The much anticipated SEC Network has launched to over 60 million subscribers, and kicked off this week with another much anticipated event: the top 25 match up between Texas A&M and the South Carolina Gamecocks. ESPN and the fledgling network couldn’t have asked for a better debut in terms of office, as over 70 points and 1000 yards of total offense were put up in front of a huge audience (numbers to be released later this week).

South Carolina was not only a preseason top 10 team but was even seen by some as a national title contender, perhaps finally breaking out of the SEC East division they notoriously haven’t been able to outright win in over two decades. It’s been a while since the old ball coach has broken through with such success — but his reputation precedes him and the Gamecocks no doubt were surprised Thursday night with a 52-28 thumping that left the fan bases national title hopes in doubt.

Texas A&M no doubt knows who will replace Johnny Football. Kenny Hill threw for an unbelievable 500 yards in his debut as Kevin Sumlin quickly quieted many doubters who wondered if the coach had made his SEC success solely through Manziel’s over-sized cleats.

The Aggies went to Columbia, South Carolina confident in what they could do, and it showed. Texas A&M snapped South Carolina’s (0-1, 0-1 SEC) 18 game home winning streak. In all, Texas A&M got the football into the hands of 11 different receivers and four different runners. The pace and ability to spread the ball around proved too much for South Carolina to handle as the Gamecocks were left catching their breath on the field and on the sideline early and often.

South Carolina will host a dangerous East Carolina team next weekend, before hosting SEC East rival Georgia in what has become one of the top game sin the division the last few years. The Gamecocks clearly have more hole son defense than many may have been counting on this season, but there may not be another team with quite as potent an offense the rest of the season than the one South Carolina faced Wednesday night.

Texas A&M should continue to put up some big offensive numbers the next couple of weeks. The Aggies will host FCS Lamar in the home opener in Kyle Field next week, followed by a home game against Rice. The next SEC game for Texas A&M will come on September 27 in AT&T Stadium in Arlington against Arkansas in SEC West play. Moving forward, Texas A&M will have to be given more respect as a threat in the wide-open SEC. This Aggies team is not going to sneak up any one in conference play, especially Alabama, LSU and Auburn.

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