The Week 5 slate wasn’t quite as intriguing as the Week 4 slate, but we still learned a lot across the SEC.
Alabama went into Starkville and silenced the cowbells. Florida went to Mizzou and saw its hot start evaporate in blowout fashion. Tennessee held on against Auburn. Georgia looked human in the first half against Vanderbilt before pulling away.
How did Saturday’s action impact the SEC power rankings?
Here are our latest rankings, starting at 16 and moving up to No. 1:
16. Arkansas Razorbacks (2-3 overall, 0-2 in SEC)
- Previous ranking: 16
- Last week: 34-7 L at Texas A&M
- This week: vs. Tennessee
Things are bleak in Fayetteville. Could Ryan Silverfield end up being a one-and-done with the Arkansas Razorbacks if AD Hunter Yurachek is fired? There’s not much to like from this year’s Hogs squad. With Tennessee coming to town this weekend, it might get worse before it gets better.
15. Vanderbilt Commodores (3-2, 0-2)
- Previous ranking: 15
- Last week: 38-14 L at No. 2 Georgia
- This week: vs. Ole Miss
Vanderbilt hung close for a half at Georgia this week, but that seemed to be more of Georgia playing with its food than anything the Commodores did positively. Credit to Clark Lea and company for fighting hard, but this is a rebuilding year.
14. South Carolina Gamecocks (2-3, 0-3)
- Previous ranking: 14
- Last week: 35-34 L (OT) vs. No. 24 Kentucky
- This week: at Florida
Did we just watch the last game of the Shane Beamer era at South Carolina? My guess is no. With a trip to Florida on the docket this coming week and then a bye, my guess is that Beamer coaches one more game for the Gamecocks. That brings me no pleasure to type, as Beamer seems like a great guy and a solid coach, but this isn’t working out in Columbia.
13. Oklahoma Sooners (2-2, 0-1)
- Previous ranking: 13
- Last week: OFF
- This week: vs. Texas (in Dallas)
The Oklahoma Sooners had the week off to get ready for rival Texas. Crazy things happen in the Cotton Bowl, but unless John Mateer starts playing a lot better, I don’t think there’s going to be a rivalry upset this coming Saturday.
12. Auburn Tigers (3-2, 1-2)
- Previous ranking: 12
- Last week: 24-14 L at No. 17 Tennessee
- This week: OFF
The Auburn Tigers fought hard, but couldn’t get over the hump at Tennessee. Byrum Brown is an elite runner, but he has a long way to go as a passer. Tennessee got next to nothing from its quarterbacks, but Brown’s 2 interceptions were absolutely devastating. The run defense also couldn’t stop DeSean Bishop at all. There are a lot of issues to fix during the off week.
11. Texas A&M Aggies (3-2, 1-2)
- Previous ranking: 11
- Last week: 34-7 W vs. Arkansas
- This week: at Mizzou
Texas A&M doesn’t get much credit from me for beating Arkansas in College Station. It was a good get-right spot for Mike Elko and company, but the real test is how they build on that momentum. Can they continue to dominate the rivalry with former Big 12 squad Mizzou this coming weekend?
10. Tennessee Volunteers (4-1, 1-1)
- Previous ranking: 8
- Last week: 24-14 W vs. Auburn
- This week: at Arkansas
My colleague, Spenser Davis, was all over this during the week. Faizon Brandon has not looked like an SEC-caliber QB against decent competition this year. That was the case again this week against Auburn and he got benched. DeSean Bishop saved the day, running wild against Auburn, but the QB position is a major concern moving forward for Josh Heupel and the Tennessee Volunteers.
RELATED: Check out our ranking of the best prediction markets for college football.
9. Kentucky Wildcats (4-1, 2-1)
- Previous ranking: 9
- Last week: 35-35 W (OT) at South Carolina
- This week: vs. LSU
I’m keeping the Kentucky Wildcats at No. 9 more so because of what the teams ahead of them did this week. I’m also not overly impressed with an overtime win against a reeling South Carolina squad (though I do appreciate the courage to go for 2 from Will Stein). Beat LSU this weekend and the Wildcats will vault up these rankings.
8. Mississippi State Bulldogs (4-1, 2-1)
- Previous ranking: 7
- Last week: 56-23 L vs. No. 7 Alabama
- This week: OFF
What does this loss mean for Mississippi State? I’d argue it says more about how good Alabama can be this season. I’m still high on the Bulldogs. They just ran into a juggernaut on Saturday. Kamario Taylor is still great. Not having Fluff Bothwell for more than 1 carry hurt. If this team can get healthy during the bye week, there’s plenty of good still to come in 2026.
7. Ole Miss Rebels (3-1, 1-1)
- Previous ranking: 6
- Last week: OFF
- This week: at Vanderbilt
Ole Miss was off this week and gets a trip to Vanderbilt in Week 6 to bounce back from the Florida loss in Week 4. Then Mizzou comes to Oxford in Week 7, so Pete Golding and company will need to be at their best for that game. Time to shore up that run defense.
6. Florida Gators (4-1, 2-1)
- Previous ranking: 5
- Last week: 45-17 L at No. 25 Mizzou
- This week: vs. South Carolina
Did Mizzou provide the blueprint for slowing down Jadan Baugh? Or was that just a minor blip in what will continue to be a magical season? That’s what Florida must figure out. OC Buster Faulkner has to figure out if Aaron Philo can at least keep defenses honest to open up more room for Baugh. I’m not pressing the panic button, by any means, but Jon Sumrall‘s squad has some things to figure out moving forward.
5. Missouri Tigers (4-1, 1-1)
- Previous ranking: 10
- Last week: 45-17 W vs. No. 8 Florida
- This week: vs. Texas A&M
The Missouri Tigers and coach Eli Drinkwitz silenced plenty of critics on Saturday at Faurot Field. On Homecoming (which Mizzou invented), Jamal Roberts ran for 211 yards, while Florida star Jadan Baugh was held to 13 yards on 12 carries. It was a masterclass by the Tigers, but now they can’t afford to suffer a letdown in Week 6 against Texas A&M.
4. LSU Tigers (4-1, 1-1)
- Previous ranking: 3
- Last week: 63-14 W vs. McNeese
- This week: at Kentucky
The LSU Tigers used a game against McNeese to get right offensively. Sam Leavitt built some confidence. The running game looked good. They’ll need to be at their best this coming weekend when they head to Lexington to take on the upstart Kentucky Wildcats.
3. Alabama Crimson Tide (5-0, 3-0)
- Previous ranking: 5
- Last week: 56-23 W at No. 16 Mississippi State
- This week: vs. Georgia
I’m buying the Alabama Crimson Tide this week. They played a complete game in a demolition of Mississippi State in Starkville on Saturday. Outside of some early turnover issues, the Tide were electric. Keelon Russell out-dueled Kamario Taylor and is now the top Heisman Trophy contender from the SEC. Can he do it again next weekend against a tough Georgia defense? Speaking of Georgia…
2. Georgia Bulldogs (5-0, 3-0)
- Previous ranking: 2
- Last week: 38-14 W vs. Vanderbilt
- This week: at Alabama
Was this the best performance the Georgia Bulldogs have had this year? Hardly. But Kirby Smart‘s team pulled away in the second half. Gunner Stockton still looks much better than last year. Now the Bulldogs face their first real test of the year, heading to Tuscaloosa to face a red-hot Alabama squad.
1. Texas Longhorns (4-0, 1-0)
- Previous ranking: 1
- Last week: OFF
- This week: vs. Oklahoma (in Dallas)
The Texas Longhorns were off this week ahead of the Red River Rivalry game in Dallas. Coach Steve Sarkisian needs to figure out some things offensively if the Longhorns are going to navigate Oklahoma’s stingy defense. We’ll see what happens at the Cotton Bowl.
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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.
