ESPN College Football

We're just a couple days away from the game we're all looking forward to see. Enjoy the countdown with some SEC links.

• A year later, the memories of Nick Bell remain fresh at Mississippi State.
• What would have happened if LSU coach Les Miles was actually at Alabama?
• Vanderbilt kicker Casey Spear revisits missed field goal against Arkansas and gets more pressure from junior kicker Ryan Fowler.
• It has certainly been worth the wait for Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones.
• Arkansas is preparing for an improved South Carolina defense.
• South Carolina needs to get wide receiver Alshon Jeffery the ball more.
• Auburn's offense is mixing it up on the field this season.
• Forget the numbers because the actual players are going to decided Alabama-LSU.
• The memories of Da'Rick Rogers' critical drop against Tennessee are still painful.
• Maxwell Smith named starting quarterback for Kentucky this weekend.
• Rachel George of The Orlando Sentinel looks at several factors that have contributed to Florida's fall since its national title runs.

Some linkage for your viewing pleasure while the SEC hovers somewhere between 12 and 13 teams:

• Georgia is still searching for playmakers at receiver.
• Florida's offensive line feels settled in after a solid performance in the opener.
• Kentucky is hoping that freshman running back Josh Clemons can deliver a jolt to the offense.
• Life remains golden for former Vanderbilt coach George MacIntyre, who will be honored at halftime Saturday.
• The late Nick Bell is never far from the heart or mind of Auburn defensive end LaDarius Owens.
• It's a "completely different" Chris Relf who leads Mississippi State into Auburn on Saturday.
• Zack Stoudt's perseverance earns him his first start as Ole Miss' quarterback.
• Tennessee freshman running back Marlin Lane is going to see his role expand.
• Alabama braces for a stacked defensive front in Happy Valley this weekend.
• Arkansas takes pride in its Little Rock winning streak.

You never know what you’re going to find out when you ask a question.

On the ESPNU College Football Podcast on Monday, I asked Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen if he owned a cowbell, those noisemakers that are as much a part of the tradition of Bulldog football as sitting in traffic on U.S. 82.

The answer nearly choked me up.

“I’ve gotten one as a gift. It sits in my office in a case,” Mullen said. “I don’t need it during the game.”

Mullen then began to describe the tradition of cowbells being rung at Mississippi State games.

“I understand the tradition of the thing. Traditions are what make college football different from every other sport out there. My story that sunk home, with what the cowbell means -- we had a young man on our team last year, Nick Bell, passed away after a short six-week fight with cancer. Very, very, very difficult situation to go through as a team. Even more so with his family.

“We were at the funeral, had the team at the funeral. Nick’s mom Linda, as they are getting ready to close the casket on her 20-year-old son, stood up and rang her cowbell.

“That really is where it sunk home to me. It’s not a silly gameday thing. It is a deep-rooted tradition in the hearts of our people. Those traditions are what make our sport so special. I’m just happy that the SEC understands that, what it does mean to our people.”

Linda Bell has remained connected to the Misssissippi State football program. Mullen hosted a women’s football camp this month. Linda Bell served as the keynote speaker.

“She’ll come talk to the team in our preseason camp,” Mullen said. “She’s very close with our program, with myself, my wife and our family.”

In the spirit of next month’s ESPYS, we at the SEC blog have come up with our own version of the awards show but with an SEC twist.

Auburn headlines the SEC in the ESPYS with five nominations, but how with the Tigers fair in our award ceremony?

Take look at the winners:

Best athlete: QB Cam Newton, Auburn: There really isn’t much more to say about Newton and the magical season he had in his first -- and only -- season at Auburn. The Heisman Trophy winner passed for 2,854 yards and 30 touchdowns while leading the SEC with 1,473 rushing yards and 20 more scores. Outside of his statistics, Newton was one of the toughest athletes in the country for defenders to corrale. At 6-foot-6, 250 pounds, Newton barreled through defenses while maintaining impressive elusiveness.

Best championship performance: DT Nick Fairley, Auburn: Oregon coach Chip Kelly said Fairley was the difference in the national championship game and that his Ducks simply couldn't block him. Fairley finished the game with five tackles, including three for loss, a sack and a forced fumble.

Breakthrough athlete: RB Knile Davis, Arkansas: Fairley could have won this, but we went outside the box. Davis was one of the most consistent players in the league toward the end of last season and led all running backs with 1,322 rushing yards and had 13 touchdowns. He rushed for more than 100 yards in six of the 13 games he played (all in the last seven games) and averaged 101.7 yards per game.

Record-breaking performance: Newton, Auburn: Newton had a SEC record 4,327 total yards of offense last season. His 1,473 rushing yards set the SEC single-season record for rushing yards by a quarterback. He became the third player in league history with at least 4,000 yards in a season and the first in SEC history with 2,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in a season.

Best game: Auburn coming back from a 24-0 deficit to beat Alabama 28-27: Alabama had all of the momentum until Newton connected with Emory Blake for a 36-yard touchdown pass late in the second quarter. The Tigers then outscored the Tide 21-3 in the second half to stun Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

Best upset: South Carolina taking down No. 1-ranked Alabama: Alabama was the preseason No. 1 and had won 19 in a row entering the game, but held the lead for just three minutes against South Carolina in Columbia. The Gamecocks, led by three touchdowns from quarterback Stephen Garcia rolled over the Tide in a 35-21 win. It was Alabama's first SEC loss since the 2008 SEC championship against Florida and the Tide's first regular-season loss since losing to Auburn to close the 2007 regular season.

Best moment: Nick Bell's mother ringing a cowbell to end the moment of silence for her son in the first game following his death : Mississippi State lost the defensive end, who was 20, after his short battle with cancer last fall. Before the Arkansas game the Mississippi State marching band formed Bell's No. 36 on the field as it prepared to play the national anthem. The crowd then observed a moment of silence in honor of Bell and Linda Bell closed by ringing her cowbell. Mississippi State athletic director Scott Stricklin said it was one of the most moving things he's seen at a sporting event.

Best team: Auburn: The Tigers went 14-0 and took home the crystal ball. Doesn’t get any better than that.

Best coach: Gene Chizik, Auburn: The Tigers’ second-year coach went from being booed when he arrived in Auburn to winning a national championship in just two seasons. Auburn was 8-5 in his first year and went undefeated in 2010.

DESTIN, Fla. -- Like many around the SEC, Dan Mullen saw the cowbells used at Mississippi State games as a gimmick.

Even when he took the job as the Bulldogs’ head coach in 2009 he still considered them a “neat thing” and an “amusing deal.”

But as the issue of using cowbells returns to the SEC meetings, Mullen’s outlook on their use has transformed and he now understands the symbolism and the tradition of what the rattling of such a simple device means to a fan base and a university.

Unfortunately for Mullen, tragedy shaped Mullen’s new opinion.

Mullen and the rest of the Bulldogs family were rocked by the death of defensive end Nick Bell last fall. While at Bell’s funeral, Mullen stood and watched as Bell’s mother stood over her son’s coffin as it was being lowered into the ground. As Bell’s mother said goodbye, the thing that caught Mullen off guard was the sound of her ringing a cowbell he thought had more place being clanked inside a stadium.

Mullen watched -- and felt -- the pride she had in both her son and the tradition he stood for. It was then that he realized cowbells were no longer a silly scheme to rattle opponents.

“It’s not an amusing thing anymore,” Mullen said at the SEC spring meetings Wednesday. “It is a deep-rooted symbol and tradition of the people of the state of Mississippi and Mississippi State University.”

It was that crushing realization of how important this tradition was to everyone associated with the university that made Mullen understand that this was a practice he had to fight for.

In 2010, the SEC ruled that cowbells could be used before games, at halftime, during timeouts and after scores. Ringing of cowbells during the game action, which had become a staple of Bulldogs fans, would amount to a penalty.

The first offense would cost the school a $5,000 penalty, the second offense $25,000 and the third offense would cost $50,000.

In October, SEC commissioner Mike Slive said Mississippi State had been told it violated the conference’s noisemaker policy. That prompted Mullen to tell students and fans to respect the new rule.

Now that the season is over and topic could be up for debate again, Mullen said he thinks the fans did a good job of respecting and adapting to the rule last season.

As far as the noisemakers being considered a competitive advantage for the Bulldogs, Mullen doesn’t agree.

“We’re certainly not the loudest stadium in the conference and we’re probably near the bottom in crowd noise,” he said. “I can’t see how it even gives us an advantage.”

The scene at Bell’s funeral opened Mullen’s eyes to the true meaning of the tradition, but as the year went on, he began to really see the impact the cowbells had on fans, even when they weren’t ringing.

Mullen wants to keep the league’s current rule and wants to educate fans on the SEC’s meaning of the rule and the league on the rich tradition of the bell.

“I have young people come in with cowbells that their grandfather gave them on their death bed,” he said. “They look at it like you’re trying to take a tradition away from our family or a deep-rooted symbolism of our family and trying to rip it away from us.”

Can you feel the love?

Better yet, why don’t we spread a little love in a conference that’s brimming with love among all of its fans and teams?

Sound the sarcasm alert.

It’s Valentine’s Day, so we’re going to set aside all the bitter rivalries, feuds and finger-pointing for a day and hand out some very deserving cards.

Sit back and enjoy.

Dear …

Auburn athletic director Jay Jacobs,

You were skewered for your hiring of a guy with a 5-19 head coaching record back in December 2008. Clearly, Gene Chizik was the right hire for Auburn. And, clearly, you knew exactly what you were doing.

Georgia coach Mark Richt,

The class you’ve exuded during your tenure at Georgia speaks for itself, the way you treat people and the way you live your life. But coming off a 6-7 season, it’s the way your team plays in 2011 that will determine your coaching future. Even for the best of guys, it’s a bottom-line business.

Linda Bell, the mother of Mississippi State defensive end Nick Bell, who died last November,

The entire SEC aches for your loss. The courage Nick showed in his fight against the dreaded disease of cancer was an inspiration to us all. As I’m sure Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen has reminded you on several occasions, Nick’s spirit will endure.

Kentucky receiver Randall Cobb,

As you embark on your NFL career, take pride in the fact that you set a standard in this league for being a true “Renaissance Man.” It may be a while before we see somebody else who does as many things well on a football field as you did.

LSU coach Les Miles,

For a guy who gets pummeled for being lucky, loony and out in left field sometimes, I’m sure you’re aware that a lot of coaches out there would love to have your record. And one other thing: I hear the grass at Tiger Stadium this fall will be yummier than ever.

Florida quarterback John Brantley,

Here’s to starting over. Yes, you’re going to be a senior, but I would imagine a brand new coach, brand new offensive coordinator and brand new offensive scheme have given you a brand new lease on life.

South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore,

A phenomenal start, young man. But as I’m sure you’re well aware, true greatness is achieved by doing it over time in this league. Can’t wait to see what you have in store for your sophomore season.

Arkansas running back Knile Davis,

Thanks for reminding us all that it’s not about where you are when the race starts, but where you are when the race ends. I doubt any of the coaches in this league even knew what jersey number you wore when last season began. I guarantee you they know now who wears No. 7 for the Hogs.

Alabama coach Nick Saban,

I realize that contentment, entitlement and inconsistency are variables that are as foreign to you as snow is to Miami Beach, but there were traces of all three last season in your team. Something tells me 2011 at the Capstone will look a lot more like 2008 and 2009 in the way your team goes about its business.

Vanderbilt coach James Franklin,

Your enthusiasm is infectious as you tackle one of the toughest jobs in all of college football. Bobby Johnson made some real strides there, but he could never quite get it right on offense for a sustained period of time. That will be your greatest challenge, in particular generating a legitimate passing game.

Tennessee safety Janzen Jackson,

Your head coach, Derek Dooley, is determined to see that you get yourself straightened out as you continue to battle your ongoing personal demons. And that’s whether you ever play football again at Tennessee or not.

Ole Miss defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix,

What a nightmare last season had to be with all the issues and injuries on defense. When I think of your defense, I think of the attacking units you put on the field in 2008 and 2009 that finished 19^th and 21^st nationally in total defense … and not the one that finished 107^th nationally in scoring defense last season.

As I said earlier today, you can’t pick just 10 memorable moments from an SEC season. So I’m going to cheat and give you 10 more that deserve mention:

• Cam Newton’s 49-yard touchdown run against LSU was truly mesmerizing. A 6-6, 250-pound quarterback isn’t supposed to be able to run that fast, with that kind of acceleration and with those kind of moves.
• If you’re into acrobatic catches, check out A.J. Green’s one-handed touchdown catch against Colorado in his first game back after a four-game suspension. Green went up high and snatched the ball with his left hand, landing hard on his back in the end zone for a 3-yard touchdown.
• Florida punter Chas Henry, filling in as the Gators’ place-kicker, kicked a 37-yard field goal in overtime to lift Florida to a 34-31 win over Georgia, but only after the Bulldogs called timeout and Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham was caught on camera yelling at Henry that he was going to choke and giving him the choke sign. Henry later admitted that he probably escalated the whole thing by taking his helmet off and blowing Grantham a kiss during the timeout.
• After falling behind 20-7 in the third quarter and Razorback Stadium bursting at the seams in one of the better environments you’ll ever see at a college football game, Alabama came charging back in the fourth quarter to deal Arkansas a heartbreaking 24-20 loss and stretch its winning streak to 18 straight games.
• Kentucky’s Randall Cobb popped wide open in the end zone for a 24-yard touchdown catch with 1:15 to play, capping the Wildcats’ frantic comeback from a 28-10 halftime deficit to stun South Carolina 31-28 the week after the Gamecocks knocked off No. 1 Alabama. It was Kentucky’s first win over a Steve Spurrier-coached team after 17 straight losses to the Head Ball Coach.
• The crowd at Scott Field for the Arkansas-Mississippi State game observed a moment silence in memory of Mississippi State’s Nick Bell, who died earlier that month following a battle with cancer. That silence was broken by Bell’s mother, Linda, ringing her cowbell, setting off a teary-eyed scene where cowbells clanged away throughout the stadium in a moving tribute to Bell.
• It’s not a moment that anybody at Ole Miss will remember fondly. But just a day after quarterback Jeremiah Masoli won his appeal with the NCAA and was cleared to play, the Rebels opened the season by losing a 49-48 shocker to FCS foe Jacksonville State in double overtime in what was easily the upset of the year in the SEC.
• In one of the funnier moments of the season, LSU coach Les Miles was caught on camera eating grass in the fourth quarter of the Tigers’ 24-21 win over Alabama. Afterward, LSU receiver Russell Shepard cracked, “He says there’s a lot of protein in it.”
• Arkansas did everything it needed to win the Allstate Sugar Bowl there at the end with the exception of picking up the ball. The Hogs’ Colton Miles-Nash blocked an Ohio State punt in the final minutes, and it squirted back inside the Ohio State 20. With a host of Arkansas players around the ball, freshman Julian Horton fell on it instead of trying to scoop it up and score. A few plays later, Ryan Mallett threw an interception, and the Hogs fell 31-26 to the Buckeyes -- Ohio State’s first-ever win over an SEC team in a bowl game.
• If it wasn’t the best defensive play of the year in the league, it might have been the most important. Not only did Nick Fairley sack Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy right before the half with the Crimson Tide about to go up 31-7, but Fairley forced McElroy to fumble and was able to scramble and recover the fumble himself. That play kept Auburn in the game, gave the Tigers some momentum heading into halftime and paved the way for the greatest comeback in Iron Bowl history.

As we look back one more time at the 2010 college football season, I’m faced with an impossible task.

Picking the top 10 moments this season in the SEC.

How about the top 25 or the top 50?

Anyway, here goes, and we’ll count them down in reverse order:

10. South Carolina ends Alabama’s streak: Alabama rolled into Williams-Brice Stadium on Oct. 9 as the unquestioned team to beat this season in college football and sporting a 19-game winning streak. The Gamecocks played a near perfect game that day and knocked off the Crimson Tide 35-21, setting off a party for the ages in Columbia.

9. The perfect bounce: In what had to be one of the plays of the year in college football, LSU kicker Josh Jasper took the over-the-head toss from his holder -- on the bounce, no less -- and scurried for a first down on a fake field goal to keep alive the Tigers’ game-winning drive in their 33-29 win over Florida in the Swamp.

8. Spurrier carried off at the Swamp: South Carolina went to its first-ever SEC championship game this season, and the Gamecocks clinched the Eastern Division title in the Swamp of all places. As the final seconds ticked down, the South Carolina players hoisted Steve Spurrier on their shoulders and carried him off the sidelines at a place he once ruled in the 1990s.

7. Meyer steps down at Florida: After two national championships in six seasons, Urban Meyer stepped down as Florida’s coach. And this time, he didn’t change his mind. Meyer initially resigned a year ago, only to change his mind a day later. But for a combination of health-related and family reasons, he didn’t turn back this time after a dizzying six-year run at Florida, and the Gators brought in Will Muschamp to replace him.

6. The chaotic end to the LSU-Tennessee game: We know now that it's never dull with the Mad Hatter. Just when it looked like another clock management blunder had cost Les Miles’ LSU football team at the end of the Tennessee game, the Vols were penalized for having 13 men on the field. So the Tigers got another play from the 1 and scored the game-winning touchdown in one of wildest endings you’ll ever see in any football game. The Vols' players were on the field celebrating when the officials made the call for having too many men on the field.

5. The comeback: Simply, it was the greatest comeback in the storied history of the Iron Bowl. Auburn, trailing 24-0 and its national championship hopes flickering, rallied for an improbable 28-27 victory over bitter rival Alabama, leaving the crimson-coated crowd at Bryant-Denny Stadium stunned in silence and paving the way for the Tigers to complete a perfect season.

4. Remembering Nick Bell: Following Mississippi State’s 52-14 rout of Michigan in the Gator Bowl and the acceptance of the trophy, the players lined up on the 36-yard line in memory of their fallen teammate, Nick Bell, who died in November after a battle with cancer. Bell wore No. 36 during his career. His mother, Linda, attended the Gator Bowl, and Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen went over to speak to her as the players stood silently in his memory on the 36.

3. Newton wins the Heisman: For the second straight year, the Heisman Trophy went to an SEC player. In his only season at Auburn, quarterback Cam Newton put together a record-setting season, accounting for an astonishing 51 touchdowns, and walked away with the top individual honor in college football.

2. The NCAA reinstates Newton: Amid an NCAA investigation that continues, the NCAA announced the week of the SEC championship game that Newton had been reinstated after Auburn declared him ineligible for a day. Both Auburn and the NCAA agreed that Newton’s father, Cecil Newton, attempted to shop his son to Mississippi State for money, but that there was no evidence of money exchanging hands or that Cam Newton knew anything about the pay-for-play scheme.

1. Auburn wins the national championship: Auburn reached college football’s pinnacle with a 22-19 victory over Oregon in the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game. Not only was it Auburn’s first national title since 1957, but it was the fifth in a row for the SEC.

Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen calls Derek Sherrod the best offensive tackle he has ever been around.

That’s high praise for the Bulldogs’ senior All-American.

But as good as Sherrod was on the field this season, he might have been even better in the classroom and in the locker room.

Simply, he was the quintessential student and the quintessential leader and one of the main cogs in this program’s turnaround the past couple of years.

“Derek’s the kind of player you build programs around,” Mullen said.

Sherrod, one of 16 National Football Foundation scholar-athletes this season in college football, plays his final collegiate game on Saturday in the Progressive Gator Bowl against Michigan.

He does so with the satisfaction that Mississippi State’s program is clearly headed in the right direction.

“We’ve seen a lot of changes here, been a part of a lot of changes,” said the 6-6, 310-pound Sherrod. “We have a totally different mentality and attitude from the past when I first got here. I’m proud of the track the program is on, and obviously this game means a lot to all of us. We know how to win now, and we’re going to try and continue that.

“I won’t be here to see us reach all our goals, but I know we’re going to get there.”

Sherrod has been a staple at left tackle for the Bulldogs the past three seasons.

He’s a polished pass protector, but also a physical run blocker. When the Bulldogs needed the tough yards, they usually followed No. 79’s lead. They were second in the SEC this season in rushing offense after leading the league a year ago.

It’s a shame more players haven't followed Sherrod’s lead off the field.

He already has his undergraduate degree in business administration, compiling a 3.54 GPA. He’s now in graduate school and pursuing a master’s degree in sports administration.

Sherrod credits his parents, Louis and Harriet Sherrod, for instilling in him at a young age the importance of academics. He wishes more players would take advantage of their opportunities in the classroom.

“It just opens up so many other doors for you no matter how much pro football you play, and it’s always something you can fall back on,” Sherrod said. “It’s a very competitive world, and you can never have enough things working for you in your corner.”

Sherrod said this is the closest team he’s played on, and it’s a bond that only grew stronger after the death of teammate Nick Bell in November.

“It was tough on everybody,” Sherrod said. “The only way we got through that was leaning on each other and being there for each other every way possible.”

Sherrod has done a little reflecting these past few weeks, but not too much. He’s accepted an invitation to play in the Senior Bowl and is being projected by several analysts to be a first-round selection in April’s NFL draft.

Right now, though, Sherrod can’t see past Saturday’s game, the Bulldogs’ first Jan. 1 bowl appearance since the 1998 season.

“The seniors have fought through a lot here and been through a lot,” Sherrod said. “We’ve learned to fight for each other.

“Now, it’s all come down to this. We want to make it our best game.”

Everybody associated with Mississippi State’s program will look back on this season with a heavy heart.

It was a season to remember on the field. The Bulldogs won eight games in the regular season for the first time since 1999, put together a six-game winning streak at one point and are going back to a bowl game.

There was also a second straight win over the “school up north,” as Mississippi State beat Ole Miss 31-23 for its first win in Oxford since 1998.

The Bulldogs (8-4) were No. 21 when the final BCS standings were released Sunday.

Obviously, a lot went right for Dan Mullen and his club, but the death of sophomore defensive end Nick Bell to cancer during this season will be something that nobody soon forgets. Bell died the week of the Bulldogs’ open date on Nov. 6, and they lost their next two games to Alabama and Arkansas before rebounding to win at Ole Miss.

Mullen still doesn’t have the number of playmaking receivers he needs to run his spread offense the way he’d like to, but the Bulldogs again leaned on a bruising running game this season and were second in the SEC in rushing, averaging 215.8 yards per game.

First-year defensive coordinator Manny Diaz proved to be a terrific hire, and Mississippi State finished third in the SEC in scoring defense, allowing 20.3 points per game.

Offensive MVP: Offensive tackle Derek Sherrod. Perhaps the best offensive lineman in the SEC this season, Sherrod was a big reason the Bulldogs were so effective running the ball for a second straight season. He graded out consistently high from his left tackle spot and was the guy the Bulldogs ran behind in key situations.

Defensive MVP: Linebacker Chris White. He moved into the middle this season and blossomed into one of the more productive linebackers in the league. White was fourth in the SEC in tackles with 105 and led the Bulldogs with 15.5 tackles for loss, including a team-leading six sacks.

Turning point: Having lost its first two SEC games to Auburn and LSU, Mississippi State returned home the fourth week of the season and jumped all over Georgia for what was the start of the Bulldogs’ six-game winning streak.

What’s next: It’s been a while since the Bulldogs have won a Jan. 1 bowl game, but they will get that chance against Michigan in the Gator Bowl. Down the road, it looks like Mississippi State is working on a new deal to keep Mullen in Starkville. His name was linked to the Miami job, but he said Sunday he plans on being at Mississippi State for a long time.

Mississippi State Bulldogs (8-4) vs. Michigan Wolverines (7-5)

Jan. 1, 1:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2)

Mississippi State take by SEC blogger Chris Low: There was a little drama at the end about where, but Mississippi State is going back to a bowl game for the first time since the 2007 season. At one point, it looked like the Bulldogs (8-4) might fall to the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl, but the Gator Bowl scooped the Bulldogs up to face Michigan in what will be their first Jan. 1 bowl appearance since the 1999 Cotton Bowl.

Dan Mullen, in his second season at Mississippi State, has rejuvenated the program. The Bulldogs won six straight games during the middle portion of their schedule before losing back-to-back games to Alabama and Arkansas following the death of defensive end Nick Bell, who died of cancer.

Mississippi State recovered to beat Ole Miss for a second straight season, really endearing Mullen to the Bulldogs’ fans. Perhaps the best news for Mississippi State entering this game is Mullen said Sunday night he’s staying put. School officials are working on a new deal to keep him in Starkville amid reports that he was one of the top targets at Miami.

The Bulldogs have leaned on their running game all season. They're ranked 16th nationally in rushing offense, averaging 215.8 yards per game.

---

Michigan take by Big Ten blogger Adam Rittenberg: Michigan is bowl bound for the first time in three seasons, and once again the spotlight will be on the Wolverines head coach.

The Wolverines sent Lloyd Carr out as a winner by knocking off defending national champion Florida in the 2008 Capital One Bowl. They’ll try to deliver a similar performance Jan. 1 against Mississippi State for embattled coach Rich Rodriguez, who still doesn’t know whether he’ll return for a fourth season.

The Gator Bowl features two spread offense teams and two of the system’s proven practitioners in Rodriguez and Mississippi State’s Dan Mullen. Michigan has had the more dynamic offense this season, ranking sixth nationally in yards per game (500.9) and 11th in rushing (251.1 ypg). The Wolverines also boast the most dynamic player on the field in quarterback Denard Robinson, who ranks fourth nationally in rushing average (136.9 ypg).

Mississippi State, however, looks like the better team. The Bulldogs don’t have an obvious flaw like Michigan (defense, special teams), and all four of their losses came against top 20 opponents (Auburn, Arkansas, LSU, Alabama). Michigan’s defense will have its hands full with Bulldogs dual-threat quarterback Chris Relf.

Perhaps the best news for Michigan is that Mississippi State doesn’t play in the Big Ten. The Wolverines are 8-0 in nonconference games the last two seasons but just 6-18 in the Big Ten under Rodriguez.

For Mississippi State’s players and coaches, it probably seems like an eternity since the Bulldogs last played a football game.

Think back to everything this program has endured since Mississippi State defeated Kentucky 24-17 on Oct. 30.

Three days after the Bulldogs’ sixth straight win, senior defensive end Nick Bell died after a short bout with cancer. He’d played and started for Mississippi State five weeks earlier against Georgia and was on the sidelines for the UAB game two weeks earlier.

But last Saturday, when the Bulldogs were supposed to be enjoying an open date, they were burying their fallen teammate.

About the time the memorial service was being held on Mississippi State’s campus for Bell last Thursday, the story broke concerning Auburn quarterback Cam Newton being allegedly shopped to Mississippi State for money during his recruitment.

The NCAA is investigating and has talked to several former players and officials at Mississippi State.

It became a full-blown firestorm this week with Mississippi State acknowledging that it turned over information to the SEC concerning Newton’s recruitment and then former Mississippi State players Kenny Rogers and Bill Bell saying on Thursday that Newton’s father, Cecil Newton, did reach out to them for money in exchange for Newton to sign with the Bulldogs.

All the while, Dan Mullen has been trying to get his football team ready for Saturday’s visit to Alabama.

Despite everything going on around them, Mullen thinks the Bulldogs are itching to get back out there and play again.

“It’s been a tough go, but our team has responded and I’m pleased with how they’ve prepared for this game and the focus they’ve had in getting ready to play a big-time football game despite all the other things that have gone on,” Mullen said.

This is the kind of game that could be the difference in a good season and a great season for the No. 19 Bulldogs (7-2, 3-2). Following this weekend’s trip to Alabama, they return home to face Arkansas on Nov. 20 and travel to Ole Miss to end the regular season on Nov. 27.

Mississippi State hasn’t won eight games in the regular season since 1999. That’s also the last time the Bulldogs had a winning record in SEC play.

Mullen has deflected questions about Newton and the NCAA’s investigation into Newton’s recruitment. He said his focus has remained on the “players on our team.”

He conceded that last week was unlike anything he’d ever dealt with as a coach and made it a point to give the players plenty of time for themselves.

“After the funeral, I think there was a feeling that they’re ready to move forward and learn from what Nick taught us in his life about achieving your goals and things you want to achieve in life,” Mullen said. “This week, we’ve been able to turn the focus back to game-planning.”

Junior safety Charles Mitchell, who roomed with Bell at one point during their college careers, will wear Bell’s No. 36 jersey number Saturday against Alabama. All of the Mississippi State players will wear a patch on their jerseys in honor of Bell.

More than anything else, Mitchell said he knows Bell would want the Bulldogs to finish out this season the right way.

“I just hope I can play for him and let him play through me,” Mitchell said.

Most of the attention lately in the SEC has been concentrated off the field.

It’s on the field where both divisional championships can be decided this weekend.

Here’s a look at what to watch in the SEC in Week 11:

1. Clinching titles: Auburn can clinch the Western Division title and its first trip to the SEC championship game since 2004 by taking care of Georgia at home on Saturday. The Bulldogs have won four straight games in the series. If Georgia upsets Auburn, then the Tigers would have to beat Alabama on the road on Nov. 26 to win the West. For LSU to win the West, the Tigers need to win out and have Auburn lose both of its remaining SEC games. Alabama could still win the West in a three-way or four-way tie where all of the teams had two losses, meaning Auburn would have to lose its last two and LSU would have to lose one of its last two. In the Eastern Division, it’s much simpler: The winner of Saturday’s Florida-South Carolina game will be the champion.

2. Playing through distractions: Auburn coach Gene Chizik has steadfastly maintained that it’s been business as usual this week on the Tigers’ practice field. Still, you know all the allegations swirling about Auburn quarterback Cam Newton have been a giant distraction. Newton’s teammates have all rallied around him, and it could be that everything out there only drives Newton that much harder come Saturday. He’s already plenty motivated. The thing you have to guard against in these situations is not getting too emotional where you come out and try to do too much.

3. Passing fancy: The Auburn-Georgia game may well come down to who can hit the biggest plays in the passing game. Both defenses have had their struggles against the pass this season. Auburn is ranked 11^th in the SEC in pass defense. Georgia is ranked sixth, but the Bulldogs have also given up 13 touchdown passes. Auburn has given up 16 touchdown passes, which is the second most in the league behind Ole Miss’ 17. Both teams also have dangerous downfield threats. Georgia’s A.J. Green has been a terror since he’s been back and no doubt saw what Alshon Jeffery and Greg Childs did to the Auburn secondary. The Bulldogs’ Kris Durham (lung) is also set to return after missing last week, and Tavarres King is starting to play his best football. You can bet that Auburn will also try to get Darvin Adams open downfield against a Georgia secondary that has had its own struggles in coverage.

4. Getting Swamped: It’s a fact that South Carolina has never won at the Swamp. Of course, Steve Spurrier has won a bunch at the Swamp, but that was back in the 1990s as Florida’s coach. Spurrier’s last trip to the Swamp was a nightmare. The Gamecocks were humiliated 56-6. However, they came within a Jarvis Moss blocked field goal of winning at the Swamp in 2006 and ruining Florida’s national championship march. It goes without saying that South Carolina has to play smart football, protect the football and get this game into the second half. The last thing the Gamecocks want to do is give the Gators some easy scores, get that crowd riled up and have to play from behind. That’s usually a death sentence for the visiting team in that stadium.

5. Rediscovering the edge: South Carolina’s drop-off defensively has been hard to figure. The Gamecocks have talent and have played well up front. They lead the SEC with 32 sacks, have been excellent in red zone defense and have had flashes were they’ve been dominant. But lapses and missed assignments have killed them. So have big plays. Usually, they all go together. And when it comes to covering the pass, South Carolina has clearly lost its edge. The Gamecocks are last in the league in pass defense. They will need one of their more disciplined efforts of the season defensively, especially with the Gators switching up quarterbacks like they are now, if South Carolina is going to win at the Swamp.

6. Trio of quarterbacks: You’ve heard of two-quarterback systems? Well, Florida is using three quarterbacks, and the results have equated into the most productive offensive run of the season for the Gators. John Brantley (the passer) is sharing the quarterback duties with Trey Burton (the runner) and Jordan Reed (the athlete) in a new-look, hurry-up attack that has pumped life into a once lifeless Florida offense. The Gators have been able to keep teams off balance by going with different quarterbacks at different times. The production speaks for itself. Since going to the three-headed quarterback system, Florida has rolled up 930 yards of total offense and 89 points in two games.

7. Different waters for Tide: When’s the last time Alabama has played a game in November that didn’t have a direct impact on the Crimson Tide’s national championship hopes? The answer: During Nick Saban’s first season at Alabama in 2007. That was the same year he was trying to explain a November loss to Louisiana-Monroe. The Crimson Tide are long since past those days, but this is definitely new ground for the players on this team. How they respond knowing that there’s not a championship at stake (even an SEC title is a real long shot) will be interesting to see. Obviously, there’s a lot of pride in the Alabama program. That pride is going to be tested Saturday against a streaking Mississippi State team.

8. Heavy hearts: Mississippi State gets back to playing football on Saturday when the Bulldogs travel to Alabama, and in a lot of ways, it has to be therapeutic for them. Nick Bell’s funeral was last Saturday, and they had a bye week on the schedule. So they’ve had a lot of time to think about their fallen teammate. It’s been a terrific season for the Bulldogs to this point on the field. They’ve won six consecutive games. They’re nationally ranked. They’re inching closer to that upper echelon in the league under Dan Mullen. Winning at Alabama would be their biggest win yet under Mullen. It would also be a special way to honor Bell, who was from Bessemer, Ala.

9. Bowl elimination: Even mentioning a bowl game in connection with Tennessee’s program last month would have gotten you some weird looks. But the Vols can make a postseason trip by winning their last three games, a stretch that starts Saturday at home against Ole Miss. In a lot of ways, this is the most important game of that stretch for Tennessee, which is still looking for anything resembling a quality win this season. Beating the Rebels would give the Vols their first SEC win, and more importantly, some momentum heading into their last two games against Vanderbilt and Kentucky. For the Rebels, a loss wouldn’t eliminate them from bowl contention, but it would put them in a deep hole. They would need to win out against LSU on the road and Mississippi State at home to be bowl eligible. In other words, they better win Saturday at Tennessee if they want to return to the postseason for a third straight year.

10. Davis finds groove: Arkansas’ Knile Davis has been one of the step-up players of the year in the SEC. The Hogs were looking for more punch in their running game, a player they could sort of ride, and Davis has been that guy. He enters Saturday’s UTEP game ninth in the SEC in rushing and has a shot at 1,000 yards. Davis has rushed for 662 yards on 107 carries and has scored nine touchdowns, eight of those coming in his last three games. All nine of his touchdowns have come against SEC defenses, too, and the 6-foot, 220-pound sophomore is fifth in the league in rushing in SEC games only.

Chris Low's Four Downs look at Florida’s road to the SEC championship game, the loss of Mississippi State’s Nick Bell, the Cam Newton story and Alabama-LSU.

You wanted a little November drama in the SEC divisional races. Well, you get it.

Both sides are still up for grabs.

Here’s a look at what to watch in the SEC in Week 10:

1. BCS watching: It was about this time a year ago, coming out of a bye week, that Alabama took off and played its best football of the season. The Crimson Tide were dominant defensively down the stretch. Well, here they are again. They might not be quite as high in the BCS standings, but they’re in position after moving up to No. 6 this week. Their remaining schedule is demanding, with three Top 20 teams, but they need that if they’re going to continue moving up the BCS standings into one of those top two spots. In Alabama’s last five games a year ago, counting the SEC championship game, the Crimson Tide didn’t give up more than 21 points and held teams to an average of 10.4 points. We find out starting Saturday at LSU if the Tide can go on one of those runs again.

2. Discovering the pass: It’s a familiar theme for LSU, at least this season. Can the Tigers find enough firepower in their passing game to keep Alabama’s defense honest? LSU coach Les Miles said the Tigers would again rotate Jordan Jefferson and Jarrett Lee at quarterback. Combined, they passed for just 89 yards in their last game against Auburn. Alabama will load the box and dare LSU to throw the football. The Tigers don’t have to throw for 250 yards to win, but they do need to hit a few big plays in the passing game to spread out that Alabama defense. That's easier said than done. LSU is ranked 113^th nationally in passing offense and has just five touchdown passes and nine interceptions in eight games.

3. Julio vs. Peterson: Sit back and enjoy, because this will be the last time you see them on a college football field together. Alabama receiver Julio Jones and LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson have been going at it since they were freshmen. They’re two of the best at their positions in all of college football, and they’re also fierce competitors. Jones made a key catch over Peterson as a freshman to set up the winning touchdown. Peterson shut Jones down last season … with one exception. Peterson was out of the game with cramps, and Jones took a short swing pass and raced 73 yards for a touchdown to turn the game around. Get ready for Round 3 on Saturday. The next round will be in the NFL.

4. Fresh legs for Ingram: More than ever, Alabama running back Mark Ingram should have fresh legs for this final month of regular-season games. Not only are the Crimson Tide coming off a bye week, but he’s only carried the ball 85 times all season, averaging 14.1 carries per game. His backfield partner, Trent Richardson, has carried it even less. Richardson is averaging just 10.7 carries through eight games. A year ago, Ingram carried the ball 271 times and averaged nearly 20 carries per game. You can bet that Alabama will look to get both Ingram and Richardson cranked up these last four games, which should open up the passing game that much more.

5. Answering the call on ‘D’: South Carolina is better defensively than it’s shown. The Gamecocks are more talented in their secondary than they’ve shown. It’s time they start playing that way if they want a shot at an SEC championship. Ellis Johnson’s defense has done some things very well this season, like stopping the run. The Gamecocks are first in the SEC in rushing defense and have only given up four rushing touchdowns all season. But they’re last in passing defense, which will be where Saturday’s game with Arkansas is decided. Getting pressure on Ryan Mallett will be a must; fortunately for the Gamecocks, rushing the passer has also been a strength. The Gamecocks lead the SEC with 30 sacks. It’s covering people that has been their problem.

6. Playing without Childs: Losing a receiver the caliber of Greg Childs would take its toll on any team. He was easily one of the best four or five receivers in a league full of great receivers. But if any team can overcome such a loss, it’s Arkansas. The Hogs like their group of young receivers, and they’re hopeful Joe Adams has recovered enough from the ankle injury that sidelined him last week to be able to play Saturday against South Carolina. Sophomore Cobi Hamilton and freshman Julian Horton might have to play bigger roles against the Gamecocks, but both are extremely talented. The other thing is that quarterback Ryan Mallett naturally spreads the ball around. He completed passes to eight different players last week.

7. Keeping them guessing: South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier isn’t really saying who’s going to call the plays Saturday, or for that matter, the rest of the season. The Head Ball Coach said a couple of weeks ago that it was going to be more of a “community effort” among the coaches. He came back after that and said he needed to be the one calling most of the plays these last few weeks. Now, he’s saying nobody’s really going to know because different coaches specialize in different parts of the offense. For example, offensive line coach Shawn Elliott is heavily involved in all the zone-read run stuff. “Maybe we’re better off if we don’t say who’s calling plays,” Spurrier said.

8. Prepping for the Gamecocks: Florida can’t completely overlook Vanderbilt, not when the Gators have struggled as much as they have for much of this season on offense. But their new-look, no-huddle attack with rotating quarterbacks pumped some life into that offense last week in the win against Georgia. Now, we see if they can keep it going with John Brantley, Trey Burton and even Jordan Reed all playing a little quarterback. It does look like the Gators are getting well at the right time. Jeff Demps’ foot is getting healthier, and running backs Mike Gillislee and Emmanuel Moody were both back at practice full speed this week after missing the Georgia game.

9. Bray’s time: Tennessee coach Derek Dooley resisted going with true freshman Tyler Bray any earlier. For one, Matt Simms had played gallantly despite taking a beating. But with the easiest part of the schedule looming and Bray playing well when he got a chance last week against South Carolina, he moves in as the starter Saturday against Memphis. Dooley conceded that it’s never easy for a coach to go down this path, but the time is right and the competition level is right to see what Bray’s got. He’s already shown a big arm and the ability to step up in the pocket and make the throw. We’ll see over these next four weeks if he has all the other intangibles to be a big-time quarterback.

10. Remembering Bell: Mississippi State won’t be playing a football game this weekend. The Bulldogs are off. But they will be remembering their fallen teammate, Nick Bell, who will be laid to rest Saturday. Bell, 20, died Tuesday after a short bout with cancer. His funeral will be held at the Faith Chapel Christian Center in Birmingham at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday. On Thursday night, there will be a memorial service on campus. Coach Dan Mullen and several of Bell’s teammates are scheduled to speak.