SEC football is back!
Who was the biggest name in the game one week ago while everyone was 0-0? Texas. Who’s the biggest name now after 16 games that made everyone either 1-0 or 0-1? Well, it’s definitely not Texas. The Longhorns barely avoided being shut out in the 14-7 loss in Columbus to the 2024 national champions. With Arch Manning and the steers falling to 0-1, does Alabama take the top spot?
Nope, not after what happened in Tallahassee to a team that limped to 2-10 last year. So who did flex
and impress? Who leads the power rankings with the best wins, best highlight reels, best CFP prospects, best coaching, and most recency bias?
Here’s a hint: they play at home (and sometimes on the road) in Death Valley.
1. LSU Tigers (0-0, 1-0)
Previous Rank: N/A
In a rematch of Joe Burrow’s national championship five and a half years ago, the LSU Tigers once again defeated Clemson, this time in Clemson’s Death Valley instead of their own. Because of that, CFP brackets and projections everywhere were adjusted, and the Tigers’ odds of being one of the lucky 12 in December rocketed up.
2. Tennessee (0-0, 1-0)
Previous Rank: N/A
The Vols had the guts to play in the Aflac Kickoff in Week 1, and it paid off—helped probably by the friendly environment of Deep South Atlanta, where Syracuse did themselves no favors in agreeing to the orange-vs-orange game. Tennessee hung 45 on them and dominated the highlight reel.
3. South Carolina (0-0, 1-0)
Previous Rank: N/A
The Gamecocks also jumped in on the Aflac Kickoff, and made it an SEC sweep with a 24-11 victory over Virginia Tech. Good thing they won, because they only have nine power conference opponents left to play in their loaded schedule.
4. Auburn (0-0, 1-0)
Previous Rank: N/A
Auburn tested its luck on the road, and the bet paid off with the gates of Waco, Texas falling to the Tigers 38-24. They missed a bowl last year, but now they’re looking to sweep the non-con in the SEC’s final year of 8-game conference slates.
5. Texas Longhorns (0-0, 0-1)
Previous Rank: N/A
Texas also tested its luck on the road in Week 1. Probably could’ve picked somewhere else other than The Shoe for opening the season though. They only lost by seven in Arch Manning’s debut, but the 2024 national champs controlled the game from start to finish.
6. Ole Miss (0-0, 1-0)
Previous Rank: N/A
The Rebels put up a typical Lane Kiffin non-con performance: 63-7 over Georgia State, 695 total yards, and not a single sliver of hope for Georgia State fans after halftime.
7. Florida (0-0, 1-0)
Previous Rank: N/A
If you play an FCS team in Week 1, that’s not saying much. But winning 55-0 will turn some heads.
8. Mississippi State (0-0, 1-0)
Previous Rank: N/A
In 2024, the Bulldogs went 0-8 in the SEC and also lost to Arizona State and Toledo in the noncon. Getting back on track in 2025 ideally wouldn’t be kicking off in a true road environment, but they took care of Southern Miss 34-17 in Hattiesburg. There’ll be much bigger road stages to come soon enough, though.
9. Alabama Crimson Tide (0-0, 0-1)
Previous Rank: N/A
While Alabama losing to Florida State might seem like the upset of the century on one level, in reality the Crimson Tide went to Doak Campbell and faced a hyped team and hyped crowd that did almost make the final 4-team CFP in 2023 under Mike Norvell. Still, Kalen DeBoer’s not winning anybody over a week into Year 2 replacing Coach Saban.
10. Texas A&M (0-0, 1-0)
Previous Rank: N/A
The Aggies pulled away late from UTSA, only leading 21-17 in the 3rd quarter but eventually winning 42-24. Kyle Field had 107,521 in attendance, so that probably helped.
11. Georgia Bulldogs (0-0, 1-0)
Previous Rank: N/A
The Bulldogs proved to everyone why they’re the best team in the SEC with their 45-7 win on Saturday. Actually they didn’t prove anything, because it was against the Marshall Thundering Herd.
12. Kentucky Wildcats (0-0, 1-0)
Previous Rank: N/A
It wasn’t pretty, but it was never in serious doubt. The Cats played the preseason MAC favorites and a CFP Group of 5 dark horse and took care of them 24-16 on a sunny afternoon at Kroger Field. Next week they play in the SEC’s first conference matchup when they host Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss: the only SEC team they beat in 2024.
13. Missouri Tigers (0-0, 1-0)
Previous Rank: N/A
The Tigers played Central Arkansas, but beat them 61-6. If they beat Kansas 61-6 next week, you can bet that’ll make headlines.
14. Arkansas Razorbacks (0-0, 1-0)
Previous Rank: N/A
The Razorbacks, by 45 points, blew out Alabama…A&M. That “A&M” makes all the difference in the headline doesn’t it?
15. Oklahoma Sooners (0-0, 1-0)
Previous Rank: N/A
The Sooners had a nice start to their season against Illinois State, winning 35-3. Next week they host Michigan. Good luck getting a ticket to that.
16. Vanderbilt Commodores (0-0, 1-0)
Previous Rank: N/A
Someone’s gotta be at the bottom, but there were no really bad losses in the league in Week 1, even in Nashville, where the Commodores rolled Charleston Southern 45-3. If they beat Virginia Tech on the road in Game 2 don’t expect them to remain in 16th place though.
