Where every SEC team ranks after Week 12 in ESPN’s updated SP+ rankings
By Jake Rill
Published:
LSU may be the top SEC team — and overall team — in most rankings at this point in the season, but there’s still one metric that has the Tigers behind one of their conference rivals.
On Sunday, ESPN’s updated SP+ ratings, which are determined by a computer, were released. While Ohio State held on to the top spot overall, Alabama remained in second with LSU behind it in third.
The SP+ rankings don’t give credit for big wins or tough schedules and instead is “simply a measure of the most sustainable and predictable aspects of football.” Teams can go down if it is unimpressive in a win or up if it impresses in a loss.
The Crimson Tide improved to 9-1 on Saturday with a 38-7 road win over Mississippi State, while the Tigers are now 10-0 after their 58-37 road win at Ole Miss.
However, SP+ also does not take injuries into account. Alabama’s season took a bad turn on Saturday when quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered a season-ending hip injury.
After Week 12, here’s how the SEC teams are ranked by SP+ (overall ranking in parentheses):
- Alabama (2)
- LSU (3)
- Georgia (5)
- Florida (9)
- Auburn (11)
- Texas A&M (17)
- Missouri (30)
- Tennessee (38)
- South Carolina (41)
- Kentucky (49)
- Ole Miss (53)
- Mississippi State (54)
- Arkansas (100)
- Vanderbilt (108)
Jake Rill contributes to news coverage for Saturday Down South. He has covered the SEC since 2016.
