Texas A&M and Missouri made their SEC debuts this weekend. We learned where both programs are heading and how far they have to go to get there.

The Aggies look better placed to compete this season, with a strong offensive line and defense. Freshman quarterback Johnny Manziel showed some reasons for excitement. They controlled the first half, taking a 17-10 lead over Florida into halftime. When the Gators adjusted defensively, A&M could not recover in the second, mounting just one drive of more than nine yards. Florida eeked out a 20-17 win for a grateful Will Muschamp. The result did not go their way, though it looks like few will doubt they made the right move.

Missouri had a rougher debut. The Tigers hung with Georgia, leading the game until late in the third quarter. After that point, though, the old men got the better of them. Mizzou had experience and injury issues on the offensive line. They had neither a Jarvis Jones nor a player who could capably block a Jarvis Jones. Their two fourth quarter turnovers led directly to two Georgia touchdowns and a flattering 41-20 final.

Both teams must figure out how to function against a deep, athletic defense that clamps down in the second half. Neither is quite there yet. This will be shaded as two huge, gloating wins for the SEC, despite these being conference games.

The Big Ten has had better weekends. Let us start with the conference title contenders. Oregon State blemished Bret Bielema’s non-conference record, beating Wisconsin 10-7 in Corvallis and holding the Badgers to just 35 rushing yards. Losing six assistants and returning the fewest starters in the Big Ten? Kind of a big deal. Nebraska also went west and its defense allowed 653 total yards to UCLA in a 36-30 loss. The Bruins, now 2-0, have been tearing it up with a freshman quarterback and three freshman offensive linemen. Noel Mazzone looks like a hell of a hire. Michigan saved face and survived some atrocious clock management to beat Air Force 31-25. Only the Spartans, with a 41-7 win at Central Michigan, looked passable.

Moving on…Iowa lost to Iowa State, for the 8th time in 14 attempts under Kirk Ferentz. They managed just six points. This is as suitable a time as any to remind everyone Ferentz is the fifth-highest paid coach in the country, with a contract through 2020. Anthony Fera is a bigger loss to Penn State than many thought. The Nittany Lions lost to Virginia 17-16, after missing four out of five field goals and an extra point. Illinois was dismantled by Todd Graham’s Arizona State 45-14. ASU was only forced into seven third downs the entire game.

With jaundiced eyes, the Leaders Division went 2-4, with wins over UCF and UMass. With clear eyes, the stronger Legends Division went 4-2 with Northwestern claiming an SEC scalp. All six losses were against AQ opponents. Five of the six losses were on the road. Purdue and Penn State covered and nearly won as double-digit underdogs. It was not stellar, but it was no Black Saturday. B1G teams will be relieved when they can begin playing each other.

Statement Win: Finally, Dan Mullen has beaten an SEC West team not named Ole Miss. The Bulldogs pulled away from Auburn in the second half at home to win 28-10. Mullen seems to have the team heading back in as right of a direction as is feasible. Auburn, in contrast, looks like a budding disaster. Their 0-2 record brings Gene Chizik’s record without Cam Newton to 14-12 against FBS teams. That reduces to 10-12 against AQ competition. Auburn fans will stick by him despite the evidence, but if the over/under is Larry Coker’s five years after a title, we’ll take the under.

Pump the Brakes: On Wes Lunt’s Heisman candidacy. Lunt is a true freshman and looked like one in a 59-38 loss at Arizona. Lunt threw three interceptions, including a devastating pick six with the score 37-31 in the fourth quarter. He was hardly the only villain, as the Cowboys committed 15 penalties worth 167 yards. Rich Rod can equal his first season win totals at Michigan and West Virginia by beating South Carolina State next week. Looking at Arizona’s remaining schedule, he may have to.

Baby Steps: For the first time since the 2011 opener, Maryland beat an FBS team. The Terps beat Temple 36-27 in a game in which they were 10 point underdogs. Sure, they committed four turnovers and nearly blew a four-score lead, but it is an FBS win. We hope Scott Van Pelt and John Ourand popped some champagne.

Buffalohno: Just when you think Colorado hits the nadir, they sink lower. The Buffaloes lost 30-28 at home to FCS Sacramento State. They blew a 14-0 first quarter lead and were out-gained by more than 100 yards. This is a program that won four Big 12 North titles in five years from 2001 to 2005. Do we still consider the Pac 12 signing up Utah and Colorado a coup?

Highlight You Might Have Missed… LSU running back Spencer Ware hit Washington’s Trey Watson like a freight train, a fitting encapsulation of the differing football styles in the SEC and the Pac 12.

Pointsplosion: Boston College beat FCS Maine 34-3. Combined with Boston College’s 41-32 loss to Miami, this is the first time BC has scored 30 in back to back games since Frank Spaziani’s first two wins against Northeastern and Kent State in 2009.

The Head Ball Coach: When asked about his team’s Connor Shaw-less offensive explosion against East Carolina, Spurrier trolled Clemson: ”We had 50 plays at halftime. That Clemson coach would be proud of us, wouldn’t he?”

No Action: Florida State was the largest favorite in history against Savannah State. It did not finish, not because of a mercy rule but from inclement weather. FSU was leading 55-0 and had run up a 413-28 yardage advantage. The Tigers did manage to get three first downs. Moral victory.

Thoughts and Prayers: Tulane safety Devon Walker broke his neck and suffered a collapsed lung on an inadvertent helmet to helmet collision with a teammate. Arkansas’ Tevin Mitchell was carted off after a similar collision against Louisiana-Monroe. We wish him the best.

Upset of the Week: Definitely Louisiana-Monroe picking off No. 8 Arkansas 34-31 in overtime. It looks as though the most intriguing SEC game next week will be in the East, where Tennessee faces Florida.

Picks: We rebounded from last week’s debacle, hitting on five of six: UConn (+4.5), Purdue (+14), UCLA (+6), Akron (+24) and Northwestern (+3.5). We missed Missouri (+2.5). That puts us at 7-5 ATS on the season.

[Photos via Presswire]