The most penalized teams in the SEC, ranked through Week 6

We’re nearing the halfway point in the season, folks. Each SEC team has played at least 2 conference games and most have played 3.

We’ve taken a look at the most penalized teams in the conference across the past 5 years and through the first 3 weeks of the season already. Now, let’s do a mid-season check-in.

Here’s the SEC ranked by penalty yards per game through Week 6. All numbers via CFBStats.com:

1. Auburn: 42 yards per game
2. Georgia: 42.7 yards per game
3. Vanderbilt: 44.4 yards per game
4. LSU: 44.8 yards per game
5. Mississippi State: 45.7 yards per game
6. South Carolina: 47.6 yards per game
7. Florida: 47.8 yards per game
8. Texas A&M: 50.5 yards per game
9, Missouri: 54.2 yards per game
10. Alabama: 57.2 yards per game
11. Kentucky: 59.5 yards per game
12. Tennessee: 60 yards per game
13. Arkansas: 64 yards per game
14. Ole Miss: 65 yards per game

7 teams improved from Week 4’s number while 7 trended downwards. The teams that improved were Arkansas, Auburn, Mississippi State, Alabama, Texas A&M, Tennessee and Auburn.

And here’s a look at penalty flags thrown per game per team on average so far. Note that 1-2, 7-10 and 11-12 are tied:

1. Georgia: 4.7
2. Mississippi State: 4.7
3. Vanderbilt: 4.9
4. LSU: 5.3
5. Auburn: 5.4
6. Kentucky: 6.7
7. South Carolina: 6.8
8. Florida: 6.8
9. Texas A&M: 6.8
10. Ole Miss: 6.8
11. Alabama: 7.2
12. Tennessee: 7.2
13. Missouri: 7.5
14. Arkansas: 7.7

Some things have changed, while other trends have stayed the same. However you spin it, LSU, Vanderbilt, Georgia and Auburn have consistently been among the better teams in the conference at avoiding penalties. Arkansas, Ole Miss and Kentucky have really started to struggle in SEC play.

Does anything on this list surprise you?

SOURCE: Stone, Ethan Stone. "The most penalized teams in the SEC, ranked through Week, Saturday Down South, October 9, 2023, https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/sec-football/the-most-penalized-teams-in-the-sec-ranked-through-week-6/

ETHAN STONE
Ethan Stone was an editor for his student newspaper at the University of Tennessee and is now a News Manager for Saturday Down South. Follow on Twitter.