Every Thursday, we rank the SEC and ACC teams in one power poll. The order of the SEC teams is based on our SDS Power Rankings and does not deviate.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF POTENTIAL

There’s a new top 3 in this week’s poll as Auburn and both schools from the Magnolia State moved up after staying unbeaten. Nos. 1 and 2 square off Saturday in Starkville, separating the early frontrunner from the rest of the pack in the SEC West. Alabama’s still lurking, but fell four spots to No. 5 after Ole Miss’ upset win in Oxford. Georgia’s recovered nicely since the loss at South Carolina with three straight victories.

1. Auburn
2. Mississippi State
3. Ole Miss
4. Florida State
5. Alabama
6. Georgia

STILL IN THE RACE

Georgia Tech’s one of only 10 unbeatens remaining in FBS college football and is continuing a recent push toward the first tier of our rankings. There’s two games against ranked teams left — Clemson and Georgia. Should the Yellow Jackets come out unscathed and beat Florida State in the ACC Championship Game, they’re in the Playoff. We’ll know more about Texas A&M and Mizzou on Saturday when each team hosts pivotal divisional games.

7. Texas A&M
8. Georgia Tech
9. Mizzou
10. Clemson

COULD BE AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE SPECTRUM

Louisville’s sitting in a strange spot with the nation’s No. 1 defense. The Cardinals’ only loss came by two points at Virginia, but it doesn’t seem like anyone’s respecting this team as a league contender. LSU, Arkansas and Florida are trending in different directions. The Tigers’ season could be completely derailed if they lose their third straight Saturday night in Gainesville. Coming off a bye, the Razorbacks could climb back into the West race with an upset of Alabama.

11. LSU
12. Arkansas
13. Louisville
14. Virginia
15. Florida

ACC DARKHORSES

Since dropping back-to-back home games in September to fall out of the Top 25, Virginia Tech’s rebounded with two straight wins. Duke’s hoping to regain its momentum established after a 4-0 start ended at Miami with a 12-point loss. The Blue Devils have had two weeks to prep for this weekend’s showdown in Atlanta at Georgia Tech. Duke’s defense is the nation’s eighth best in points against at just 13.6 PPG allowed.

16. Virginia Tech
17. Boston College
18. Duke

ONE TEAM DESERVES BETTER

It’s almost unfair to rank Kentucky (4-1) in this group, but this just happens to be where the very much-improved Wildcats fall. South Carolina’s the most overrated team in college football through six games at 3-3 while Miami’s sputtered to a .500 record at the halfway point with each defeat coming by at least 10 points. N.C. State’s has stepped down from its unbeaten pedestal with consecutive humbling setbacks, a 56-41 loss to Florida State and a 41-0 thumping in Death Valley.

19. Kentucky
20. South Carolina
21. N.C. State
22. Miami

BACKWARD MOMENTUM AFTER EARLY SUCCESS

Remember when the Panthers looked liked an ACC contender? Struggling to score, Pittsburgh’s lost three straight since starting the season 3-0. The Tar Heels have also lost three in a row, but these have come in embarrassing fashion. The program’s at a low point during the Larry Fedora and is lucky to be 2-3 and not 1-4 at this point. North Carolina’s lost its last three by an average of 20.3 points per game. Butch Jones and Tennessee have suffered consecutive devastating SEC East losses to Georgia and Florida in the fourth quarter.

23. Pittsburgh
24. North Carolina
25. Tennessee
26. Syracuse

BAD T.V.

Frustrating to say the least, neither team has an offensive identity and bowl berths appear out of the question.

27. Wake Forest
28. Vanderbilt