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Every Wednesday, we rank the SEC and Big 12 teams in one power poll. The order of the SEC teams is based on the Week 6 SDS SEC Power Poll.
The Pac-12 was supposed to be the team some (myself included) thought could challenge the SEC for conference supremacy in 2014.
The SEC may be challenged, but it’s the Big 12 that’s in the best position to do so. The Pac-12’s six ranked teams is second only to the SEC, but the Big 12 features three of the top 11 and five of the top 17 in the AP poll.
In the combined conference power rankings, the SEC claims the top three with Oklahoma slipping from No. 1 to No. 6. But the Big 12 represents five of the top 11, with West Virginia hovering at No. 13.
NATIONAL ELITE
The SEC West claims three of the top … three teams in the country. No, couch-potato editors, that’s not a typo. Mississippi State and Ole Miss are tied at No. 3 in the Associated Press Top 25. Any SEC West unbeaten automatically should top the AP poll after this weekend, when only one or two will remain. In other words, whether or not Florida State wins, the Auburn-Mississippi State winner should be No. 1 in the AP poll.
1. Auburn
2. Mississippi State
3. Ole Miss
4. Baylor
FRINGE PLAYOFF CONTENDERS
TCU has rocketed up the polls after beating Oklahoma, which some considered No. 1. The Horned Frogs will become a major part of the College Football Playoff talk by beating Baylor this weekend. Or the Sooners will have a pretty clear path to get back into the top four by winning out, including a victory against a potentially unbeaten Bears team. Meanwhile, Alabama and Georgia have their hands full trying to win SEC division titles.
5. TCU
6. Oklahoma
7. Alabama
8. Georgia
MAKE THEIR CONFERENCE PROUD
The Wildcats put up a respectable effort in a Thursday night game against No. 2 Auburn earlier this season. Texas A&M’s road win against South Carolina doesn’t look as good now, but the Aggies have impressed overall this year. And Oklahoma State nearly knocked off Florida State in its only loss. Overall, the Big 12 and SEC can use these teams to argue conference strength in 2014.
9. Kansas State
10. Texas A&M
11. Oklahoma State
AT THE INTERSECTION OF GOOD AND MEDIOCRE
This is pretty straightforward.
12. Missouri
13. West Virginia
MIRED IN MEDIOCRITY
These teams all should win between five and seven games, with all of them but Arkansas slotted for ho-hum bowls at the moment.
14. LSU
15. Texas
16. Arkansas
17. Florida
18. Kentucky
COVER YOUR EYES
Ugh. That’s what these fan bases are saying all year. Discussions on how much longer Steve Spurrier will coach are growing louder, even though there aren’t any legitimate sources talking about it. Iowa State must hang its hat on an upset win against Iowa, while at Tennessee, Butch Jones’ brick-by-brick mantra has turned into a Jenga tower.
19. Texas Tech
20. South Carolina
21. Iowa State
22. Tennessee
WINNING A CONFERENCE GAME WOULD BE SHOCKING
I can’t decide what to make of Derek Mason. He inherited some tough situations: James Franklin stole away a portion of the recruiting class. Jordan Matthews headed to the NFL. QB Patton Robinette has spent most of the season injured, while LSU transfer Stephen Rivers stinks. He’s managed to stay positive, at least publicly. But some of it has been his own doing: RB Brian Kimbrow remains suspended after fumbling in his only carry. WR Jordan Cunningham quit the team. Vanderbilt face-planted against Temple. Either way, it’s going to be a long, long offseason. I’m curious to see whether Mason wilts before next August.
23. Vanderbilt
24. Kansas
An itinerant journalist, Christopher has moved between states 11 times in seven years. Formally an injury-prone Division I 800-meter specialist, he now wanders the Rockies in search of high peaks.
