ESPN College Football

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

I'm back from the Bayou, a day later than normal after some serious delays, but here’s this week’s look at who’s hot and who’s not in the SEC:

En Fuego

The LSU experience: What a setting for college football. From the gumbo and jambalaya being whipped up in the parking lot, to the Golden Band from Tigerland, to the passion with which the fans cheer for their football team (and the passion they party with before and after), there’s nothing like an LSU football game on Saturday night in Tiger Stadium. If you love college football and have never been, do yourself a favor and go. It’s a trip that has to be on the bucket list of any true college football enthusiast. LSU’s offense might have been a dud last Saturday, but that crowd was unbelievable. Some of the motor homes started rolling in on Wednesday. They call it Touchdown Terrace where a lot of them park, and fans were already out in the rain getting “warmed up” as early as 6:30 in the morning on Saturday. Just an extracurricular activity, right?

Hot

Florida defensive coordinator Charlie Strong: He challenged his defense before the season, and he did again at halftime last Saturday. It’s safe to say that challenge was accepted. Florida held LSU to 44 yards of total offense in the second half in the kind of dominant defensive performance Strong said in the offseason that he expected from these Gators.

Not

Ole Miss’ pass protection: Quarterback Jevan Snead has taken his share of criticism for the Rebels’ offensive woes, and much of it has been deserved. But the Rebels have also done a poor job of protecting him. The left side of their line continues to be a problem.

Hot

Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett: If you give him ample time to throw, Mallett will carve you apart. He’s well on his way to a 3,000-yard passing season and has already thrown 13 touchdown passes and just three interceptions.

Not

Vanderbilt’s discipline: So much for the Commodores having an edge in the mental part of the game. They’ve had a whopping 24 penalties in their last two games, 12 in each game, and are killing themselves with dumb mistakes.

Hot

Kentucky receiver Randall Cobb: He’s the most underrated player in the league. Cobb had 229 yards of all-purpose yards in the 28-26 loss to South Carolina. He ran the ball, caught the ball and returned kickoffs and punts. Cobb has scored six touchdowns in five games, four receiving and two rushing.

Not

Tim Tebow’s music appreciation: In talking about how great the atmosphere was at Tiger Stadium and how wild it was during warm-ups, Tebow made mention of “that country song” that was blaring throughout the stadium. For the record, Tim, that country song was Garth Brooks’ “Calling Baton Rouge.”

Hot

LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson: The Tigers’ sophomore has improved as much as any player in the conference. He’s become a dominant performer at his position. He can cover, possesses unbelievable closing speed and tackles like a linebacker. He’s exactly what everybody is looking for at cornerback.

Not

Auburn’s defense: When you look at the Tigers’ defensive numbers, it’s hard to believe they’re 5-1. They took it on the chin last week against Arkansas, and their defense was exposed. They’re not very good against the run, don’t have any depth at linebacker and have allowed 19 touchdowns, which is tied for the most in the league with Georgia.

Ice, Ice Baby

Georgia coach Mark Richt: From a football perspective, Richt probably hasn’t had many weeks that were any tougher than what he’s enduring right now following that inexplicable 45-19 beating his Bulldogs suffered in Knoxville last weekend. Something isn’t quite right with this program, and it goes much deeper than losing Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno to the NFL. The Bulldogs have continued to recruit at a high level, and they have some good young talent in the program. But the edge is gone. How else do you explain their being outclassed in every way by a Tennessee team that hadn’t won an SEC game and hadn’t been able to score points against any legitimate defense? Of course, when you look at the Bulldogs’ defensive numbers, it’s a stretch to call them a legitimate defense at this point. Unfortunately for Richt, who’s been the epitome of class and has won 10 or more games in six of his eight seasons in Athens, the program has slipped enough in the shadow of what Urban Meyer has done at Florida and Nick Saban at Alabama that he’s probably going to have to make some changes at the end of the season. Otherwise, Richt’s going to be the one who’s in trouble. It’s the world we live in right now in the SEC when half the head coaches are making nearly $3 million or more per year.