South Carolina football coach Will Muschamp shouts at an official during last week's rain-soaked win against Missouri in Columbia, South Carolina.OTHER PICKS
Michigan 23, Wisconsin 20Ohio State 44, Minnesota 13Boston College 38, Louisville 9Notre Dame 29, Pittsburgh 16Washington 27, Oregon 24Penn State 42, Michigan State 21Texas 35, Baylor 17Central Florida 44, Memphis 34West Virginia 30, Iowa State 27Virginia 31, Miami 28Virginia Tech 26, North Carolina 25Southern California 28, Colorado 19Maryland 31, Rutgers 22Middle Tennessee State 35, Florida International 34Northwestern 18, Nebraska 17South Florida 33, Tulsa 28Oklahoma State 35, Kansas State 26
Perhaps it's fitting this weekend's Southeastern Conference football schedule includes a pair of rotating cross-divisional matchups, Auburn at Tennessee and Georgia at LSU, many would like to see more frequently and a permanent cross-divisional pairing, South Carolina at Texas A&M, most know next to nothing about.
Do you realize the Aggies and host Gamecocks will have a trophy at stake when they square off Saturday afternoon inside Williams-Brice Stadium?
"That's the first I've heard of it," third-year South Carolina coach Will Muschamp said Wednesday on the weekly SEC teleconference. "What's the name of the trophy?"
The winner of the Texas A&M-South Carolina game earns the Bonham Trophy, which is named after legendary Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, who died in 1980.
Just kidding.
The Bonham Trophy actually is named for James Butler Bonham, who attended South Carolina (known then as South Carolina College) in 1824 and assisted the Texas independence fighters before dying at the Battle of the Alamo in 1836. Bonham helped serve Texas Army Lt. Col. William Travis, also a native of South Carolina.
Travis was considered for the South Carolina-Texas A&M trophy but was bypassed, according to The State newspaper in Columbia, South Carolina, due to his capturing of runaway slaves and for abandoning his wife.
Arkansas and South Carolina joined the SEC in 1992 and were paired as cross-divisional foes despite never playing one another before. When Texas A&M and Missouri joined in 2012, the two newcomers were linked as well, but Arkansas and Missouri wanted to form a border rivalry and got their wish in 2014.
That left South Carolina and Texas A&M with each other, with their first-ever matchup taking place with a newly created trophy in 2014. The Aggies have won all four series meetings.
After a reporter informed Muschamp of the trophy's name, he told the coach he ought to try to find it.
"Hell, we ain't won," Muschamp said, "so we ain't got it over here, I can tell you that."
Pasquali's Pix
Florida at Vanderbilt: You're not really encountering many Gators fans these days who are missing Jim McElwain. Gators 26, Commodores 13.
Tennessee at Auburn: The Volunteers are seeking their first series triumph since 1999, with the Tigers having won the past six meetings. Tigers 19, Vols 14.
Duke at Georgia Tech: In consecutive massacres of Bowling Green and Louisville, the Yellow Jackets have rushed for 914 yards and 16 touchdowns, and they have scored 129 points. Yellow Jackets 30, Blue Devils 24.
Georgia at LSU: Savor this stat while you can: The Tigers are undefeated (6-0) under Ed Orgeron after a loss. Bulldogs 31, Tigers 17.
UTC at Western Carolina: The Mocs are 4-2 despite being outgained 204-92 in average rushing yards per game. Mocs 34, Catamounts 13.
Texas A&M at South Carolina: Muschamp and Aggies counterpart Jimbo Fisher served as the coordinators under Nick Saban on LSU's 2003 national championship team. Aggies 28, Gamecocks 23.
Missouri at Alabama: The Crimson Tide have won 21 consecutive games against SEC East opposition, including two triumphs over Mizzou by a combined score of 84-23. Crimson Tide 49, Tigers 16.
Ole Miss at Arkansas: The Razorbacks have won four straight against the Rebels and 10 of the past 14 series encounters. Rebels 33, Razorbacks 24.
Last week: Winners - 18; Gundys - 7.
Pasquali is 122-28 overall (81.3 percent) this season.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.