SEC Round-Up: Auburn QB Jarrett Stidham faces first test in Clemson

Call it the first moment of truth.

Jarrett Stidham will face several more moments this college football season to prove he is indeed a difference-maker as Auburn’s quarterback. An Oct. 14 clash with. LSU, a Nov. 11 tilt with Georgia and the Nov. 25 grudge match with Alabama certainly come to mind.

However, none really offers a better chance for Stidham to prove himself than Saturday’s game against defending national champion Clemson.

Stidham did not distinguish himself in a 41-7 season-opening victory over Georgia Southern in which he passed for 185 yards and two touchdowns. Maybe that was expected because it was his first real game action since leaving Baylor after the 2015 season. He did not complete a pass for 20 yards or more against Georgia Southern, but did have three 19-yard completions.

"You know, Georgia Southern – even last year, they didn't give up balls over the top of them, hardly," offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey told Alabama reporters this week. "So it was one of those deals where the coverage they played kind of dictated where the ball had to go, I think. We did try a couple of times. I think we had a drop on a long touchdown and another drop on a crossing route. If you hit both of those, you're feeling pretty good at the end of the line, so to speak.

"I thought, overall, (Stidham) made really good decisions. Obviously, we want to throw the ball down the field some. But sometimes, the opportunities don't present themselves."

Auburn can’t just wait for opportunities. The Tigers need a quarterback that can create opportunities.

Last season Auburn threw for 2,203 yards — its lowest passing output since the 3-9 debacle of 2012.

The Tigers need a legitimate passing threat to compliment their running game. Only then can they become a serious challenger to Alabama in the SEC West. Clemson offers the first real chance for Stidham to show he can provide that threat.

Last season the Clemson Tigers were ranked 14th in the nation in pass defense. However, they did allow more than 280 passing yards to Louisville, Florida State, Pittsburgh and Virginia Tech.

If Stidham is similarly productive, he can make a big difference for Auburn this season. Clemson coach Dabo Swinney agreed.

“I think just the addition of Stidham coming in and his understanding of what they want to do offensively and the nuances of the zone read and his ability to throw the football down the field with great poise, that's the biggest difference,” Swinney said.

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Around the SEC…

Who’s hot: The Southeastern Conference is pretty hot. There was some question whether the SEC was in decline and no longer the most dominant conference in college football. But then SEC went 12-2 in the opening week. That included a 4-2 record against Power Five opponents and major independent BYU. And the SEC was painfully close to going 5-1, but… well, you know.

Who’s not: After last week’s collapse, Texas A&M is ranked next to last in the nation in pass defense. Unfortunately, there’s more reason for concern. Dating back to last season, the Aggies have lost their last six games against Power Five competition. A&M’s defense has allowed an average of 38.1 points in those games.

Keep an eye on: Tennessee needs a big-play threat and appears to have found one in sophomore wide receiver Marquez Callaway. He caught four passes for 115 yards and two touchdowns — including a 50-yarder — in the Vols’ victory over Georgia Tech. Last season Callaway had just one catch for 13 yards. The Vols are hopeful that performance against Georgia Tech was the first step in a breakout year.

Best matchup: There are several major matchups in the Auburn vs Clemson game, but none matches more head-to-head talent than Auburn guard Braden Smith vs. Clemson defensive tackles Christian Wilkins and Dexter Lawrence. Smith will be lined up across from either at different points of the game. He’s one of the best guards in the nation. He’ll need to get a push against some of the best defensive tackles in the nation to provide room for Kamryn Pettway’s inside running.

The pressure is on: Perhaps overlooked in the euphoria of South Carolina’s season-opening upset victory is the fact the Gamecock secondary allowed North Carolina State quarterback Ryan Finley to pass for 415 yards. Consequently, Finley is ranked fourth in the nation in passing yardage. This week the Gamecocks face Missouri quarterback Drew Lock, who is ranked first with 521 passing yards after week one. Last season Lock passed for 302 yards against the Gamecocks but also threw two interceptions in a 31-21 South Carolina win.

This week’s games: Nicholls State at Texas A&M; Auburn at Clemson; TCU at Arkansas; Fresno State at Alabama; Mississippi State at Louisiana Tech; Chattanooga at LSU; UT-Martin at Ole Miss; Georgia at Notre Dame; South Carolina at Missouri; Northern Colorado at Florida; Eastern Kentucky at Kentucky; Indiana State at Tennessee; Alabama A&M at Vanderbilt.