5 things we learned from Rivalry Week in the SEC

This is right around the point where depression sets in for most fans. Outside of Georgia and LSU — and potentially Alabama — the regular season is over in the Southeastern Conference. All that’s left is bowl games that have become rather meaningless since the inception of the College Football Playoff. What an unexpected ride it was for many teams in the SEC, so here are my final thoughts from the best conference in college football.

Georgia is the top dawg

We didn’t really learn that Georgia is the cream of the crop in the SEC this week, but after going undefeated in back-to-back seasons, it had to be said. If the Dawgs can finish the job as just the third team of all time to go 15-0, it’s time to start talking about Kirby Smart’s group as a dynasty.

Jimbo Fisher saves his job at Texas A&M

I’m not sure Texas A&M was ever going to eat the $85 million left on Fisher’s contract and fire him. But if there ever was a chance that was going to happen, it ended on Saturday night as the Aggies slaughtered LSU and ended their hopes at the College Football Playoff. This program needs a lot of work to get to the top of the SEC, but this past weekend was a step in right direction, which should be enough to ensure Fisher at least one more year in College Station.

LSU was never a contender, but they are coming

I’m not sure there is a more die-hard LSU fan out there than me, but I’m not delusional. LSU was never a legitimate contender, and they never were supposed to be. Winning the SEC West, especially how this season started against FSU, wasn’t even in the people’s wildest dreams in Baton Rouge. Brian Kelly was the right hire. He’s the best coach the Tigers have had since Nick Saban was around, and the other two guys that were there after Saban both won National Championships. LSU is coming, and no matter what happens on Saturday against Georgia, Tigers fans should treat it as a celebration.

South Carolina is for real

Like LSU, South Carolina has the right man at the helm in Shane Beamer. He talked the talk before blowing out the Vols two weeks ago, and then the Gamecocks did it again on Saturday — this time on the road against Clemson. Is it possible we finally see a changing of the guard in the Palmetto State? Clemson seems to be taking tiny steps back each season, and South Carolina just took a giant leap forward in Beamer’s second year.

Maybe Ole Miss shouldn’t have been in a hurry to hand Kiffin another extension

Ole Miss got off to a blazing start to the season, while Auburn did not. Bryan Harsin was eventually fired, and Kiffin was originally the hot topic of their coaching search. It no longer looks as if that’s a possibility, as Kiffin has now inked another extension with the team, while Auburn seems to have pivoted to Hugh Freeze. I always thought Kiffin bolting from Ole Miss to Auburn was a long shot, but that didn’t stop him from playing it perfectly to earn another pay bump in Oxford. I’m sure the Rebels are happy to keep their guy, but after dropping four of their last five games of the season, perhaps they shouldn’t be so thrilled… Ole Miss benefitted from an extremely favorable schedule to begin the year. This was never more than an average team in the SEC.

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Photographer: John Korduner/Icon Sportswire