The SEC has a nation-leading five teams ranked in this week’s Associated Press and USA Today polls (The Big 12 has five in both polls and the Big Ten has five in the USA Today poll). LSU is ranked first in the AP poll followed by Alabama 3rd, South Carolina 10th, Florida 12th and Arkansas 18th. In the USA Today poll, Alabama and LSU are tied for second, South Carolina is 9th, Florida 12th and Arkansas 18th.
* - SEC is 25-4 in non-conference games this season, a 86.2 winning percentage. The percentage is second best among FBS conferences (Big 12 is 25-2, 92.6 percent).
* - Alabama has been ranked in 53 straight polls, which is the longest streak in the nation. The streak began with the first poll of the 2008 season. Boise State (50 straight) and TCU (46 straight) are the next two longest streaks.
* - For the first time in the history of the Southeastern Conference , three punt returns were returned 80 yards or more for touchdowns in the same weekend. These punt returns were: 83 yards by Marquis Maze, Alabama (vs. Arkansas); 82 yards by Chad Bumphis, Mississippi State (vs. Louisiana Tech); 81 yards by Nick Brassell, Ole Miss (vs. Georgia).
* - This weekend’s CBS Sports primetime tilt between Alabama and Florida (8 p.m. ET from Gainesville) will feature the two winningest teams in the SEC since 2007. In the last 4+ years, Florida has the SEC’s best mark at 47-11 (.810) followed by Alabama at 42-11 (.792). Ten SEC teams have .500-or-better marks since 2007.
* - Florida and LSU are the only SEC teams to score first before its opponents in all of its games so far this season. LSU is the only SEC team to score on its opening drive in every game this season (2 TDs, 2 FGs).
* - SEC defenses giving up an average of 319.6 yards per game, which is 2nd in nation and 30.7 yards per game below last year's SEC average of 350.3. The average for all FBS teams is 361.3 yards per game.
* - Six SEC teams are among the top 25 in the nation in pass defense led by Alabama (3rd at 138.25 yards per game). Georgia is 8th (150.25), South Carolina 13th (160.50), Kentucky 14th (162.25), Florida 20th (175.25) and Vanderbilt 25th (182.25).
* - Six SEC teams are among the top 30 in the nation in scoring offense led by Florida at 15th (40.25 ppg). Also are Arkansas (18th, 38.75 ppg), LSU (18th, 38.75 ppg), Alabama (21st, 38.50 ppg), Georgia (26th, 37.25 ppg) and Tennessee (30th, 36.67 ppg).
* - Other key NCAA numbers: Alabama 2nd in the nation in total defense and Florida is 5th … Alabama, LSU and Florida are 3-4-5 in rushing defense … Ole Miss leads nation in punt returns … Florida’s Caleb Sturgis leads nation in field goals made per game.
