Fraud Alert: SEC teams Texas, Tennessee and LSU look guilty after Week 6

The SEC loves to preach it just means more. Well, when it comes to the frauds of college football, there sure is more of them coming from the Southeast. Despite having the top ranked team and an FBS-best nine squads in the US LBM Coaches Poll, the SEC is getting a lot more praise than it really shou

College Sports

SEE ALL

The Columbus Dispatch

What will Ohio State's starting offensive line look like vs Indiana?

Longhorns Wire

Former Longhorns coach Mack Brown: 'Losing forces immediate change'

LSU Tigers Wire

LSU's Kim Mulkey talks recruiting of Russian forward Anna Minaeva

What is the story about?

The SEC loves to preach it just means more. Well, when it comes to the frauds of college football, there sure is more of them coming from the Southeast.

Despite having the top ranked team and an FBS-best nine squads in the US LBM Coaches Poll, the SEC is getting a lot more praise than it really should. Sure, you can argue the conference is really deep, but in reality, there's been a high volume of mediocre − even bad − play that's resulting in misguided hype.

Luckily, the USA TODAY Sports Fraud Court can look right pass that and assess teams for what they really are. Court is in session as several SEC teams must face the judge as they reach the midway point of the season.

No. 6 Texas

The case: The No. 1 team in the nation went down to rival Oklahoma, with

the Longhorns blowing a lead with fourth-quarter mistakes paving the way for the the Sooners to kick a last-second field goal to stun Texas.

The verdict: Guilty. If we're being honest, this has been the most fraudulent No. 1 team in awhile. Outside of the amazing fourth quarter against Ohio State, Texas hasn't looked all that good − and it finally got bit. Arch Manning isn't evolving and his critical errors against Oklahoma paved the way for a result that shouldn't have happened. There's so much talent on the Longhorns, but they can't stop getting in their own way to prove their innocence, and that's not setting up for a return to the playoff.

No. 7 Alabama

The case: In a battle of SEC heavyweights, Alabama couldn't get its lick back from Georgia after the conference title game, with the Bulldogs getting their first win in Tuscaloosa since 2007 to become the top-ranked team in the country − albeit with some controversy.

The verdict: Not guilty. You never want to blame the officials, but who knows what would've happened if the Crimson Tide got some apparent calls their way. It was a slugfest against a really good Georgia team and Alabama provided some really good punches. It may signal another shortcoming against Kalen DeBoer, but he does have a really good team that can easily bounce back and very well meet the Bulldogs again, whether it's in the SEC title game or playoff.

No. 13 Missouri

The case: The Tigers have clapped back at the narrative they shouldn't be a ranked team, wrecking havoc on Texas A&M to start the season 5-1 for the fourth season in row.

The verdict: Not guilty. We have an overturned conviction! After being found guilty a few weeks ago, the Tigers have provided enough evidence for an appeal and have been freed from fraud prison. Missouri has really brought the hammer down the past few weeks and it's a credit to the work of Eli Drinkwitz, who really has found his footing. The schedule will only get tougher in the coming weeks, but the Tigers have done enough to consider themselves a worthy team of competing with some of the best.

No. 14 Tennessee

The case: Another win, but nothing pretty about it. Tennessee did enough to pull out a win against Arkansas, coming from behind on the road to avoid a real disappointing result.

The verdict: Guilty. The quarterback situation is really bad in Knoxville. Faizon Brandon is clearly hampered by injury and George MacIntyre doesn't look like he can be the guy to beat elite defense. It's made for a tricky situation for Josh Heupel as the offense doesn't seem like it can be anywhere near effective as he's accustomed to. The defense has done a good job keeping the Volunteers in it, but this isn't a sustainable model and will get exposed fairly soon.

No. 20 Oklahoma State

The case: Make that four wins in row for the Pokes as Eric Morris has hit a stride in his first season with Oklahoma State, with the offense again having a big day in a victory over Central Florida to improve to 4-1.

The verdict: Not guilty. Now this is what we expected out of Oklahoma State. Drew Mestemaker is playing like a star with four consecutive games with more than 300 passing yards, leading an offense that doesn't look like it can be stopped. It's a shame the Tulsa loss happened because the Cowboys would be right in the middle of the playoff conversation, but with how they've rebounded, don't be surprised if they get into it pretty soon.

No. 21 LSU

The case: Lane Kiffin's start to the SEC schedule is a bumpy one. LSU lost to Kentucky on a walk-off two-point conversion to lose its second conference game with the bulk of the schedule still remaining.

The verdict: Guilty. It wasn't a good idea to buy stock in LSU before ever playing a game. Lane Kiffin is a good hire for the Tigers but there wasn't any way there was going to be immediate success, and against quality competition, LSU hasn't looked anywhere near dominant. This is a team feeding off lower competition and one that shouldn't be taken seriously for the remainder of 2026.

No. 23 Wake Forest

The case: Jake Dickert continues to impress in Winston-Salem, with a convincing road win over in-state rival North Carolina State, pushing the Demon Deacons to 5-1, the best start to a season since 2022.

The verdict: Not guilty. We have a new ACC contender. The Demon Deacon offense is really fun to watch with how Gio Lopez is slinging it, and when you look back on it now, it was pretty impressive how Wake Forest was able to hang with Miami. This team should be on a direct path toward the ACC title game, and possibly a rematch with the Hurricanes, as a dark horse team that can bring loads of chaos to the playoff picture.

Northwestern

The case: New Ryan Field opened up at the right time to welcome a Northwestern team that is surprising everyone. After a beatdown of Ball State, the Wildcats are 4-1, the best start of the David Braun era.

The verdict: Not guilty. What a wonder Chip Kelly has been for the Wildcats. Whether it's his funky formations or odd playcalling, it's undoubtedly working and it's a credit to the work Northwestern has put in to get football right. QB Aiden Chiles has progressed beautifully in his new home while the team has kept its identity as a tough defense in tact. Everyone that faces Northwestern is in for a hard-nosed battle it will thrive on.

Florida

The case: Just when it appeared Jon Sumrall brought Florida back, the Gators take another big hit with SEC bottom-feeder South Carolina dominating in "The Swamp" to hand back-to-back losses to Florida and push it out of the rankings.

The verdict: Guilty. One of the biggest fraud showings so far, Florida is far from returning to the national conversation. It really starts with a suspect defense that can't stop anyone. Aaron Philo also has some growing to do at center, and it's resulted in a ton of people wanting to return the stock they bought in the Gators a few weeks ago. Florida may be guilty, but sadly, those eager buyers won't get their money back.

Arizona

The case: Another Big 12 contender is potentially emerging out of Arizona with the Wildcats playing to expectations, coming off a 52-point outburst at West Virginia to make it four consecutive wins.

The verdict: Not guilty. It seems like people are remembering Arizona has one of the best quarterbacks in the conference. With Noah Fifta rolling, the Wildcats can accomplish just about anything and there's been nothing suspect about what they've been doing in picking apart defenses. Arizona is quietly pushing its way toward the Big 12 title scene.