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Week 4 was an exciting one around the SEC, and it also helped cement a few things in terms of the SEC power rankings.
Alabama can still win big games. Vanderbilt is still in the cellar. Mizzou continues to play with fire. Georgia remains No. 1.
Outside of those things, the power rankings are still very much in flux, but a full SEC slate next weekend should clarify things even further.
Here’s a look at where things stand following Week 4:
14. Vanderbilt (2-3 overall, 0-1 in SEC)
Previous ranking: 14
This week: 45-28 L to Kentucky
Next week: vs. Mizzou
The Commodores remain in the cellar for another week. Not much to say about this team. They’re at the bottom until they prove otherwise. Fortunately for the Commodores, a Mizzou team that likes to play with fire comes to Nashville next weekend.
13. Mississippi State (2-2, 0-2)
Previous ranking: 12
This week: 37-30 L to South Carolina
Next week: vs. Alabama
There’s a real chance the Bulldogs go 0-8 in SEC play this year (especially since they don’t play Vanderbilt). At least they let Will Rogers do his thing at quarterback this week, throwing for nearly 500 yards. But when you can’t slow down a South Carolina offense that doesn’t have an offensive line, it’s certainly concerning.
12. Arkansas (2-2, 0-1)
Previous ranking: 11
This week: 34-31 L to No. 12 LSU
Next week: vs. Texas A&M (in Arlington)
Yes, Arkansas gave LSU a scare in Death Valley on Saturday night. No, it ultimately didn’t result in a win, which is all that matters. This is now a team that has lost back-to-back games. That’s not a great sign. If the Hogs fall to Texas A&M next weekend in a neutral-site showdown, you can expect Sam Pittman to face a ton of criticism. It’s probably safe to say whoever loses next week’s matchup will be on the hottest seat in the league.
11. Auburn (3-1, 0-1)
Previous ranking: 5
This week: 27-10 L to Texas A&M
Next week: vs. Georgia
Yeah … I’m no longer willing to give Auburn the benefit of the doubt regarding a narrow road win against an awful Cal team. That wasn’t weird Pac-12 After Dark energy. That was bad offense from the Tigers. Payton Thorne isn’t the guy. That much is clear. Hugh Freeze needs to get a better QB on The Plains before 2024 kicks off.
10. Texas A&M (3-1, 1-0)
Previous ranking: 13
This week: 27-10 W over Auburn
Next week: vs. Arkansas (in Arlington)
Conner Weigman appeared to be in a lot of pain during Saturday’s win. I like Max Johnson a lot, but can he lead the Aggies to a top-3 finish in the SEC West? I doubt it. There are still a ton of question marks with this team, but Saturday was definitely an encouraging win. Beat Arkansas in Week 5 and folks will start to forget about the Miami loss.
9. South Carolina (2-2, 1-1)
Previous ranking: 10
This week: 37-30 W over Mississippi State
Next week: at Tennessee
This Gamecocks team has a lot to work on. Mississippi State might be awful and the Gamecocks only won by 7 at home. The offensive line doesn’t block. The defense can’t get stops. But Spencer Rattler is playing well. Xavier Leggette is a stud. Juice Wells might be healthy soon. Don’t count this team out. Next week on Rocky Top is a huge game.
8. Florida (3-1, 1-0)
Previous ranking: 9
This week: 22-7 W over Charlotte
Next week: at Kentucky
If Florida fans are happy with a 15-point win over Charlotte in The Swamp, then that program has fallen even further than I thought. Fans should be furious with the Gators’ performance on Saturday night. But yet, I’d bet I still get a bunch of “but we beat Tennessee” comments on this article. This team has serious flaws that need to be addressed. Don’t rest on 1 signature win when every SEC season requires at least 4 signature wins to compete for a spot in Atlanta.
7. Kentucky (4-0, 1-0)
Previous ranking: 7
This week: 45-28 W over Vanderbilt
Next week: vs. Florida
Three not-super-inspiring wins over nonconference foes and a win over SEC bottom feeder Vanderbilt won’t do much to move the needle for me on the Wildcats. But 4-0 is 4-0. Next week the Gators come to Lexington. Win that game and I’ll certainly be impressed with what Mark Stoops has going on with his team this year.
6. Ole Miss (3-1, 0-1)
Previous ranking: 2
This week: 24-10 L to No. 13 Alabama
Next week: vs. No. 12 LSU
The Rebels simply cannot win against Alabama. Lane Kiffin simply cannot beat Nick Saban. These are facts. The Rebels still have a good team, though. I’m not hitting the panic button just yet. But there are serious issues that need to be addressed. And yes, even I, the biggest Lane Kiffin fan in the world, am beginning to wonder if Kiffin needs to spend a little less time on social media.
5. Tennessee (3-1, 0-1)
Previous ranking: 8
This week: 45-14 W over UTSA
Next week: vs. South Carolina
I know y’all gave me a hard time about having Tennessee ranked ahead of Florida last week after the Gators thumped the Vols in The Swamp. But this is a season-long thing. If y’all had to pick who will finish the 2023 season with a better overall and SEC record, you’d pick Tennessee. I guarantee you would. The Vols made a statement this weekend against a good UTSA team. They’ll do it again next weekend against the Gamecocks.
4. Mizzou (4-0, 0-0)
Previous ranking: 3
This week: 34-27 W over Memphis
Next week: at Vanderbilt
Y’all will still think I have Mizzou too high, I’m sure, but that’s classic SEC bias. The Tigers have 1 of the top 3 players in the league in Luther Burden. It’s Brock Bowers, Harold Perkins and Luther Burden, and not necessarily in that order. The Tigers played a tougher nonconference schedule than most SEC teams and emerged unblemished. With a trip to Nashville next weekend, there’s a decent chance this team is 5-0 entering Week 6.
3. Alabama (3-1, 1-0)
Previous ranking: 6
This week: 24-10 W over No. 15 Ole Miss
Next week: at Mississippi State
Alabama answered a lot of questions with a convincing win over Ole Miss. The Rebels were completely outmatched on Saturday afternoon. Alabama still has a ton of talent. Is Jalen Milroe the guy to lead them to success throughout the SEC season? That remains to be seen. Was he the right guy this week? Absolutely.
2. LSU (3-1, 2-0)
Previous ranking: 4
This week: 34-31 W over Arkansas
Next week: at Ole Miss
A 3-point home win over a team that lost to BYU last week? Yeah, it wasn’t pretty. But who else am I supposed to put at No. 2 this week? Jayden Daniels has figured things out. The offense looks good. The defense … has some work to do. Can the Tigers win the SEC West? I’d bet on it at this point.
1. Georgia (4-0, 1-0)
Previous ranking: 1
This week: 49-21 W over UAB
Next week: at Auburn
Much like Vanderbilt at No. 14, Georgia will be at the No. 1 spot until proven otherwise. The Bulldogs keep winning. That’s all you need to do in college football – beat the 11 guys on the other side of the line of scrimmage as you. Georgia travels to Auburn next weekend in what could turn into its toughest test of the young season. Not saying much, but the schedule is what it is.
Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.
