AJ McCarron: LSU vs. Alabama 2013

Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback AJ McCarron (10) during first half action in Tuscaloosa, Ala. on Saturday, November 9, 2013. (Photo by Brett Duke, Nola.com | The Times-Picayune)

The Takeaway from Week 11 in the SEC football season:

1. AJ McCarron is a legit Heisman candidate:

Forget his relatively modest numbers, AJ McCarron is going to be a factor in the Heisman Trophy race. And here are the numbers that matter most: 33-2 with two national championships, his record as a starting quarterback.

Nick Saban

and he has a point. McCarron, who has 19 touchdowns and just three interceptions this season, has (and he'll hate reading this part) managed the Crimson Tide offensive masterfully.

He gets Alabama in the right play, whether it's a run or pass. He manages the right balance between being aggressive and playing to the Tide's elite defense. He rarely does anything to hurt the Tide's cause, but he'll aggressively win a game when it's his time.

He's the perfect game manager. And let's face it, most great quarterbacks who win like McCarron can put managing the game at the top of their list of responsibilities. And before you think that means he's limited, understand that he is Alabama's all-time leading passer. No, he doesn't put up Johnny Manziel numbers, but he's no slouch.

As a voter, I'm not ready to say McCarron has my vote, not with Manziel, Jameis Winston and fast-emerging Bryce Petty still with chances to impress. But McCarron is certainly in the conversation.

2. Mauk may be league's next great passer:

When

in Missouri's 45-17 win over Kentucky Saturday, it should not have come as a surprise.

Mauk is the all-time leading passer in the history of high school football. He threw for 18,932 career yards at Kenton, Ohio, HS from 2008-11. Green-Beckham is the all-time leading receiver in prep history, having accumulated 6,356 career yards from 2008-2011 at Springfield, Mo., Hillcrest High.

Together, they should form a lethal duo next year when Mauk takes over for James Franklin as the Tigers' new full-time starter. With Green-Bekcham as a go-to guy -- at least for one year before leaving for the NFL -- Mauk has a chance to put up gaudy numbers for a few years.

At 6-foot, he's not likely to be high on draft boards, meaning Mauk, currently a redshirt freshman, might stick around long enough to accumulate serious career statistics.

3. What about Ole Miss?:

Sometimes, I wonder if poll voters go off old habits over actual resumes.

Georgia re-entered the AP Top 25 this week at 6-3 to check in at No. 25. I'm just wondering if the Bulldogs are the right SEC team to enter the Top 25 this week.

Ole Miss is also 6-3, but check out the Rebels' resume. They have wins at Texas (which also entered the polls this week after beating West Virginia) and against LSU, two ranked opponents. The Rebels' three losses are to three Top 10 teams -- No. 1 Alabama, No. 9 Auburn and No. 10 Texas A&M.

And while the Alabama loss was one-sided, the Auburn and A&M losses were by a combined 11 points.

Add in a win over Vanderbilt, which is starting to look better given that the Commodores have beaten both Florida and (notably) Georgia this season and it's obvious that the Rebels have a Top 25 resume.

Certainly, Georgia has a strong argument. Its win over South Carolina is better than any of Ole Miss' current wins and the Dogs also beat LSU. But the Vandy loss is a worse loss than any of the Rebels' losses.

Ole Miss is one spot out in the AP poll, but only has six votes in the Coaches Poll.

Coaches, what are you thinking?