It was big games all around the SEC on Saturday, with four one-score games that all involved ranked opponents. Ole Miss, Alabama, and Texas A&M stayed undefeated and made big impacts on the league standings race, and Tennessee survived on the road against Mississippi State for a little overtime action.
Almost every team in the power rankings moved at least one spot this week as league play really got underway and dramatic finishes occurred all around.
Also, for the first time this season, we have a new
#1. Let’s dive into it:
1. Ole Miss (3-0, 5-0)
Previous Rank: 2.
Look out, SEC. The Rebels are taking over the standings, sporting a 3-0 record while nobody else even has a 2-0 one! Unbeaten in the league, 5-0 overall, and fresh off a win over LSU, they have firmly established themselves as serious CFP contenders.
2. Texas A&M (1-0, 4-0)
Previous Rank: 4.
The Aggies are also in a great CFP position following their 16-10 win over Auburn. The main thing they’ll have to manage going forward is taking care of business against SEC teams below them until it’s time for the big bosses. LSU and Texas will both be road trips for A&M, but no Alabama or Georgia.
3. Vanderbilt (1-0, 5-0)
Previous Rank: 3.
5-0 for the first time since 2008, Vanderbilt is rolling into their showdown at Alabama, which will be a 3:30 pm nationally-televised ABC game with ESPN’s College Gameday in town. Whoever heard of College Gameday coming because Vanderbilt was the opponent?
4. LSU (1-1, 4-1)
Previous Rank: 1.
LSU is undefeated no more, and its Clemson win is looking less impressive by the week. Still, can’t penalize them too much for losing by five on the road to Ole Miss. October will give them plenty of opportunities to rise back up again.
5. Oklahoma (1-0, 4-0)
Previous Rank: 6
The Sooners had the week off and will next face Kent State to finish off their nonconference slate for the year. Their undefeated start has rewarded them a lot: they’re #5 in these power rankings and #5 in the AP poll.
6. Tennessee (1-1, 4-1)
Previous Rank: 7.
The Vols survived the clanging cowbells in overtime to get their conference record to 1-1. Now they get a week off to catch their breath.
7. Alabama (1-0, 3-1)
Previous Rank: 12.
Alabama has now won 10 of its last 11 meetings with Georgia. Somehow, the Tide just has Georgia’s number. The Florida State loss feels like a long, long time ago now, but they better watch out for Vanderbilt next week, because the Commodores had the firepower to take out the Tide last year and can definitely do it again.
8. Missouri (1-0, 5-0)
Previous Rank: 9.
Missouri blew out UMass 42-6 in a gimme game to tune them up for October. That month will be much more difficult: Alabama, at Auburn, and at Vanderbilt.
9. Georgia (1-1, 3-1)
Previous Rank: 5.
Georgia hadn’t lost at home in six years before Alabama did it Saturday night. Well, isn’t that great news for their next opponent, the Kentucky Wildcats!
10. Mississippi State (0-1, 4-1)
Previous Rank: 8.
So close yet so far for the Bulldogs. They certainly showed their improvement over last year’s team, though. Up next is a trip to Texas A&M.
11. Texas (0-0, 3-1)
Previous Rank: 10.
Now, finally, the SEC play will begin. Texas travels to The Swamp to face the Florida Gators, who will be desperate to beat somebody on their insanely difficult schedule.
12. South Carolina (1-2, 2-3)
Previous Rank: 15.
The Gamecocks finally got an SEC win, cashing in on some Kentucky turnovers and riding their mistakes to an easy home win. Their next game is a trip to LSU, but first, they get a bye.
13. Auburn (0-2, 3-2)
Previous Rank: 11.
Auburn has swung and missed twice in league play so far, falling at Oklahoma and Texas A&M in back-to-back weeks. Perhaps a bye will help them regroup before hosting Georgia in the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry.
14. Florida (0-1, 1-3)
Previous Rank: 16.
For almost all these teams, the story is “man, they’ve got a difficult schedule ahead,” but Florida definitely has the toughest in the country. Last week was a top-10 road game, this week was a top-10 road game, next week is a top-10 home game, and the week after that is a top-10 road game. If the Gators make a bowl this season, it’ll be one of the greatest feats in college football history.
15. Kentucky (0-2, 2-2)
Previous Rank: 13.
Kentucky had a disastrous effort against South Carolina on Saturday, turning it over on three straight possessions in the second quarter and never recovering after that. It was like a KO in the third round of the fight that ended everything too early. The Wildcats will have to figure something out in the coming weeks, as they may not be favored in a single league game for the rest of the season.
16. Arkansas (0-2, 2-3)
Previous Rank: 14.
Arkansas not only hosted Notre Dame on Saturday, but it hosted an angry Notre Dame. A very angry Notre Dame, that is determined to make up for their 0-2 start in every way they can. Winning on the road by 43 will do a lot to help that, and also to get Sam Pittman fired, which happened Sunday. He finished his Arkansas run 32-24, which altogether is quite an accomplishment and better than others have done there.
