Spoiler Alert: Not much changed in this week’s power rankings.
The teams that were toward the top of the rankings all looked good (or had the week off). The teams at the bottom of the rankings all lost in excruciating fashion (or were off this week).
So what did we learn? A bit, but we’ll learn a heck of a lot more in Week 5.
For now though, let’s take a look at where every SEC team stands in this week’s power rankings ahead of a Week 5 slate chock full of marquee matchups.
16. Kentucky (2-1 overall, 0-1 in SEC)
- Previous ranking: 16
- Last week: OFF
- This week: at South Carolina
The Wildcats are making a QB change ahead of this weekend’s game in South Carolina. Zach Calzada is out. Cutter Boley is in. Will it make a huge difference? Probably not. But Kentucky has a chance to pick up a big win on the road. The Wildcats desperately need some positive momentum heading into the meat of their SEC schedule.
15. Florida (1-3, 0-1)
- Previous ranking: 15
- Last week: 26-7 L at No. 4 Miami
- This week: OFF
It’s just a little bit surprising that Billy Napier didn’t get the ax this week after the loss at Miami. With a bye this weekend, the timing would have made a bit of sense, especially since the coaching carousel has already started spinning with the Virginia Tech, UCLA and Oklahoma State firings. We’ll see what happens in the coming weeks, but for now, the Gators will try to regroup with some time off.
14. South Carolina (2-2, 0-2)
- Previous ranking: 14
- Last week: 29-20 L at No. 23 Mizzou
- This week: vs. Kentucky
The offense continues to be a disaster, even with LaNorris Sellers. There’s just not enough talent around him. There were some good things from the offense against Mizzou, but it wasn’t enough to help South Carolina get a big road win. Kentucky is the worst team in my power rankings, though, so we’ll see if the Gamecocks can have a bounce-back showing.
13. Arkansas (2-2, 0-1)
- Previous ranking: 13
- Last week: 32-31 L at Memphis
- This week: vs. Notre Dame
The Hogs can’t stay out of their own way, losing 2 costly fumbles in back-to-back weeks to fall to 2-2 on the year. That’ll probably do it for the Sam Pittman era, but we’ll see how his team responds to adversity this week against a tough Notre Dame squad. The Irish’s defense has been suspect (to put it mildly) so far this year. Can Arkansas take advantage?
12. Mississippi State (4-0, 0-0)
- Previous ranking: 12
- Last week: 38-10 W over Northern Illinois
- This week: vs. Tennessee
Even if the Bulldogs don’t win a single SEC game, this year was already a success for doubling their win total from 2024. Of course, it’ll be hard to sell it that way to fans if the team follows up a 4-0 stretch with an 0-8 stretch. But Mississippi State is certainly a team on the rise and is no longer a pushover.
11. Texas (3-1, 0-0)
- Previous ranking: 11
- Last week: 55-0 W over Sam Houston
- This week: OFF
Did Texas (and Arch Manning specifically) gain some of its swag back? Sure. Should we take much away from that since it was against Sam Houston? No. The Longhorns get a week off to regroup and try to fix some things offensively before SEC play starts with a trip to The Swamp in Week 6.
10. Alabama (2-1, 0-0)
- Previous ranking: 10
- Last week: OFF
- This week: at Georgia
Alabama did what it needed to do against Louisiana-Monroe and Wisconsin. But after the embarrassing Week 1 loss at Florida State, this road trip to Georgia was always going to be the next real measuring stick. We’ll see if the Tide are up for the challenge when they make their way to Athens for the first time since 2015.
9. Auburn (3-1, 0-1)
- Previous ranking: 9
- Last week: 24-17 L at No. 11 Auburn
- This week: at Texas A&M
It’s evident that Jackson Arnold isn’t the same QB he was last year at Oklahoma. It’s also evident this isn’t the same Auburn team we saw constantly shoot itself in the foot last year. Can the Tigers pull off an upset in College Station this weekend? I don’t know. But I do know that Hugh Freeze and company will be competitive in this one.
8. Oklahoma (4-0, 1-0)
- Previous ranking: 4
- Last week: 24-17 W over No. 22 Auburn
- This week: OFF
Dropping Oklahoma 4 spots despite a win over a ranked team? Am I crazy? Well, maybe… but not for this. Oklahoma has been a different team offensively (mainly… competent) with John Mateer at the helm. Now he’s injured. All due respect to Michael Hawkins Jr., but we saw what he was capable of last year. Even if he has slightly improved, this Oklahoma team is in trouble for the next month without Mateer.
7. Vanderbilt (4-0, 1-0)
- Previous ranking: 8
- Last week: 70-21 W over Georgia State
- This week: vs. Utah State
Vanderbilt continues to impress. This was a “revenge” game of sorts since the Commodores actually lost to Georgia State last year. This year, no. Those 70 points are something Vanderbilt hasn’t accomplished in over a century. Very impressive. Now the ‘Dores get one last tune-up before diving back into SEC play.
6. Ole Miss (4-0, 2-0)
- Previous ranking: 7
- Last week: 45-10 W over Tulane
- This week: vs. LSU
I think we can all agree this is Trinidad Chambliss’s job to lose now, right. Unfortunately for Austin Simmons, his injury may have cost him the chance to start for the rest of the year. Chambliss has been amazing. He threw for 300+ yards and ran for 100+ more in the thorough domination of a tough Tulane squad. If he is able to lead the Rebels to a win over No. 4 LSU this weekend, he’ll quickly become a hero in Oxford.
5. Mizzou (4-0, 1-0)
- Previous ranking: 6
- Last week: 29-20 W over South Carolina
- This week: vs. UMass
Ahmad Hardy belongs in the Heisman Trophy race. Will he remain there? We’ll see, but there’s no denying what he’s done thus far. He is 4-for-4 when it comes to running for 100+ yards in a Mizzou uniform. He ran for 250 yards in just over a half against Louisiana in Week 3. It’s Homecoming (which Mizzou invented) this week against a bad UMass squad. Hopefully Hardy can get his 100 yards in the first half and then watch a blowout win from the sidelines in the second half.
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4. Tennessee (3-1, 0-1)
- Previous ranking: 5
- Last week: 56-24 W over UAB
- This week: at Mississippi State
The offense continues to be impressive. The defense has shown some flaws. How much of that is the absence of Jermod McCoy and Rickey Gibson? I’m willing to withhold judgement on the Vols’ defense until it’s healthier. But with Josh Heupel‘s struggles in true road games at Tennessee, this week’s trip to Starkville is far from a gimme.
3. Texas A&M (3-0, 0-0)
- Previous ranking: 3
- Last week: OFF
- This week: vs. Auburn
The Aggies have been impressive in the early season, but now SEC play begins. This isn’t the same Auburn squad of years past, so Texas A&M will have to be careful. As long as the offense continues to put up big numbers, though, the Aggies will keep racking up the wins.
2. Georgia (3-0, 1-0)
- Previous ranking: 2
- Last week: OFF
- This week: vs. Alabama
Georgia got a well-deserved break between the Tennessee and Alabama games. We all know how dominant the Bulldogs have been at home under Kirby Smart. It won’t be easy to pick up a win against this Alabama offense (especially with how the Georgia secondary looked vs. Tennessee), but it’s never wise to count the Dawgs out. Sanford Stadium will be electric, and this game could end up being just as exciting as last year’s thriller in Tuscaloosa.
1. LSU (4-0, 1-0)
- Previous ranking: 1
- Last week: 56-10 W over SE Louisiana
- This week: at Ole Miss
Am I concerned that LSU was only leading SELA 7-0 at the end of the 1st quarter? Of course I am. This offense has not been good this year. But the defense has been great. I’m going to stubbornly keep LSU in the top spot for another week. But if Georgia beats Alabama in Athens on Saturday night and LSU struggles in Oxford, well… some adjustments might need to be made.
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.
