A sampling of what writers around the nation and are saying about SEC football:

IAN R. RAPOPORT The Birmingham (Ala. ) News PJ Fitzgerald learned to punt because he wanted to perform in a Punt, Pass & Kick competition at the former Pro Player Stadium. And he did. As a 15-year-old, however, Fitzgerald used the talent his dad taught him to advance not only to the home of the Miami Dolphins but also to Heinz Field for the 2003 national championship during a Pittsburgh Steelers-Tennessee Titans game. There, he lost to current West Virginia star punter Pat McAfee. Then, it was a hobby. A necessary act to compete. A role he held at Douglas High (Fla. ) School because no one else could do it. After his senior season in high school, it changed. “I knew that punting was the only way I’d be able to play D-I football,” said Fitzgerald.

“He is killing it,” said gunner Marquis Johnson.

“He’s very good and very consistent,” returner Javier Arenas said. “He can control every ball he kicks.”

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Fitzgerald has, thanks in part to gunners Rashad Johnson and Marquis Johnson. “Without [Rashad Johnson ] I wouldn’t have the numbers I have,” Fitzgerald said. “He forces all those fair catches. He downs all those punts.”

“I love punting, especially because I’m doing good now. It’s a lot more fun.” ALEX SCARBOROUGH-ANDERSON The Auburn (Ala. ) Plainsman Auburn came within inches of knocking off the 10 th-ranked Georgia Bulldogs, failing to score on the final play of the game, losing 17-13. Kodi Burns (Fort Smith Northside ) led the Tigers offense down the field in the final minutes, but a fourth-and-1 play with seconds remaining fell short. “We are not there yet on offense in terms of being able to make the play at the crucial time,” Coach Tommy Tuberville said. After the bye week, the Tigers (5-6, 2-5 ) travel to Tuscaloosa to take on Alabama. The Tide finished the week undefeated and No. 1 in both the Associated Press and BCS rankings. “This is our season,” Burns said. “They’re the No. 1 team, and we’re down and really beat up. That’s what it’s about — rebounding and coming back.”

JAMES VARNEY The Times-Picayune

(New Orleans ) Among the difficulties LSU will face Saturday when it hosts Ole Miss is this: The game might mean more to the Rebels. For one thing, LSU has won six in a row against the Rebels and seven of the past eight. Ole Miss Coach Houston Nutt has been around the SEC for years, but said he didn’t appreciate how much beating LSU meant to the Rebels faithful until they hired him. “The first question I had here on my first day was about LSU, so I think that tells you what our fans think about this game,” Nutt said. “There’s a lot of tradition there.” A fallow period for Ole Miss football that began at almost the same time Eli Manning graduated, combined with a resurgent LSU program that has won two national championships in five years, have dulled the prestige and competitiveness of a game that was once one of the South’s biggest. When the Rebels and LSU kick off Saturday, it will be the 97 th time these universities have played each other in football since 1894. “Everyone knows this is going to be a rivalry game, “ Pittman said. “ They always play us close.”

KEVIN BROCKWAY The Gainesville (Fla. ) Sun As a lame-duck coach with two games left, Tennessee ’ Phil Fulmer at least had a bye to prepare his team for rivalry contests against Vanderbilt and Kentucky. Yet in a season that’s spiraled downward since an overtime loss at UCLA to start the season, even the optimistic Fulmer may have a hard time keeping his players hungry. The Vols suffered an embarrassing 13-7 homecoming loss to Wyoming that eliminated them from earning a bowl bid. “We’ve been a good practice team,” Fulmer said. “You see good things, good tempo on defense. We’ve got two big games left. I expect us to improve and execute. “ It’s just been frustrating not to have any level of consistency on offense.” The school plans to honor Fulmer for his final game at Neyland Stadium, Nov. 29, against Kentucky.

JOHN PATTON The Gainesville (Fla. ) Sun

As it should be, much of the talk in the SEC these days is about the impending title game showdown between Eastern Division champion Florida and Western Division champ Alabama in Atlanta on Dec. 6.

However, in case you missed it, eight SEC teams are now bowl eligible after Vanderbilt and Mississippi won their sixth games last Saturday.

The Commodores improved to 6-4 and the Rebels (6-4 ) defeated Louisiana-Monroe 59-0 to reach the magic victory total.

Best known for recording the biggest upset in the SEC this year (beating fourth-ranked Florida 31-30 in The Swamp Sept. 27 ), Ole Miss initially stumbled after that victory.

The Rebels followed the victory in Gainesville with a close home loss to South Carolina and at Alabama to drop to 3-4. However, since then they have reeled off victories at Arkansas and at home against Auburn prior to last week.

Coach Houston Nutt said the focus is now on this week’s trip to LSU for the first-ever Magnolia Bowl. Student bodies from each school elected to christen the game with that title because the official flower of each state is the magnolia. A trophy will be handed out to the winning team following the contest.