For the first time in a while, the SEC summit saw a change. The Second-Tier category features some risers, while one team that was there last week took a big tumble.
Here are our SEC power rankings after Week 10:
Note: () by each team indicates whether teams moved up, down or remained unchanged.
PROJECTED OUT OF A BOWL GAME
14. Missouri Tigers (-)
13. Vanderbilt Commodores (-)
12. South Carolina Gamecocks (-)
The bottom of the SEC has been consistently bad, but Missouri doesn’t look to have any pulse right now. The team has also been dealing with much more serious concerns. However, Mizzou was at least able to hang its hat on its defense, but it got blasted by Mississippi State to the tune of 31 points at home last Thursday. The Tigers did end their drought of 14 quarters without a touchdown with RB Russell Hansbrough’s 14-yard TD run in the second quarter of that contest, but that was the only bright spot of the game. Meanwhile, Vanderbilt sure did hang its hat on its defense against Florida, but there was nothing there every time the ‘Dores went to hang it on something else. Still, the ‘Dores made the Gators work for the SEC East title. South Carolina continues to improve under interim coach Shawn Elliott. The Gamecocks looked like they were going to be the latest team to pull a comeback against the Vols, but a fumble in the red zone cost them.
TRENDING DOWN?
11. Kentucky Wildcats (-)
10. Texas A&M Aggies (-5)
Kentucky is as close as you can get to being projected out of a bowl game at 4-5 with three games left, but the Wildcats have a shot if they can find two wins at Vanderbilt, vs. Charlotte and vs. Louisville, and that seems doable. Kentucky hasn’t helped itself by going on a four-game losing streak where it’s lost by an average of 21 points per game. The latest outing was especially disappointing, only managing 180 yards of total offense (fewest in a span of 26 games) while letting a Nick Chubb-less Georgia team rush for 300 yards. The “Wild Dog” offense was a surprise, but even the Bulldogs were probably a little surprised by how successful it was. Texas A&M tumbled five spots to No. 10, mainly because the middle of the SEC is so comparable, but the Aggies have a lot of issues on both sides of the ball. As impressive as Kyler Murray was against South Carolina, he was equally unimpressive against Auburn (12-for-23 passing, 105 yards, 3 INTs). And like Kentucky, Texas A&M also got gashed on the ground, giving up 311 yards to the Tigers.
MIDDLE OF THE PACK
9. Auburn Tigers (+1)
8. Georgia Bulldogs (+1)
7. Tennessee Volunteers (-)
In all reality, the Middle of the Pack and Second-Tier categories are awfully hard to rank. Auburn jumps into this category, seemingly getting better on both sides of the ball every week. The Tigers enter this week against Georgia coming off an impressive 26-10 win at Texas A&M, which was held to just over 300 yards of total offense. Meanwhile, Auburn had 3 interceptions of QB Kyler Murray, who looked frustrated all day long. Auburn is somewhat resembling Georgia as both teams have struggled with QB issues and are now leaning on their running games more than ever as a result. The Bulldogs picked up a much-needed 27-3 win over Kentucky. While the “Wild Dog” offense may not be a week-to-week fixture, Georgia sure hopes that defensive effort will be. Tennessee survived a late scare with that win over South Carolina. The Vols seem to flourish when the running game is clicking, and that would help them avoid all these close games they keep finding themselves in.
SECOND-TIER
6. Arkansas Razorbacks (+2)
5. Ole Miss Rebels (-1)
4. Mississippi State Bulldogs (+2)
Keeping Ole Miss ahead of Arkansas was one of the things we were most torn about. Arkansas hasn’t been winning pretty, but it’s been winning. The Razorbacks have won four of their last five, including three straight. They’ve beaten Tennessee, Auburn and now Ole Miss over that stretch. The Hogs have developed a lot of balance offensively during that time. They have a chance to really prove themselves over the next two weeks at No. 9 LSU and vs. No. 20 Mississippi State. Ole Miss remains a spot ahead Arkansas despite the tough loss. Whether you believe the Rebels deserve the No. 5 spot based on a win at Alabama or whether the Razorbacks deserve it based on a head-to-head win, it’s tough to say. Mississippi State climbs a couple spots into No. 4 behind four straight wins, all of which have been blowouts. Meanwhile, Dak Prescott has taken his game to another level over the last three contests by accounting for 14 total TDs and just 1 interception. However, the Bulldogs have a tough stretch to end the season with games vs. Alabama, at Arkansas and vs. Ole Miss to end the season.
SEC FAVORITES
3. Florida Gators (-)
2. LSU Tigers (-1)
1. Alabama Crimson Tide (+1)
The top of our rankings had been bracing for it. Alabama‘s convincing 30-16 win over LSU gives the Tide the top spot. Alabama put on a defensive performance for the ages by holding RB Leonard Fournette to just 31 yards on 19 rushes. All of Kirby Smart’s units from the defensive line to the linebackers and secondary answered the bell by swarming to the ball all night long. Meanwhile, the offense showed balance by converting 14 first downs on the ground and 12 more through the air. LSU has a tough test this week vs. Arkansas, which is playing its best football of the season, before playing high-octane Ole Miss the following week. Florida stays at No. 3 despite an unimpressive 9-7 win over Vanderbilt with a chance to clinch the SEC East. The Gators have to improve along the offensive line and get back to completing high-percentage passes if they’re going to avoid an upset down the stretch.
Born and raised in Gainesville, Talal joined SDS in 2015 after spending 2 years in Bristol as an ESPN researcher. Previously, Talal worked at The Gainesville Sun.
