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 12 SDS SEC Power Poll.
The debate between TCU and Baylor as the most likely Big 12 team to make the playoff doesn’t matter for now, as the committee slotted one-loss Mississippi State ahead of both. If the Bulldogs win the Egg Bowl, it seems likely that they’ll claim one of the four playoff spots at 11-1.
The SEC claims seven of the top 10 spots in the combined power rankings and remains a better conference than the Big 12 this season.
PLAYOFF OF BUST
There won’t be room for all four of these teams, but at least two of these will be in the national semifinals come Jan. 1. The SEC has an advantage right now, though TCU’s game at Texas gives the Horned Frogs an opportunity to jump into fourth place in the CFP poll with Mississippi State facing Vanderbilt.
1. Alabama (9-1)
2. Mississippi State (9-1)
3. TCU (9-1)
4. Baylor (8-1)
BEST SECOND TIER IN THE COUNTRY
Can any other two conferences match this wealth of strong second-tier teams? Each of them could finish the season ranked in the Top 15.
5. Georgia (8-2)
6. Ole Miss (8-2)
7. Auburn (7-3)
8. Kansas State (7-2)
9. Missouri (8-2)
FRINGE TOP 25 TEAMS
My, have the Sooners fallen. This is about where most expected LSU and Texas A&M before the season.
10. LSU (7-4)
11. Oklahoma (7-3)
12. Texas A&M (7-4)
FRISKY AND DANGEROUS
Yes, most of these teams will lose as many games as they win this season. But do you think TCU is happy about having to travel to Austin to face the Longhorns this week, or Missouri looks forward to potentially clinching the SEC East by having to beat Arkansas?
13. Texas (6-5)
14. Arkansas (5-5)
15. West Virginia (6-4)
16. Tennessee (5-5)
THE DEFINITION OF MEDIOCRE
Interesting that Oklahoma State (coach Mike Gundy, rumored as a hot Gators candidate) ranks right next to Florida (coach Will Muschamp, pushed to resign).
17. South Carolina (5-5)
18. Oklahoma State (5-5)
19. Florida (5-4)
WORSE THAN WE THOUGHT
Sure, Kansas got a conference win and played TCU tough. But what does it say about Charlie Weis that the Jayhawks are that much better with an interim coach? As far as the Wildcats and Red Raiders, are there any two teams in the country who have nose-dived the last two seasons after such promising starts?
20. Kentucky (5-6)
21. Kansas (3-7)
22. Texas Tech (3-7)
WINNING A CONFERENCE GAME WOULD BE SHOCKING
The end of the season can’t get here fast enough for these fan bases.
23. Vanderbilt (3-7)
24. Iowa State (2-7)
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.
