Cupcake Week in the SEC provided more drama than we’re used to. Heck, Auburn lost at home to New Mexico State – a team that was 0-27 all-time against SEC opponents before that game.

Vanderbilt was the only team in the league that didn’t have a game this weekend. Even with only 3 matchups of SEC vs. SEC squads, there was plenty of excitement.

Alabama and Georgia, who will meet in Atlanta on Saturday, Dec. 2, with the SEC title on the line, both looked dominant. We’re heading toward a fun one in a couple of weeks.

How did Week 12 action affect our power rankings? Here’s how we’d currently rank all 14 SEC squads:

14. Vanderbilt (2-9 overall, 0-7 in SEC)

Previous ranking: 14
This week: OFF
Next week: at Tennessee

The best part of Cupcake Week? We didn’t have to see Vanderbilt in action, as the Commodores had a weird off week due to playing in Week 0. They’re likely going to lose at Tennessee next week and finish the SEC season 0-8. This team has taken a step back from where it was last year.

13. Arkansas (4-7, 1-6)

Previous ranking: 13
This week: 44-20 W over FIU
Next week: vs. Mizzou

The Hogs probably should have won this game by more than 24 points. FIU is not a good team. Arkansas is struggling at the moment. Sam Pittman was defiant about rumors of his hot seat after this game. That’s usually not a great sign. Next week’s Black Friday game against Mizzou looms large. Can the Hogs spoil the Tigers’ New Year’s 6 hopes? Considering that’s all that’s left for the Razorbacks to play for, we’ll see if they come out strong.

12. Mississippi State (5-6, 1-6)

Previous ranking: 12
This week: 41-20 W over Southern Miss
Next week: vs. Ole Miss

The Bulldogs took care of business during Cupcake Week, even if it wasn’t always pretty. They got starting QB Will Rogers back, but he’s not his usual self still. The new offense has a lot to do with that, though. Will interim coach Greg Knox and his staff open things up on Thanksgiving night in the Egg Bowl? That could be Mississippi State’s best shot to pull off the upset.

11. Auburn (6-5, 3-4)

Previous ranking: 9
This week: 31-10 L to New Mexico State
Next week: vs. Alabama

Yikes. That was a brutal loss to New Mexico State. Now the Tigers will limp into next week’s Iron Bowl, which is not where they thought they’d be after clinching bowl eligibility last week. This was supposed to be an easy Cupcake Week victory, but apparently no one told that to the Aggies. Looks like coach Hugh Freeze will be looking for offensive players (including a QB) in the transfer portal this offseason.

10. Kentucky (6-5, 3-5)

Previous ranking: 8
This week: 17-14 L at South Carolina
Next week: at Louisville

Tough loss in a tough environment for the Wildcats, but now things get even more difficult. Louisville has seen a resurgence in Year 1 under Jeff Brohm and have only 1 loss heading into this game. The Cardinals locked up a spot in the ACC Championship Game with a win in Miami on Saturday and will be looking to finish the regular season with a rivalry game victory.

9. South Carolina (5-6, 3-5)

Previous ranking: 11
This week: 17-14 W over Kentucky
Next week: vs. Clemson

This was a really nice win for Shane Beamer and the Gamecocks. Most importantly, South Carolina can still reach bowl eligibility if it beats rival Clemson next weekend. The Tigers are getting stronger down the stretch, but they’re still not the juggernaut they have been in years past. If the Gamecocks can win that game and go bowling, that’ll be huge for Beamer and his players.

8. Florida (5-6, 3-5)

Previous ranking: 10
This week: 33-31 L at No. 9 Mizzou
Next week: vs. Florida State

This is a crazy situation where the Gators actually moved up 2 spots after a loss. They showed incredible fight on the road against a top-10 opponent and lost their starting QB in the process. Trevor Etienne is a superstar. Ricky Pearsall is a stud. The Gators might be without Graham Mertz next week, but Florida State will unfortunately be without Jordan Travis after a devastating leg injury.

7. Texas A&M (7-4, 4-3)

Previous ranking: 7
This week: 38-10 W over Abilene Christian
Next week: at LSU

The Aggies won their first game in the post-Jimbo Fisher era. Should they have won by more? Probably. Did they struggle at times? Yes. But a win is a win. Now they face a tough LSU team. Jayden Daniels will be looking to make one last Heisman statement. A win this week would go a long way toward building good will heading into 2024.

6. Tennessee (7-4, 3-4)

Previous ranking: 6
This week: 38-10 L to No. 1 Georgia
Next week: vs. Vanderbilt

It feels weird keeping Tennessee at No. 6 after back-to-back losses to Mizzou and Georgia. But Georgia is the No. 1 team in the country, so it’s hard to penalize the Vols too much. They do seem like the sixth-best team in the conference. Joe Milton has to be better or the Vols need to start getting Nico Iamaleava more reps. The Vanderbilt game next week will be an interesting test.

5. LSU (8-3, 5-2)

Previous ranking: 5
This week: 42-14 W over Georgia State
Next week: vs. Texas A&M

Jayden Daniels should be the Heisman Trophy winner. It’s plain and simple. His numbers are absolutely insane. Yes, Bo Nix has a better record at Oregon, but that team as a whole is better. Daniels is a superstar and has put up video game numbers. Across the board, QBs who have numbers like Daniels’ win the Heisman. He’ll be in New York, for sure, but he deserves to hoist the trophy.

4. Ole Miss (9-2, 5-2)

Previous ranking: 4
This week: 35-3 W over UL Monroe
Next week: at Mississippi State

The first half was rough, but the Rebels woke up in time for the second half against ULM. Now they have to head to Starkville on Thursday night for the heated Egg Bowl rivalry against Mississippi State. There’s no reason Ole Miss shouldn’t win this game, but we know this rivalry often doesn’t make sense. Jaxson Dart and company will have to show up in a big way to earn win No. 10.

3. Mizzou (9-2, 5-2)

Previous ranking: 3
This week: 33-31 W over Florida
Next week: at Arkansas

Was it pretty? Absolutely not. Was this a game previous Mizzou teams would have lost? Oh, 100% yes. This Mizzou team is different. Yes, the Tigers still make too many mistakes, but they’re able to keep battling more than they have been in years past. This team has a legit shot at 10 wins next week at Arkansas. A New Year’s 6 bowl game is still in the realm of possibilities. What a great time in Columbia!

2. Alabama (10-1, 7-0)

Previous ranking: 2
This week: 66-10 W over Chattanooga
Next week: at Auburn

Not only is Alabama’s defense elite – the offense is hitting its stride at exactly the right time. Jalen Milroe is playing like a Heisman Trophy contender the second half of the season. Auburn just lost at home to New Mexico State, so the Tide should be able to handle Jordan-Hare Stadium next week. It’s all about staying in the hunt for a College Football Playoff spot at this point.

1. Georgia (11-0, 8-0)

Previous ranking: 1
This week: 38-10 W over No. 18 Tennessee
Next week: at Georgia Tech

The Bulldogs are leaving a trail of wreckage in their wake these days. They’ve scored 3-straight wins against ranked teams and have looked really good in the last 2. Brock Bowers continues to be amazing. QB Carson Beck deserves more Heisman Trophy buzz. The Dawgs are going to hold onto their No. 1 spot in the College Football Playoff rankings this week.