Every Wednesday, we rank the SEC and Big 12 teams in one power poll. The order of the SEC teams is based on the Week 10 SDS SEC Power Poll.
We’re about one month away from the playoff selection show. The SEC’s chances for multiple bids are on shaky ground, and the Big 12 must claw for inclusion. (As long as Florida State and Oregon continue to win, and assuming at least one SEC team will make the field, it shortens the pool of available spots to one.)
The Pac-12 South has a clump of good teams jockeying for position, but the Big 12 and SEC have the most entertaining undecided conferences as the ACC, Big Ten and Pac-12 all have one dominant team.
The SEC claims the top three spots in the combined power rankings, but the Big 12 has five of the top 12.
ALONE AT THE TOP
It’s a proud month to be a Bulldogs fan. MSU gets at least one more week to survey the college football world from the crow’s nest.
1. Mississippi State
HARDCORE PLAYOFF CONTENDERS
There’s a strong chance that half the College Football Playoff field comes from this quartet. Kansas State and TCU have a huge game this weekend in Fort Worth, Texas. The winner is in prime position to claim the Big 12 championship. Meanwhile, the Tide must survive a trip to Baton Rouge or else all this talk about Alabama being the nation’s best team looks dumb.
2. Alabama
3. Auburn
4. TCU
5. Kansas State
CAPABLE SPOILERS
LSU already helped spoil Ole Miss’ season, and will try to do the same to Alabama on Saturday. Now the Rebels also are spoilers, trying to regroup in time to bring down their in-state neighbors from Starkville on Thanksgiving weekend.
6. LSU
7. Baylor
8. Ole Miss
9. Georgia
WILL MAKE YOU NERVOUS
Missouri isn’t even a Top 25 team. But there isn’t a head coach in the country that sees any of these three on the schedule in November and smiles. The Sooners, once a national championship frontrunner, can salvage the season by beating one-loss Baylor to get revenge for last season.
10. Oklahoma
11. Missouri
12. West Virginia
STILL SINKING
Do you remember when we ranked Texas A&M at No. 6? How about Oklahoma State at No. 15? The Cowboys could close the season with six consecutive losses, and the Aggies are in danger of closing the season with six consecutive SEC losses.
13. Texas A&M
14. Oklahoma State
DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS … OR AT LEAST SIX GAMES
The Gators and Longhorns are predicated on physical defense and winning the line of scrimmage. For various reasons, neither program is having a season up to its traditional high standards, but both fan bases will be OK with that if the teams finish strong and appear steered in the correct direction.
15. Florida
16. Texas
DONE ENOUGH TO PROVIDE HOPE
The Razorbacks could go a second consecutive season without an SEC win, but mention that to the fan base and they staunchly defend Bret Bielema. Near wins against Texas A&M, Alabama and Mississippi State have given the fan base some pride. Kentucky started 5-1, and the Vols look poised for a bright future with Josh Dobbs at quarterback.
17. Arkansas
18. Kentucky
19. Tennessee
WORSE THAN WE THOUGHT
We knew the Gamecocks were bad after the season opener, but I’m not sure how many people believed Steve Spurrier when he said the team was just trying to find a way to have a winning season. That’s where we are now, though. Texas Tech is 3-11 against FBS schools since a 7-0 overall start to Kliff Kingsbury’s coaching career. And Iowa State hasn’t won a darn thing since upsetting Iowa.
20. South Carolina
21. Texas Tech
22. Iowa State
WINNING A CONFERENCE GAME WOULD BE SHOCKING
Kansas has its best shot of the season to win a Big 12 game this weekend, hosting Iowa State. Vanderbilt has looked better with Johnny McCrary. Can the Commodores beat Florida for a second consecutive season?
23. Vanderbilt
24. Kansas
An itinerant journalist, Christopher has moved between states 11 times in seven years. Formally an injury-prone Division I 800-meter specialist, he now wanders the Rockies in search of high peaks.
