Best and Worst SEC Football Performances: Week 13

Nov 27, 2015; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks running back Alex Collins (3) rushes for a touchdown against the Missouri Tigers during the second quarter at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

Alex Collins, RB, Arkansas 

– Collins had a very solid week for the Razorbacks to close out a 7-5 season for a team that started  out extremely poor.

Collins was thought to split time in the backfield this season with Jonathan Williams.  Instead, due to a preseason injury, Collins became the stud back in Fayetteville.

While Collins had a few struggles along the way, he produced the third best rushing total in the conference and helped lead the Hogs to a 28-3 win over Missouri in week 13.

Collins ran for 130 yards on 30 carries and three touchdowns on Saturday as the Razorbacks improved to 5-3 in the SEC.

Alex Collins ended the season with 17 touchdowns and nine 100+ yard rushing games.

The Razorbacks will be looking to continue impressing fans with their high powered offense during bowl season. I think Collins will turn pro instead of sticking around for another shot at an SEC West title in 2016.

Chad Kelly, QB, Ole Miss

– Kelly has been by far one of the two best quarterbacks in the SEC this year, along with Arkansas’ Brandon Allen.

Nov 28, 2015; Starkville, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Chad Kelly (10) drops back to pass during the second quarter of the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports

Kelly has thrown for 3,740 yards and 27 touchdowns.  Maybe most importantly to Rebel fans, though, he broke the four year streak of the home team winning the Egg Bowl in week 13.  The Egg Bowl, for those not in the know about this intense rivalry, is the final game of the season when Ole Miss and Mississippi State play each other for dominance in the state.

The Rebels and Kelly started off extremely well Saturday night in Starkville, ,Mississippi, with Kelly running and throwing for a score in the first quarter.

The landshark defense turned in an interception return in the first as well leading to a 21-0 lead for the Rebels.

Heading into halftime, it seemed the Rebels still had everything to play for knowing that their shot at the SEC title game was still on the line if Alabama lost to Auburn — who were in the latter portion of a kicking battle when Ole Miss kicked off.

But at halftime someone must have mentioned the bad news to the Rebels, who seemingly forgot how to keep the Bulldogs out of the end zone in the second half.

The final score would favor the Rebels 38-27, but I think it could have stayed at just a field goal if they stayed hungry through the second half.

Overall though, it was a very solid performance from Kelly — who threw for 236 yards and two touchdowns and added 74 yards and a score on the ground.

Ole Miss will probably go bowling on New Year’s day after their 9-3 season.

Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama

– Henry may have locked up the Heisman trophy in his record-breaking performance Saturday in this year’s installment of the Iron Bowl.

A field-goal kicking battle between Auburn and Alabama over the weekend made it look like Henry wasn’t going to score in the final game of the season, but the Tide were persistent.

They handed the ball off to Henry 46 times on Saturday as the junior ran for 271 yards and a touchdown, while also breaking a handful of records.

Henry became the only Alabama player to rush for over 250 yards in a game since 1996, broke the Alabama single-season school record for rushing touchdowns and had the most carries in a game in school history.

Henry is the best player in college football at the moment and I think the Tide will ride him all the way to a National Championship this year. If Henry stays on a roll, the Tide will roll too.

Now let’s see who was the worst of the worst in the final week of the season.

Next: Worst of the Week