The SEC is a mess. Emotionally, statistically, and conference standings-ally. I’m pretty sure that my 5.5 years of liberal arts school education taught me that last one isn’t a word, but the point stands. It’s been chaotic and crazy, which makes ranking the teams from week to week even more confusing and prone to a Cold Takes Exposed moment on Sunday morning after the games are played. Nevertheless, we’ll try. Here are this week’s power rankings.
Bottom 6
16. Vanderbilt
15. Arkansas
14. Texas A&M
13. Mississippi State
12. Auburn
11. Oklahoma
Top 10
10. Missouri
The quietest 5-2 team in the conference by far. Missouri was on a bye last week, but returns to action this week against Arkansas which should get them to bowl eligibility.
9. Florida
Florida is one of two teams in the country with a winning record who has only faced teams without a losing record this season. That’s pretty remarkable to have that level of success with that schedule in Jon Sumrall’s first season.
8. South Carolina
For just the third time in program history the Gamecocks beat back-to-back Top 20 teams. Two of those three are under head coach Shane Beamer. South Carolina was finally able to overcome a fourth-quarter deficit and scored 10 points in the final 3.5 minutes against Tennessee. They’re an underdog this weekend against Oklahoma, but if they win that one – watch out.
7. Alabama
What an underwhelming performance against Texas A&M. Alabama looked tired and beat up playing their eighth straight game. The fourth-down stop in the fourth quarter really turned things around for Alabama. They were able to dominate the rest of the game and turned a three-point deficit into a double-digit win. Now they just need to get healthy.
6. Tennessee
There’s no rest for the weary in this league, and Tennessee knows that better than anyone. The Vols are 6-2 and their two losses are by a combined six points. There’s a world where Tennessee’s first-year starting quarterback doesn’t get confused on fourth down and scrambles for a first to put that game on ice. But two bad plays in Columbia allowed the Gamecocks to win. Tennessee still has a lot left to play for and is still very much in the College Football Playoff hunt.
5. Ole Miss
That Texas game played out the exact opposite of how the LSU game played for Ole Miss this year. It took awhile for the offense to get going, and the defense had trouble stopping the run all night long. Credit Ole Miss for battling back. They still feel like a team that could challenge for a spot in the CFP if they can beat Georgia, but that’s a big if considering how good Georgia is.
4. Texas
The most beautifully consistently inconsistent team in the conference. Texas is the only team in America with three ranked wins, yet they will have their backs against the wall for the rest of the season trying to keep their head above water and make the CFP. The Longhorns looked much better last week, and that was a massive win for their confidence going into the rest of the season. They’re now 3-0 against Top 25 teams and 2-0 against Top 10 teams.
3. Kentucky
Just win baby. Kentucky has channeled their inner Al Davis to jump out to a 7-1 start this season. Three of those wins are by one score, and their lone loss is against a team currently ranked in the Top 10. It’s a gauntlet to close out the year, but they currently sit atop the standings all by themselves in the SEC.
2. LSU
I don’t care what happened in early October, LSU is better than Kentucky. They are coming off a road win (finally), and get to the bye week desperately trying to get healthy before Alabama. The Tigers have the best offense in the SEC and arguably the best defense as well. They have been outstanding in year one under head coach Lane Kiffin. The good news is that two of the three games they have remaining against ranked opponents are at home where they have thrived.
1. Georgia
No one benefitted from a bye more than Georgia. They moved up to No. 3 in the AP Poll and back up to No. 1 in the power rankings. This week they face their biggest rival in a showdown that’s a must win for Florida.
