Biscuits & SEC Week 2 game-by-game recaps 2025
Florida falters in The Swamp, plus a Vandy romp and Blackjack Mateer arrives on the scene.
By: Bossman, Hammer
Weak slate of games? YOU THOUGHT! As always with college football, just when you start thinking it might be a sleepy Saturday schedule, all hell breaks loose. It broke loose in Starkville, Mississippi, and it broke loose in Gainesville, with a couple close calls across the country as well.
Reminder that our previews and picks will come out every Thursday night as we pick the games with the SEC After Dark crew (9 ET/8 CT on YouTube & X), and we’ll put out a graphic on social media as well to keep us honest. Y’all go here to subscribe and hit that bell so you don’t miss it.
We’ll also use our discretion, but most games with a 20+ point spread we won’t recap, barring a massive upset or a result that begs discussion. You can also join us as we preview games all season long on Biscuits & SEC LIVE, every Wednesday at 7 ET/6 CT - you can subscribe to our channel here.
Here’s how Bossman & Hammer fared in Week 2:
Hammer had a strong week, bouncing back after a tough Week 1 against the spread. His picks of Mississippi State, USF, and Vandy to cover the spread helped him pick up three games on Bossman, and they were some bold picks that paid off for him, Cotton.
Let’s hit the recaps.
Bossman: Man, you gotta be kidding me. I picked Ole Miss to win and cover here, and the Rebs let me down, giving up a late UK field goal with eight seconds left to give up a backdoor cover. Even Lane Kiffin knew he blew it for Bossman! As far as the game went, Kentucky jumped on Ole Miss early, going up 10-0 off the back of two Austin Simmons INTs on back-to-back drives before the Rebs settled down and got in rhythm. The Ole Miss offensive line deserves plenty of credit - while they allowed five TFLs, they didn’t allow a single sack and paved the way for 222 rushing yards for the Rebels. There were some positives that Kentucky can take away from this despite the loss, but the offense still looks anemic and disappears at times. Zach Calzada showed some flashes but was mostly pedestrian, and he also suffered a shoulder injury. Whether or not Calzada can play next week, Mark Stoops already opened the competition back up in his postgame press conference. I have not yet tendered my resignation as the president of the Zach Calzada Fan Club, but our organization is on shaky ground.
Hammer: Another year, another game where Kentucky is doubted but plays tough and keeps it close. Ole Miss looked out of sync offensively in this one. Reminder to myself and everyone else who expected more from Austin Simmons, this was his first SEC road start. Sure, Kentucky is no top tier team, but they have been a solid SEC team as long as Mark Stoops has been there. Things might be bleak in Lexington, but Stoops hasn’t forgotten how to coach. Simmons finished just 13/24 for 235 yards with two interceptions. Given Simmons inconsistency through the air, Kiffin leaned on his ground game. Kewan Lacy carried the load for the Rebels and finished with 28 carries for 138 yards and a TD. As a team, Ole Miss ran for 220 yards. For Kentucky, the team looks improved compared to last year. Calzada does not look like the answer at QB though. Calzada was just 15/30 for 149 yards before he was sidelined late in the game with a shoulder injury. The Wildcat running game looked solid, averaging 4.6 yards per carry but was trying to play catch up in the second half and just couldn’t get it done. Solid win for Ole Miss, despite not covering thanks to the last second field goal from Kentucky.
Bossman: I picked KU to cover here, but thought the Tigers would end up on top. It was awesome to see the Border War back in action, and I’m pumped that it will be played next year as well. Y’all - Mizzou may just have the guy in Beau Pribula. In his second start, he was lights out, lighting it up for 334 yards and three TDs, and no INTs. That’ll do, Donkey. He hooked up with Kevin Coleman 10 times for 126 yards and a TD, including a 50-yard strike. The Tigers also orchestrated a solid comeback, finding themselves down 21-6 at the end of the first quarter, when ESPN gave the Jayhawks a 78% chance to win the game. No sweat. The Mizzou defense allowed only 10 more points the rest of the game and the offense went to work. This Missouri team is dangerous once again…don’t sleep on the Tigers.
Hammer: I loved seeing the Border War back. One of college football’s most heated rivalry should be played every year. I thought the Jayhawks would cover here, and that looked like a great pick early on. But Mizzou would not be denied. Beau Pribula looked great yet again, slinging it for 334 yards and three TDs on 30/39 attempts. The Tigers also owned the line of scrimmage in this one and their ground game was super effective. Both Jamal Roberts and Ahmad Hardy went for over 100 yards as Mizzou rushed for 263 yards rushing as a team. Although the score was close most of the game, Mizzou statistically dominated this one. They only allowed 251 total yards to the Jayhawks, and doubled them up in time of possession 40 minutes to 20. Kansas played tough and kept it close, largely thanks to a defensive touchdown on the Pribula fumble, but Missouri was far and away the better team here. Don’t look now but with that schedule, Mizzou and Drinkwitz should be right there in the CFP conversation later this fall.
Bossman: WOW. Note to self: Never doubt Alex Golesh again. I may have been huffing the rainbow on Florida just because of my belief in DJ Lagway. This Florida offense, only mustering 16 points against USF in The Swamp? Billy Napier’s seat just got scalding hot, and Florida fans are ready to can him, at least according to social media. Maybe USF will turn out to be this season’s Boise State, but with the gauntlet still left on Florida’s schedule, the pressure just got turned up to 11. The Gators had trouble sustaining and finishing drives, settling for field goals and punting four times on the day. Florida right now also seems to be lacking in the explosive play department. There’s a lot of football left, but Florida must improve orders of magnitude, and quickly. Big win for Alex Golesh and the Bulls, who have now knocked off a CFP team and an SEC team in successive weeks.
Hammer: Man, how many times can we say the same things for Billy Napier and Florida? He’s totally run out of excuses. This is supposed to be his most talented team and he just lost at home to USF. The offense, which Billy Napier controls and refuses to give up play calling, looked terrible. There was no rhythm or consistency, and they couldn’t finish drives. Alex Golesh and USF deserve a ton of credit here. Ever since Golesh got there, they have been a tough out. They play hard, they are physical for a G6 team and he does a great job getting his team to believe. The same can’t be said for Napier. I feel bad for Florida fans, and I know we said this last year, but I really don’t see how Napier survives this season in Gainesville.
Bossman: PANDEMONIUM IN STARKVILLE! The cowbells were absolutely deafening on Saturday night, and it rattled ASU star QB Sam Leavitt and the Sun Devils. Leavitt looked like a JV QB for about three quarters, having easily the worst game of his young career thus far. The Bulldogs jumped on the Devils early, going up 17-0 and taking a 17-3 lead into halftime. Then Arizona State woke up, and it looked like Mississippi State was about to blow a golden opportunity…BUT THEY DIDN’T. Arizona State went up 20-17 after a slogging, keep-away, 17-play 95-yard drive ended in a field goal with just 1:38 left to play. And then…magic. With 20 seconds left, Blake Shapen threw a strike to Brenen Thompson, who outran the corner for a 58-yard TD to put the Bulldogs ahead for good, 24-20. What a night in Starkville, that was awesome to see. How can you not love college football!? Mississippi State is improved, and they won’t be as easy of an out as they were last season.
Hammer: I wasn’t brave enough to pick Mississippi State to win this game outright heading into this weekend, BUT I have been sounding the alarm on this game all offseason. I picked Mississippi State to hit the over on their preseason win total of 3.5, and a big reason why was this game. I knew ASU coming into Starkville in week two would be a tough spot for the Sun Devils. There are no environments like Davis Wade in the Big 12. The Cowbells are deafening and ASU looked out of sync all night. Sam Leavitt, who is a great QB, looked totally lost, finished just 10/22 for 82 yards with one TD and two picks. The Bulldog defense was ready and they frustrated ASU all night long. On offense, Mississippi State wasn’t great, but thanks to a great performance from QB Blake Shapen, they had the last laugh. Shapen finished 19/33 for 279 yards and three TDs. No pass was bigger than the 58 yard bomb to Brennan Thompson with 30 seconds left as Shapen hit a streaking Thompson perfectly in stride and no one would catch the speedy wide out. Pandemonium ensued in Starkville and no fanbase deserves it more after all they have been through in the last few years.
Bossman: Was it a perfect night for football in Norman or what? Not a cloud in the sky, great temperature, soft hues. It’s football time in America, baby. OU marched right down the field on their first drive to go up 7-0 before the game settled in. The Sooners would add a TD just before half to take a 14-0 lead into the locker room. Michigan inched back into this one in the third quarter, but this one never really felt in doubt. OU controlled the game, despite losing the turnover battle 2-0 and committing a few more penalties than the Wolverines. “Blackjack” John Mateer wasn’t spectacular and he made some questionable decisions, but he was steady and has all the makings of a star. This Oklahoma team is very dangerous. Going to be fun to watch how they develop throughout the year.
Hammer: This was a statement win for Oklahoma. I don’t think Michigan is that good and will probably go around 8-4 again this year. But for an Oklahoma team that is trying to find its identity, and needs wins like this to gain confidence, this was huge. It was a tough, physical game and the Sooners controlled it the entire time. With a true freshman QB in Underwood making his first road start against a Venables defense, the Sooners holding Michigan to 288 total yards is no surprise. Mateer wasn’t perfect, but he did showcase why he was so sought after in the portal. He threw for 270 yards, ran for 74 more and had three total TDs. Against a solid Wolverine defense, that is a winning stat line. Oklahoma needed this win for their fanbase, for that team, and for the rest of their season cause the Sooner’s SEC slate is a gauntlet. If they lost this one, the hopes and dreams for the season would look bleak. Thankfully for the Sooner faithful, their team came to play and sent Michigan packing with big fat L.
Bossman: When will I learn? I picked Virginia Tech to win and cover because Lane Stadium has that reputation. Lane at night? You don’t just walk out of there with a win! WRONG. As soon as you start doubting Diego Pavia, you’re in trouble. Vanderbilt was down 20-10 at halftime. No worries! All the Commodores did was storm out of the locker room and score 34 unanswered points to swipe a blowout win on the road. Absolutely ridiculous. While Pavia played well, a ton of credit has to be given to the run game, which went for 200 yards and three TDs between Makhilyn Young, Sedrick Alexander, and Tre Richardson. The hogs up front paved some massive holes and showed the Hokies what an SEC line is supposed to look like. The defense also locked down, especially in the second half, and had three sacks and eight TFLs on the game. You have to love this one for Clark Lea and the Vandy boys - I gotta stop doubting them.
Hammer: I picked Vandy in this game because Diego Pavia is a DAWG. Lane Stadium and Virginia Tech used to mean something. They don’t anymore, and that’s sad but it’s true. Pavia and the ‘Dore were the better team coming into this game and I knew they would be ready for that environment. A sluggish start saw the Commodores trailing 20-10 at halftime. What happened in the second half was pure dominance as Vandy scored 34 unanswered points and held the Hokies to 21 total yards in the second half. Pavia looked in control of the Vandy offense all night going 12/18 for 193 yards with two TDs and one interception. He added 61 yards on the ground as the Vandy run game looked unstoppable, averaging 7.1 yards per carry for a total of 262 total rushing yards. Don’t doubt this Vanderbilt team!
Other games on the slate:
#3 LSU 23 - Louisiana Tech 7
#4 Georgia 28 - Austin Peay 6
#7 Texas 38 - San Jose State 7
#10 South Carolina 38 - South Carolina State 10
#19 Texas A&M 44 - Utah State 22
#21 Alabama 73 - ULM 0
#22 Tennessee 72 - East Tennessee State 17
Arkansas 56 - Arkansas State 14
Auburn 42 - Ball State 3
