We're halfway through the 2026 college football season, and it's time to update the SEC football power rankings for Week 7. The story is taking shape—Cinderellas are emerging, while some coaches, fair or not, are starting to feel pressure.
In Baton Rouge, Lane Kiffin and LSU football are 4-2 after the Tigers fell to Kentucky in Week 6. It was a continuation of road woes for LSU and Kiffin. Kiffin is 4-17 in true road games against teams ranked in the US LBM Coaches Poll, including 1-9 against the top 10.
Texas A&M looked noncompetitive in a loss to Missouri as the Aggies' dreadful season continued. Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko made College Station headlines for the wrong reasons after the game.
Programs that weren't pegged as playoff contenders
before the season, like Kentucky and Missouri, have their eyes on the postseason, but both will be tested this weekend. Before we officially turn the page to Week 7, here's where every SEC team stands.
I say power rankings, but these are essentially power ratings. I will rank teams based on who I think would be favored on a neutral field. I've looked at market data (midseason win totals, current betting lines) and power ratings (SP+, FPI), with some of my own opinions mixed in.
Here are the Week 7 SEC power rankings.
16. Arkansas Razorbacks (2-4)
There's not much to say about Arkansas. This isn't a good football team. Arkansas showed some fight against Tennessee but couldn't finish the job in the second half. The rough year one continues for Ryan Silverfield. You can probably write Arkansas off for now. Check back in 2027.
15. Vanderbilt Commodores (3-3)
Vanderbilt and Arkansas are the only two teams in the SEC without a conference win. Vanderbilt is breaking in a lot of new pieces on offense, including freshman quarterback Jared Curtis. Curtis can make all the throws, but he's had plenty of true freshman moments. Vanderbilt's defense has some occasional fight, but it just gave up 52 points to Ole Miss. Vanderbilt would be an underdog vs. 14 teams in the SEC.
14. Auburn Tigers (3-2)
Auburn was on bye last week. When we saw Auburn two weeks ago, it was the same struggling offense. Head coach Alex Golesh brought a handful of transfers from USF, and that group is struggling to adjust to the SEC. Auburn's defense is good, but it will be without star linebacker Xavier Atkins vs. Georgia this weekend.
13. South Carolina Gamecocks (3-3)
South Carolina finally got off the mat at Florida. The Gamecocks went to The Swamp as double-digit underdogs but walked away with a double-digit win. It was a much-needed win for Shane Beamer's Gamecocks after three straight SEC losses in which the defense allowed an average of 42 points per game. The defense responded vs. Florida, forcing three turnovers. We'll see if Week 6 was a dead cat bounce for South Carolina or if the Gamecocks are actually headed in the right direction.
12. Texas A&M Aggies (3-3)
Texas A&M's free fall continued with a Week 6 loss to Missouri. The Aggies are 1-3 in SEC play and have looked noncompetitive in the three losses. The defense is fine, though it doesn't create the havoc Mike Elko defenses usually do. The offense is a problem. QB Marcel Reed isn't making good decisions on where to throw the ball, and when he does make the right choice, he's often inaccurate. A&M's OL isn't near last year's level, exposing flaws in the offense.
11. Mississippi State Bulldogs (4-1)
Mississippi State has only one loss on its record, but the Bulldogs don't strike much fear into opponents with star quarterback Kamario Taylor injured. Without Taylor to play Superman, the Bulldogs are a rather mediocre SEC team. They have speed at wide receiver and a good secondary, but they lack enough talent in the trenches to compete with the best teams in the conference.
10. Kentucky Wildcats (5-1)
The Will Stein era is off to a fiery start at Kentucky. Last month, the Wildcats went on the road and beat Texas A&M. Last week, Kentucky knocked off a top-10-ranked LSU team in Lexington. It was a statement win for Stein and Co., who now have an outside chance at the College Football Playoff. Kentucky's offensive line is among the best in the SEC, and there's a handful of talented players on defense. However, Kentucky hasn't shown enough yet to be ranked in the top half of the conference.
9. Tennessee Volunteers (5-1)
In the early days of Josh Heupel's Tennessee program (2021 and 2022), Tennessee could score points with the best of them but couldn't stop opponents on defense. Now, the program identity has completely flipped. Tennessee's defense is among the best in the nation, ranking No. 14 nationally in EPA/play allowed and No. 2 in sacks per game. On offense, the passing game isn't there, but Tennessee wears defenses down with a physical run game. The Vols are a quality team, but they need a legit passing attack to be considered one of the better teams in this conference.
8. Oklahoma Sooners (3-2)
Oklahoma knocked off Texas in Week 6. It was a euphoric moment for a Sooners program that disappointed over the first half of 2026. Oklahoma's defense is elite, ranking No. 2 nationally in EPA/play allowed. With a defense that good, Oklahoma can beat anyone on any given day. The Sooners just need an average offense that doesn't turn the ball over.
7. Missouri Tigers (5-1)
Missouri is a College Football Playoff contender at the midway point. Not many predicted that before the season. In SEC play, Missouri ranks third in the conference in yards per play (6.45). Quarterback Austin Simmons leads an explosive offense. Simmons is one of the SEC's top deep-ball passers and has a strong connection with wideout Cayden Lee, who averages 4.01 yards per route run.
On defense, Missouri has built yet another effective defensive line, despite losing production after 2025. Missouri's pass rush is elite, but the Ole Miss offensive line will test the Tigers in Week 7.
6. Florida Gators (4-2)
The last two weeks haven't been kind to the Gators, but I'm still a believer in Jon Sumrall's program. We can't ignore what we watched Florida do to Ole Miss, or what this offense did through September. The loss to South Carolina was ugly, though, and now Texas is on the schedule. The Gators upset Texas in 2025. Can they do it again this year?
5. Ole Miss Rebels (4-1)
Ole Miss hung 52 points on Vanderbilt in Week 6, responding after the Rebels went on the road and lost to Florida in Week 4. It looks like Pete Golding and crew made good use of the bye week. Trinidad Chambliss is an elite QB, which gives the Rebels a chance in every game. When Ole Miss plays its best game, it can beat anyone in the country, even with the questions about the defense.
4. LSU Tigers (4-2)
I understand this one won't make sense to some, but market indicators still peg LSU as the No. 4 team in the SEC. SP+ backs it up, ranking Lane Kiffin's Tigers No. 9 in the country. LSU's two losses both came on the road to quality SEC teams. In each game, LSU made several mistakes but still had a chance to win it at the very end.
LSU is talented with efficient units on both sides of the ball. QB Sam Leavitt continues to develop, and LSU should only get better as the year goes on. LSU could also get Trey'Dez Green and Whit Weeks back in November.
3. Texas Longhorns (4-1)
Texas fell to Oklahoma in Week 6, dropping from the No. 1 spot in the AP Poll. The offense continued to struggle, raising questions about the ceiling for Arch Manning and the unit as a whole. Still, Texas' win over Ohio State is one of the best resume points in CFB, and the Longhorns' defense is playoff caliber. If Texas' offense can take a few steps forward, it's a legit national title threat.
2. Alabama Crimson Tide (5-1)
Alabama came out on the wrong end of that Georgia game, but make no mistake: the Crimson Tide are national title contenders. Alabama ran the ball on Georgia, signaling that its run-game development is for real. Alabama ranks top 10 nationally in PPA/rush and rushing success rate. The Tide's run game went from one of the worst in the SEC to one of the best.
DeBoer's team is better and tougher than it was last year on the offensive line. Pair that with Keelon Russell's continued emergence at QB, and you have a top-five team in college football.
1. Georgia Bulldogs (6-0)
Georgia emerged victorious from a blockbuster battle vs. Alabama. UGA isn't accustomed to winning in Bryant-Denny Stadium, but Kirby Smart's crew went on the road and did the job. Georgia looks like a national title-caliber team—veteran QB Gunner Stockton doesn't make mistakes, and the offensive line is filled with NFL talent. On defense, UGA has dudes on all three levels. Linebacker Chris Cole and safety KJ Bolden are playmakers.
This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: SEC Power Rankings: Georgia takes top spot, LSU remains top five
