# SEC Morning Report: Mizzou-Mississippi State Becomes a Top 25 Showdown as Conference Play Heats Up **Published:** 2026-09-21 — **By:** Stacy Stanfield **Category:** daily-roundup — **Type:** daily-roundup **Source:** https://secscouts.com/news/sec-morning-report-mizzou-mississippi-state-top-25-showdown **Teams:** [Auburn](https://secscouts.com/auburn/), [Georgia](https://secscouts.com/georgia/), [LSU](https://secscouts.com/lsu/), [Miss State](https://secscouts.com/mississippi-state/), [Missouri](https://secscouts.com/missouri/), [Oklahoma](https://secscouts.com/oklahoma/), [Ole Miss](https://secscouts.com/ole-miss/), [Tennessee](https://secscouts.com/tennessee/) --- ## Lead Story: Tigers and Bulldogs Collide in a Ranked Matchup in Starkville Missouri survived Troy on Saturday, and the AP voters rewarded the Tigers anyway — bumping them from No. 20 to No. 19 in this week's poll despite an unconvincing performance. More significantly for Saturday's slate, the AP also slotted Mississippi State in at No. 24, turning this weekend's SEC opener in Starkville into a Top 25 matchup, according to Rock M Nation. The stakes are real for Missouri. The Tigers have not beaten a ranked opponent since 2024, when they knocked off No. 24 Boston College, and a program-first College Football Playoff bid remains the stated goal in Columbia. Oddsmakers opened Mississippi State as a 3.5-point favorite — a number Rock M Nation found surprisingly low given Missouri's shaky start, though the outlet noted the Tigers still "have elite talent where it matters." The biggest obstacle wears maroon and plays quarterback. Mississippi State's Kamario Taylor has started as hot as any signal-caller in the country: 354 yards and four touchdowns in the opener against Louisiana Monroe, 227 yards and three scores against Minnesota, and 251 yards and four touchdowns at South Carolina. That South Carolina defense ranked ahead of Missouri in both defensive SP+ and overall SP+ entering the weekend, per Rock M Nation. Missouri's special teams showed real improvement against Troy, and for a team built on field position and winning one-score games, that could matter on the road. But the Tigers will need a plan for Taylor. ## Quick Hits - **Oklahoma limps into Athens.** John Mateer overcame a shaky start to throw two touchdown passes, and Oklahoma — ranked No. 24 entering the weekend — leaned on its defense to hold off New Mexico 14-6 on Saturday night, avoiding consecutive non-conference losses, per ESPN. The Sooners now travel to Georgia, where the Bulldogs, 1-0 in SEC play, opened as 13.5-point favorites. Dawg Sports noted Georgia's defensive linemen were spotted getting extra work on the sideline during Saturday's win over Western Kentucky, with true freshman Valdin Sone among the contributors. - **Lady Vols land a statement win.** No. 16 Tennessee volleyball registered its biggest victory of the season, taking down No. 9 Penn State on the road in four sets (25-19, 25-23, 20-25, 25-20) Sunday afternoon in University Park. - **Florida rides the moments at Auburn.** Florida's official site chronicled the "unforgettable moments" that defined the Gators' Saturday night win over Auburn, as Florida opened SEC play with a road victory. - **Georgia men's golf holds second.** The Bulldogs shot 2-over 570 across the first two rounds of the 2nd Swing Gopher Invitational on Sunday and sit in second place heading into the final round. - **SEC tennis busy at the ITA All-American Championships.** Ole Miss men's tennis collected four wins on day two in Tulsa. Sophomore Mariano Dedura-Palomero won two singles matches Sunday to reach the qualifying draw, while sophomore Mathilde Ngijol-Carré won her second-round match at the women's prequalifying in Cary, N.C., before falling in the third round. Coquelin highlighted a strong Sunday that produced multiple wins at both the ITA All-American Championships and the Starkvegas Showdown. - **Around the conference.** Missouri women's golf, the defending champion at its home event at The Club at Old Hawthorne, returns to the course this week after winning last year's tournament at 14-under through two rounds. LSU women's golf opened its second event of the fall at the Golfweek Red Sky Classic. Kentucky wrapped a fall softball exhibition against EKU on Sunday. ## Portal Watch No transfer portal activity to report in the last 12 hours. With SEC play underway across the conference, the portal is quiet — check back as the season progresses. ## Recruiting Buzz **Texas adds arm to 2028 softball class.** Right-handed pitcher Lauren Schellhammer announced her commitment to the Longhorns, according to D1Softball. The 2028 prospect becomes an early piece of a Texas class that is still years from arriving in Austin. No new football commitments crossed the wire overnight. ## Games to Watch No SEC games are scheduled today. The conference turns its attention to a loaded Saturday: - **No. 19 Missouri at No. 24 Mississippi State** — Both teams open SEC play in a Top 25 matchup. Mississippi State opened as a 3.5-point favorite. Watch Kamario Taylor against a Missouri defense that has yet to face a passer of his caliber this season. - **Oklahoma at Georgia** — The Bulldogs opened as 13.5-point favorites at home. Oklahoma's offense managed just 14 points against New Mexico, and Mateer's receivers will find Sanford Stadium far less forgiving than Norman. More coverage throughout the week as depth charts and injury reports firm up. --- *Original article: [SEC Morning Report: Mizzou-Mississippi State Becomes a Top 25 Showdown as Conference Play Heats Up](https://secscouts.com/news/sec-morning-report-mizzou-mississippi-state-top-25-showdown) — SEC Scouts*