably over the Southeastern Conference, which is harder to do these days. Instead, it is preseason No. 9 Tennessee that is favored to win it, and No. 24 Alabama was the champion last year.
 
Alabama tight end Amari Niblack (84) celebrates his touchdown reception against Arkansas during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
No. 11 Alabama holds off Arkansas comeback, wins 24-21 to stay perfect in SEC
Jalen Milroe passed for two touchdowns and rushed for a third, and No. 11 Alabama survived a second-half Arkansas rally in a 24-21 victory.
 
Arkansas defensive back Dwight McGlothern (2) breaks up a pass intended for Texas A&M wide receiver Jahdae Walker (9) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Dallas, Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Flawed but still winning, Alabama leads SEC West heading into game with sliding Arkansas
Alabama has been a flawed team hindered at times by sacks and penalties. But the 11th-ranked Crimson Tide has won four straight games and is leading the Southeastern Conference Western Division.
 
Alabama linebacker Dallas Turner (15) reacts while pointing to the Texas A&M sideline after sacking Texas A&M quarterback Max Johnson (14) during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
LSU’s Jayden Daniels, Georgia’s Kirby Smart highlight AP’s midseason SEC honorees
LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels, Georgia coach Kirby Smart and linebackers Dallas Turner and Jett Johnson are among those honored by The Associated Press in a midseason report for the Southeastern Conference.
 
Mississippi fans celebrate on the field after an NCAA college football game against LSU in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Thomas Graning)
SEC West rivals Ole Miss, Arkansas meet with the promise of more offensive fireworks
Ole Miss and Arkansas have produced some wild games the past few seasons. Now, the SEC West rivals are set for Round 4 between coaches Lane Kiffin and Sam Pittman. The 16th-ranked Rebels are coming off a thrilling win over LSU.
 
Georgia tight end Brock Bowers (19) is tackled by Auburn safety Caleb Wooden after a reception during the second half of an NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/ Butch Dill )
Beck-to-Bowers combo rallies No. 1 Georgia to 27-20 win over Auburn
With Georgia’s No. 1 ranking and lengthy winning streak on the line, Brock Bowers caught a 40-yard touchdown pass from Carson Beck in the final minutes of a 27-20 win over Auburn.
 
Alabama linebacker Dallas Turner (15) celebrates a sack against Mississippi during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
No. 12 Alabama’s defense holding its own while offense struggles. Mississippi State the next foe
Alabama’s defense is playing well these days. That fact has been overshadowed by concerns about the struggling offense.
 
LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) carries on a keeper in the second half of an NCAA college football game against Arkansas in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. LSU won 34-31. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
LSU visits Ole Miss in another Top 25 SEC West showdown
Mississippi and LSU bring high-scoring offenses into a matchup of ranked SEC West rivals. The 20th-ranked Rebels are trying to rebound from a division loss to Alabama. The 13th-ranked Tigers narrowly won a game against Arkansas.
 
LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) carries on a keeper in the second half of an NCAA college football game against Arkansas in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. LSU won 34-31. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
No. 12 LSU visits No. 20 Ole Miss in another Top 25 matchup in the rugged SEC West
No. 20 Mississippi is facing a ranked SEC West rival for the second straight week. The Rebels hope to fare better this time when 12th-ranked LSU visits Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. It’s a matchup of high-powered offenses and dual-threat quarterbacks.
 
Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe (4) lifts a fist as he celebrates a win over Mississippi after an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Jalen Milroe, No. 13 Alabama’s defense key 24-10 win over No. 15 Ole Miss
Jalen Milroe and Alabama’s offense busted out of the doldrums in the second half and the 13th-ranked Crimson Tide’s defense was strong throughout in a 24-10 victory over No. 15 Mississippi.
 
Mississippi quarterback Jaxson Dart (2) throws a touchdown pass it tight end Michael Trigg, not pictured, in the second half of an NCAA college football game against Tulane in New Orleans, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023. Mississippi won 37-20. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Ole Miss’s Dart thriving after fighting off challenges, next test is Alabama
Jaxson Dart is thriving as Mississippi’s starting quarterback after fighting off an offseason challenge from transfers. Now, Dart faces another test in leading the 15th-ranked Rebels into Tuscaloosa to face No. 13 Alabama.
 
Alabama running back Roydell Williams (5) celebrates his score against South Florida with tight end Robbie Ouzts during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
No longer in top 10, Alabama hosts Ole Miss in an SEC West showdown between two ranked foes
Alabama is outside the AP top 10 for the first time in eight years and facing the team that bumped the Crimson Tide out back then. The 13th-ranked Tide hosts No. 15 Ole Miss.
 
Mississippi coach Lane Kiffin walks the sideline during the second half the team's NCAA college football game against Georgia Tech in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Thomas Graning)
No. 15 Ole Miss visits No. 13 Alabama in Week 4 headliner in the Southeastern Conference
Ranked SEC West contenders Alabama and MIssissippi are set to meet in Tuscaloosa. It’s the Southeastern Conference opener for both teams.
 
Mississippi coach Lane Kiffin walks the sideline during the second half the team's NCAA college football game against Georgia Tech in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Thomas Graning)
Saban denies suggestion from Ole Miss’ Kiffin that Alabama has new defensive play-caller
Alabama coach Nick Saban says defensive coordinator Kevin Steele is still calling the plays. Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin isn’t so sure.
 
Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe (4) jogs off the field after the team's win against Middle Tennessee in an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
No. 13 Alabama turns to Jalen Milroe again to spark its sputtering offense
Alabama is turning the offensive reins back over to Jalen Milroe, but the messy quarterback situation has been only part of the problem. The offensive line has been bullied at times, and the receivers and running backs haven’t always shined either.
 
Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne warms up before an NCAA college football game against Samford, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Thorne runs, passes Auburn to 45-13 victory over Samford
Payton Thorne passed for 282 yards and a touchdown and ran for 123 yards and two more scores to lead Auburn to a 45-13 victory over Samford.
 
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