For the Kentucky football team, week five was a redemption. For two consecutive seasons, LaNorris Sellers and the South Carolina Gamecocks have tormented the Wildcats, not only beating them soundly, but halting any early momentum they had, and sending their seasons into a tailspin.
This year, coach Will Stein and his Kentucky squad took some early gut punches, and fell behind 17-0. Then, unlike in year's past, they punched back. The defense turned the momentum around, and the offense started to roll. Then, Stein bet on his quarterback in overtime, and rather than play for the tie, they went out and made the game-winning two-point conversion. It was another big moment for this team, and the program in general.
Around the rest of the SEC, there
wasn't nearly as much drama. The Florida Gators had their hot start halted by Austin Simmons and Missouri. The Georgia Bulldogs continued to dominate, as did the Alabama Crimson Tide.
So, with some teams on a bye this week, how did the results change the SEC power rankings? Where did Kentucky fall in this week? Here are the updated rankings.
16. Arkansas Razorbacks
- Last week: 16
- Result: Lost to Texas A&M 34-7
The Razorbacks continue to struggle. The offense has struggled all season to score points, and they were never really in the game against a struggling Aggies team.
15. Oklahoma Sooners
- Last week: 15
- Result: Bye week
The Sooners were on a bye this week, and will try to fix the offensive issues they've suffered from all year. John Mateer will have to play better.
14. Vanderbilt Commodores
- Last week: 14
- Result: Lost to Georgia 38-14
Vandy is the latest team to get rolled by Georgia this season. They were without quarterback Jared Curtis, which certainly didn't help their cause.
13. South Carolina Gamecocks
- Last week: 13
- Result: Lost to Kentucky 35-34
It looked like Sellers and the Gamecocks would run away with it early, but they couldn't counter Kentucky's adjustments. Sellers was electric, but they needed someone else to step up.
12. Auburn Tigers
- Last week: 10
- Result: Lost to Tennessee 24-14
The Tigers have been inconsistent on offense this season, and couldn't get going against Tennessee. Byrum Brown is electric, but three turnovers hurt.
11. Texas A&M Aggies
- Last week 12
- Result: Beat Arkansas 34-7
The Aggies bounced back after a tough couple of weeks. They'll need to show they can do it against some of the SEC's better teams, though.
10. Florida Gators
- Last week: 4
- Result: Lost to Missouri 45-17
The Gators had been flying high, but Missouri dominated them, and shut down Jaden Baugh. Florida had no answer for Austin Simmons, and will need to re-evaluate their defensive game plan.
9. Mississippi State Bulldogs
- Last week: 6
- Result: Lost to Alabama 56-23
Like Florida, the Bulldogs had played very well this season, led by superstar QB Kamario Tayor. However, Alabama frustrated Taylor and dominated the game from start to finish.
8. Kentucky Wildcats
- Last week: 9
- Result: Beat South Carolina 35-34
Coach Stein has the Wildcats out to a 4-1 start, but slow starts have haunted them this season. They need to figure out how to get things going earlier in games.
7. Missouri Tigers
- Last week: 11
- Result: Beat Florida 45-17
Simmons and the Tigers dismantled a Florida team that was red hot coming into the week. They job the did shutting down Baugh was tremendous.
6. Ole Miss Rebels
- Last week: 8
- Result: BYE week
The Rebels were on a bye this week, but have some of their toughest games still to come. They're capable of a playoff run if Trinidad Chambliss is at his best.
5. Tennessee Volunteers
- Last week: 7
- Result: Beat Auburn 24-14
The Volunteers offense has some questions at quarterback, but they continue to play well defensively, and win games. Their running game was unstoppable on Saturday.
4. LSU Tigers
- Last week: 5
- Result: Beat McNeese 63-14
The Tigers did what was expected of them this week, and easily handled a weaker opponent. They'll face Kentucky next weekend.
3. Alabama Crimson Tide
- Last week: 3
- Result: Beat Mississippi State 56-23
Alabama looks like a national championship contending team, and Keelon Russell keeps getting better. They rolled through a Bulldogs team that was playing very well.
2. Georgia Bulldogs
- Last week: 2
- Result: Beat Vanderbilt 38-14
The Bulldogs are rolling, but they haven't faced a good team yet. The remainder of their schedule gets much tougher, starting with Alabama next week.
1. Texas Longhorns
- Last week: 1
- Result: BYE week
The Longhorns already have some big wins, but they also face five ranked teams in their next six games. If they come out of that undefeated, there will be no doubt they deserve this spot.
This article originally appeared on UK Wildcats Wire: Where is Kentucky in SEC power rankings after beating Gamecocks?
