How does the SEC rank now that bowl season is over?

Before any fans go wild, these rankings are based exclusively on bowl performances. The SEC West, in that respect, lost serious traction after hitting a wall with five losses in seven games.

12. OLE MISS — Can we pretend the Rebels’ abysmal performance in Atlanta never happened? This wasn’t the same team we saw during the regular season, one that fought hard against quality competition and even upset top-ranked Alabama in October. Without a running game, too much of the game plan fell on the shoulders of Bo Wallace, a senior quarterback who has proven to be unreliable at times. Three interceptions and a lost fumble from Bad Bo led to a 42-3 loss to No. 6 TCU.

11. LSU — What happened to the Tigers’ strength up front? Notre Dame dominated in the trenches and overcame a Herculean multi-touchdown effort from Leonard Fournette to win the Music City Bowl. Much-maligned for his up and down play during the regular season, quarterback Everett Golson led the Irish on the game-winning drive and helped Notre Dame win the money down throughout.

10. MISSISSIPPI STATE — Dak Prescott’s career-best 453-yard passing performance in the Orange Bowl wasn’t enough against Georgia Tech, a team that never trailed against the nation’s seventh-ranked team. The Yellow Jackets rushed for 452 yards and outscored the Bulldogs 21-0 in the third quarter to post their second straight victory over one of the SEC’s elite (at Georgia in November).

9. ALABAMA — The SEC’s shot at a national championship was snuffed out by Urban Meyer’s Buckeyes, a team that has overcome injuries to quarterbacks Braxton Miller and J.T. Barrett to reach the Playoff final. The Crimson Tide’s secondary was exposed once again, this time by Cardale Jones, and playing from behind forced Blake Sims into several uncharacteristic mistakes. Not counting the 2011 BCS Championship Game in New Orleans, Alabama has lost its last three Sugar Bowl games.

8. AUBURN — In his Outback Bowl curtain call, Heisman finalist Melvin Gordon obliterated Auburn’s defense with 251 yards rushing and three touchdowns to take down one of the SEC’s highest-ranked teams. The lead exchanged hands seven times at Raymond James Stadium before Rafael Gaglianone’s 25-yard field goal in overtime proved to be the game-winner for the Badgers.

7. FLORIDA — The Gators helped the East finish with a perfect 5-0 mark during bowl season despite giving up 101 offensive plays for 536 yards to East Carolina. Florida’s defense stiffened in the red zone, allowing just two touchdowns in six trips including a game-sealing interception from Vernon Hargreaves with 1:20 to play. Gators redshirt freshman tailback Adam Lane doubled his previous season’s carry total with 16 attempts for 109 yards rushing and a touchdown.

6. SOUTH CAROLINA — Steve Spurrier and the Gamecocks opened bowl season with their fourth consecutive postseason win, turning the tides on an otherwise disappointing campaign defensively to thwart Miami, 24-21. South Carolina forced two turnovers and was led by a three-touchdown game from Dylan Thompson in his final career game.

5. TENNESSEE — In a game that was 42-7 after three quarters, the Vols were the SEC’s most well-prepared postseason team, blowing out Iowa with relative ease. Marlin Lane’s 49-yard halfback pass for a touchdown late in the first quarter was the knockout punch that put the Hawkeyes on the canvas.

4. TEXAS A&M — The Aggies improved to 3-0 in bowl games under Kevin Sumlin as one of the SEC’s two underdogs this bowl season (South Carolina being the other). Auditioning for next season’s starting quarterback role, Kyle Allen accounted for five touchdowns and bounced back from an early pick-six that gave West Virginia momentum. Texas A&M showed offensive balance to offset a big day from Mountaineers backup signal caller Skyler Howard.

3. MIZZOU — The two-time defending Eastern Division champs turned up the heat defensively against one of the Big Ten’s better teams, recovering three fumbles during a 16-point Citrus Bowl win over Minnesota. The Tigers rushed for 337 yards, most of which coming in the second half after Russell Hansbrough and Marcus Murphy each delivered back-breaking highlight plays.

2. GEORGIA — More Nick Chubb, please. The freshman tailback obliterated the previous Belk Bowl single-game rushing record and led the Bulldogs’ dominant victory over previously-ranked Louisville. Hutson Mason was turnover-free and Georgia’s defense harassed an out-manned Louisville offensive line in Charlotte.

1. ARKANSAS — Bret Bielema wanted a statement in the Texas Bowl and his defense delivered with one of the most impressive performances up front in Razorbacks bowl history. Arkansas gave up just 59 total yards and seven points to rival Texas. The Razorbacks’ seventh win gives the program positive momentum heading into spring practice, a pivotal time for a team in transition hoping to compete for a Western Division championship in 2015.