Former Big 12 teams finding success in the SEC

Texas A&M and Missouri, two average programs from the Big 12, joined the Southeastern Conference two years ago.

There were supposed to be growing pains. In fact, many people thought the schools would get devoured in America’s best football conference.

But Texas A&M, in its first year, became the only team to defeat national champion Alabama.

And Saturday, Missouri improved to 7-0 for the season and took a two-game lead in the SEC East.

A two-game lead in a division with Georgia, South Carolina and Florida?

What is going on down there?

Texas A&M you can sort of understand. The Aggies entered the SEC with the amazing Johnny Manziel as their starting quarterback,

Missouri’s rise is more surprising. The Tigers went 5-7 last year, 2-6 in SEC play.

Missouri wasn’t really tested early in the season with wins over the likes of Murray State and Toledo.

The Tigers’ season was supposed to take a hit these last two weeks, but they were fortunate to face Georgia and Florida teams that have been devastated by injuries.

Missouri beat Georgia last week in Athens and downed Florida, 36-17, on Saturday.

Give Missouri credit, though, because it is playing without starting quarterback James Franklin.

The SEC East is now officially a mess. South Carolina lost Saturday to Tennessee and Vanderbilt rallied to hand Georgia its third loss of the year.

Missouri holds a two-game lead over South Carolina, which visits Columbia next week.

The question now: how long can Missouri make this last?

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