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UNDATED (AP) — The Southeastern Conference dominated the recruiting landscape even more than usual this year. The SEC has six of the nation’s top eight classes according to composite rankings compiled by 247Sports. SEC teams with top-eight classes include No. 1 Georgia, No. 2 Alabama, No. 4 LSU, No. 6 Texas A&M, No. 7 Auburn and No. 8 Florida. The only non-SEC teams in the top eight were Clemson at No. 3 and Ohio State at No. 5. Georgia is atop the 247Sports rankings for the second time in three years.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Saben Lee scored a career-high 33 points and Vanderbilt upset No. 18 LSU 99-90 to end the Southeastern Conference's longest regular-season skid at 26 straight. It also gave first-year coach Jerry Stackhouse his first league victory. The Commodores hadn't beaten an SEC opponent since downing Ole Miss nearly two years ago, a span of 28 league games counting tournament losses. Maxwell Evans scored 25 of his career-high 31 by halftime as he and Lee teamed up to knock off the defending SEC champs, who had won 10 straight overall this season. Trendon Watford led LSU with a season-high 26 points.
OXFORD, Miss. (AP) — Breein Tyree scored a career-high 38 points and Mississippi placed three players in double figures and the Rebels defeated South Carolina 84-70. Tyree finished 12 of 21 from the field, 11 of 13 from the free throw line and added three rebounds and two assists. Blake Hinson and Khadim Sy scored 13 and 10 points, respectively as Ole Miss never trailed. The Rebels raced to an 8-0 lead in the opening three minutes, led 43-32 at halftime and by as many as 19 points, 72-53, on a 3-point shot by Tyree with 6:29 remaining. Jermaine Cousinard's career-high 28 points led the Gamecocks.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Keyontae Johnson, Andrew Nembhard and Tre Mann carried Florida to one of the biggest comebacks in school history, rallying the Gators from 22 points down and stunning rival Georgia 81-75. The Gators trailed 52-30 early in the second half before putting together a 34-5 run that will go down in team lore. Florida came alive during a 23-2 spurt fueled by Johnson and Mann. Johnson scored 11 during that stretch, and Mann added eight. Freshman sensation Anthony Edwards scored 32 points in another dominant performance for Georgia.
AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — Auburn running back JaTarvious “Boobee” Whitlow has entered the NCAA’s transfer portal.Tigers coach Gus Malzahn confirmed Wednesday that Whitlow is “looking for a fresh start somewhere else.” Whitlow led the Tigers in rushing the past two seasons, totaling 1,550 yards and 16 touchdowns. He had 763 yards and 10 touchdowns as a sophomore while missing the Arkansas game and seeing limited action against LSU following knee surgery.Sophomore D.J. Williams leads the returnees after gaining 400 yards last season. Auburn also signed four-star running back Tank Bigsby in December.
UNDATED (AP) — The rich getting richer on signing day in college football in a long-standing tradition. This year's class was especially top-heavy. Six schools signed 22 of the 31 players rated as five-stars by 247 Sports. Clemson, Georgia, Alabama, LSU and Ohio State signed 47 of the top 100 recruits. Georgia landed the top-ranked class with Alabama and Clemson close behind. This the third year the recruiting calendar opened in December. The February signing period is now fairly quiet as most teams simply put the finishing touches on their classes.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Candice Storey Lee won't talk about how long she might be in charge of Vanderbilt's athletic department, having already made history as the first black woman to hold that job in the Southeastern Conference. Lee is very aware of how much this means and says she feels the responsibility to show that people who look like her and those who don't have opportunities to excel. She replaced Malcolm Turner after Vanderbilt accepted his resignation despite only a year on the job. Lee says she's focused on Vandy's coaches, players and staff. A new chancellor takes over July 1.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee has shuffled its coaching staff by promoting Joe Osovet to tight ends coach and moving Brian Niedermeyer from offense to defense. Osovet had joined Tennessee’s staff in 2018 by filling an off-field role in player development. He took over as director of football programming last year. Osevet now has the position that Niedermeyer filled the last two years. Niedermeyer is moving to defense to coach Tennessee's inside linebackers. Tennessee was seeking an inside linebackers coach because Kevin Sherrer left to coach the New York Giants' inside linebackers.
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