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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 4 SDS SEC Power Poll.
In a weird scheduling quirk, just four Big 12 teams played last week, including Kansas State on Thursday night.
The Wildcats showed well, but couldn’t perform in the red zone on offense, falling to Auburn, 20-14.
That set the tone for the Big 12 in that all four teams performed pretty much to expectations, with Kansas going over .500 for probably the last time this season by beating a MAC opponent, West Virginia looking feisty and Oklahoma looking steady.
Not much has changed from last week. The top heavy Big 12 claims two of the top four spots, but just three of the top 10 in the combined power rankings.
THE HEAVY FAVORITES
Oklahoma has the best path to the College Football Playoff of any team in the country. The Sooners and Tide have a common opponent in West Virginia, and OU played the Mountaineers better despite doing it on the road (as opposed to a neutral site). It’s likely that half the CFP field will come from these four teams. Will the games in November represent de facto national quarterfinals?
1. Oklahoma
2. Alabama
3. Auburn
4. Baylor
HERE BY VIRTUE OF BEING UNBEATEN
Are these three SEC West teams really among the best programs in the nation in 2014? Maybe. Mostly they’re here because they haven’t lost, and in the case of the Aggies and Bulldogs, because they have one impressive SEC road win. There will be other tests.
5. Texas A&M
6. Ole Miss
7. Mississippi State
NO SHAME IN THAT ONE LOSS
All of these programs lost to ranked opponents, including three current Top 10 teams. It’s likely that at least one of these teams — probably from the SEC East — will rally to win something this season.
8. Georgia
9. Kansas State
10. LSU
11. Oklahoma State
12. South Carolina
MAKE THE BIG BOYS NERVOUS
West Virginia already has proven this to be true with competitive showings against Alabama and Oklahoma. Arkansas gets another turn at this against Texas A&M this week, while TCU should be 3-0 after Saturday to set up a game with the Sooners.
13. TCU
14. West Virginia
15. Arkansas
GOOD HEADLINES MAKE FOR GOOD OPPONENTS
Charlie Strong kicked a ninth player off the team this week. Will Muschamp has one foot out the door. And last year’s SEC East champs could be set to plummet after an abysmal showing against Indiana.
16. Florida
17. Texas
18. Missouri
ENOUGH POSITIVES FOR FANS WITH TEAM-COLORED GLASSES TO TALK TRASH
There are a number of Vols fans predicting their above-average defense and decent collection of young skill players can overcome a weak quarterback and an anemic offensive line and pull the upset against Georgia. Kentucky feels frisky after nearly starting 3-0 and taking Florida to overtime. Iowa State knocked off Iowa, and Texas Tech — well, at least the Red Raiders have a recognizable coach.
19. Tennessee
20. Texas Tech
21. Kentucky
22. Iowa State
FOUR WINS WOULD SHOCK THE FAN BASE
The Jayhawks have two wins and the Commodores have one. Granted, Vandy has managed 34 points in consecutive weeks after fielding one of the most inept offenses in all of FBS the first two weeks. But these teams may not win a single conference game.
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.
