Final SEC Power Rankings for the 2020 regular season
Week 13 didn’t have a full slate of games, but it didn’t lack for either action or surprises. Mississippi State slaughtering Mizzou? LSU and Ole Miss engaging in an old-fashioned shootout? All prelude to a dramatic, play-making SEC Championship Game, which Alabama won over Florida, 52-46.
It was good news for fans, but it makes life difficult at the SEC Power Rankings. Nevertheless, here’s what we’ve got.
14. Vanderbilt (0-9, off this week)
It’s pretty certain that Vandy would have been just as awful in 10 games as it was in 9 games. New coach Clark Lea has a lot to fix.
13. South Carolina (2-8, regular season over)
The Gamecocks finished last week and didn’t subject us to another week of relatively purposeless football.
12. Tennessee (3-7, lost to Texas A&M 34-13)
It wasn’t that Tennessee lost to A&M. It was the way that they lost– not even having the ball for 16 minutes of this blood-letting. After a 2-0 start, the wheels fell off this season pretty quickly. Now all eyes turn to Jeremy Pruitt’s job status.
11. Mississippi State (3-7, beat Missouri 51-32)
The Bulldogs certainly didn’t mail it in, and accordingly, they moved up a spot. We considered 2 spots, but this team was awful for a large part of the year. All things considered, they did a good job to persevere and end up with 3 wins.
10. Arkansas (3-7, regular season over)
Arkansas probably ends up where it should. This was a ridiculously entertaining 3-7 season, and the Hogs finished at least 3 spots higher than anybody expected in the preseason.
9. Kentucky (4-6, regular season over)
Kentucky finished last week, and there’s no good reason to move them up or back.
8. Missouri (5-5, lost to Mississippi State 51-32)
The Tigers are hard to figure. They could be 10th, they could be 6th. They spent most of the season playing a little bit over their heads but finished with an absolute dog of a game against a Mississippi State team that looked helpless for much of the season.
7. Ole Miss (4-5, lost to LSU 53-48)
Not unlike Arkansas, this was a wildly watchable season, if not a particularly successful one. If Lane Kiffin can add even a mediocre defense to this offense, the Rebels will be in the top half of the West in a hurry.
6. LSU (5-5, beat Ole Miss 53-48)
LSU spent much of the season near the bottom of these rankings, but finishing with dramatic comeback wins over Florida and Ole Miss made us rethink this team. The Tigers still had a disappointing season, but they did a great job rallying late.
5. Auburn (6-4, regular season over)
The Tigers didn’t play. It’s far from clear that Auburn would beat LSU if they played right now, but at the same time, Auburn’s winning season should entitle it to some respect. Also, the Tigers did beat LSU by 37 when they did play.
4. Georgia (7-2, off this week)
COVID ended Georgia’s regular season at 7-2. It’s been hard to figure out the proper placement of teams, but at the end of the day, we’re going to rely on the fact that A&M beat Florida, and Florida beat Georgia. Teams 2-4 could be interchangeable on a good day, but UGA did less with more than the 3 above them … which is why they’re 4th.
3. Florida (8-3, lost to Alabama 52-46)
The Gators certainly didn’t fare badly, staying competitive in the SEC title game into the final seconds. Arguably, that means they should rank ahead of A&M and Georgia because neither of those teams played close to Alabama. That said, 3 losses matter. So the Gators finish the regular season in the No. 3 spot and start preparing for a nice bowl trip.
2. Texas A&M (8-1, beat Tennessee 34-13)
The good news for us is that we don’t have to figure out if it’s enough to leapfrog into the final Playoff spot. We can focus on the fact that A&M was pretty clearly No. 2 in the West and that due to beating Florida head-to-head, we’ll stick with the Aggies in the No. 2 spot in our power rankings.
1.Alabama (11-0, beat Florida 52-46)
There’s no argument.
LSU climbed from 13th to 6th during the season. All things considered, we’ll take it. Starting a bunch of freshmen and sophomores makes next year look promising.
That freshman receiver Boutte already scares the hell out of me.
True freshmen won those games and set records… I’ve never seen anything like it. Normally one or two true freshmen getting significant pt is note worthy… but when true freshman jersey 14 drops back to pass and every route is run by true freshmen #1, #5, #87, and #8… thats something else. And its not just on offense either… the defense that has been winning games full of true freshmen… and special teams? Well the kicker that sunk the gators is a true sophomore… no way this team doesn’t win a natty in the near future.
Teams on probation don’t get to win national championships. You went 5-5, and half your roster quit on you. That trend will continue. Don’t be shocked if Stingley pulls a Jamar Chase on you next season. Guys don’t care about playing for LSU and Coach O. It ought to be obvious to you by now.
We are about to have our highest rated recruiting class ever… its obvious you don’t know what you are talking about.
And you reak of fear…
48-11 nothing much more to say.
31-23-1 nuff said
54-25-5 nuff said. #1 recruiting class 5* 6
4* 14
3*. 4
That’s one way to look at it Bayou, another way to look at it is you guys started the season at #3 and fell to #6. You guys definitely underachieved this year.
So UT and SC with 5 wins between them go bowling while 9-2 Army is not. Plenty of embarrassment coming to the SEC with these very weak teams playing more games.
Florida don’t deserve to be ranked ahead of UGA!!!! They didn’t play the real UGA!!! They played a team that was 65 or 70 % B team on defense. The offense was also missing almost half the starters. That is not even taking into account. That UGA played their 5TH STRING QB!!! Full strength UGA would spank Florida. Because at full strength UGA had the #1 defense in the country. A lot better running game. Now with a real QB the elite WR ROOM actually shows!!! FLORIDA GOT SOOOOOOOO LUCKY!!!!
I wouldn’t guarantee they beat OU!!! I still believe that Dan Mullen will attempt to find a way out. Maybe covid will suddenly hit again? Then again, with the opt outs. Maybe he will say. We can’t field a team good enough to represent the gators.
PS. Still I don’t see UGA making excuses. And they already have an excuse if they wanted to run and hide!!!!
King Negan
In my opinion the way we played from the Georgia game on (post KJ), I think we are probably the 8th best team. I like our chances against Kentucky and Arkansas. The fact that more than half of the team’s offensive production this year has come from true freshmen is promising. I’m looking forward to next year and hope someone gives us the opportunity for a bowl game.
Im looking forward to our game with you guys next season as well in Starkville. Miss State should be much improved, and showed some promise late this season. Kentucky is bringing in a new OC and with it, a new philosophy on offense. That is something that has been sorely missing for a few seasons. Looks like we will be moving towards a more pro-style offense. I expect a close one at Miss State next season. Its going to be a really important game for both teams.
Well 24-2 was sure a lot of fun this year.
Irenaus you say you like your chances against ky? Didn’t the cats just man handle yall pretty much a embarrassment. That started the snowball effect for the team.it was the cats biggest margin of victory besides against them vols.
5. Auburn (6-4, regular season over), that is a solid season for sure.
I see Auburn is still in your head even though you really have another team one would think commands your attention. Sad…
ND? They are not in Bama’s head, they are in their cross hairs.
Watching your bagmen rule the administration through another bungled hire is far more entertaining. I’ve run out of popcorn on this one…
Were it not for bad officiating, Auburn would have ended the season 4-6 with additional losses to Arkansas and Ole Miss.
I would like to see Texas A&M get in and face Alabama again. My guess is the favorable effects of recency bias should help Florida’s final ranking when Alabama produces pretty much the exact same result as the first time they played. That said, Texas A&M has a better argument than Notre Dame because Notre Dame’s beatdown at the hands of Clemson was just yesterday and A&M’s was three months ago.
The “three losses matter” argument is ridiculous when the third loss is an extra game and it’s a championship game that went down to the wire. And just to be clear, I’m not arguing that Florida should get into the playoff; the LSU loss cost us that argument.
I agree with others who have said to watch out for Ole Miss if Kiffin gets some defensive players.
UF is at #10 be happy considering those 3 losses.
No argument here, UT was awful and it falls on Pruitt. Good Coordinators don’t always make good head coaches. I particularly rankle my nerves at his AWFUL use of American English. Lack of second half adjustments baffle me, on and on. Yes UTAD in a bind financially so probably on the hook unless big donors cough it up. Obviously concerned about recruiting scandal brewing. Fire for just cause?
Joe, Missouri is only hard for haters to figure:
They played Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. Without those 3 games they have a record of 8-2. (they also beat the defending national champ, LSU) (Missouri also came as close to beating Alabama as anyone did)
They are the 4th thru 6th best team in the SEC this year. But once you get stuck in pre-season hater’s rankings, we’re just going to have to dynamite the concrete out of your broken down cement truck thinking cap.
Your a fool plain and simple. Now tell me what would everyone’s records would be if they got to pick and choose wins and losses.
Most teams had to face them same teams besides the loss to mizzou and ole miss ky would have same record .other losses was to Alabama Georgia and flordia.to be the best for to beat the best.no excuses.it’s the sec.
Well said Arkansasproud. Speaking of mizzou and Arkansas both had great seasons but I think Arkansas has the most upside going into next year they young and got really great coaches and going to make some noise for sure.but mizzou losing a lot of talent.I can only hope kys new offense coordinator is they key to cats having success