The bye week came at an opportune time for Will Stein and the Kentucky football team. After winning six straight games, they have been dealing with a host of injuries, and had played eight weeks in a row. A week of rest was just what the doctor ordered, and they still gained a spot in the US LBM Coaches Poll, despite not playing.
Kentucky was one of six SEC teams on a bye in week nine, leaving just five conference games on the schedule. Of those games, the matchup between the Georgia Bulldogs and Florida Gators was day's biggest. However, none of the games would wind up being competitive.
There also weren't any surprises this week. The teams expected to win took care of business, which means there aren't a lot of changes to this week's SEC power
rankings.
So, did the Wildcats stay put this week? Here's a look at how all 16 teams in the conference rank after week nine of the 2026 college football season.
16. Vanderbilt Commodores
- Last week: 16
- Result: BYE
The bye came at a good time for Vanderbilt too. They have lost five straight after starting the season 3-0. They'll look to get bowl eligible after the week off.
15. Arkansas Razorbacks
- Last week: 15
- Result: Lost to Missouri 34-10
Arkansas wasn't really ever in the game this week after falling behind early. They turned the ball over four times, and killed too many of their drives with bad plays.
14. Mississippi State Bulldogs
- Last week: 13
- Result: Lost to Texas 31-3
Without Kamario Taylor, the Mississippi State offense struggles, and they were held to under 200 yards of total offense. It will be hard to win another game this year.
13. Texas A&M Aggies
- Last week: 14
- Result: BYE
The Aggies season has not gone how they expected this season, but they'll try to close strong.
12. Oklahoma Sooners
- Last week: 12
- Result: Lost to South Carolina 42-25
John Mateer and the Sooners offense played pretty well this week. However, their normally strong defense had no answers for LaNorris Sellers and the Gamecocks.
11. Auburn Tigers
- Last week: 11
- Result: Lost to Ole Miss 45-14
Since beating Georgia, Auburn's offense has been held in check. They've lost two straight, but they have a favorable schedule down the stretch.
10. Florida Gators
- Last week: 9
- Result: Lost to Georgia 27-8
The Gators have an unsteady situation at quarterback. On Saturday, though, it didn't matter who was in. Georgia locked up the Gators offense, and shut down Jadan Baugh.
9. South Carolina Gamecocks
- Last week: 10
- Result: Beat Oklahoma 42-25
When LaNorris Sellers is on, he's nearly impossible to stop. On Saturday, he threw or 301 yards and 3 touchdownw, and ran for 96 yards and 2 more scores.
8. Missouri Tigers
- Last week: 8
- Result: Beat Arkansas 34-10
Missouri beat up on a struggling Razorbacks team this week. Austin Simmons didn't need a big game, but did throw for nearly 200 yards a couple of touchdowns.
7. Tennessee Volunteers
- Last week: 7
- Result: BYE
The Volunteers are preparing for a battle with Kentucky next week. They need the win to stay in the playoff hunt.
6. Texas Longhorns
- Last week: 6
- Result: Beat Mississippi State 31-3
Beating Mississippi State without Kamario Taylor didn't require a great performance. However, Arch Manning was solid again, throwing for 220 yards and 3 scores.
5. Alabama Crimson Tide
- Last week: 4
- Result: BYE
The Crimson Tide had a week off in week nine. They have just one ranked opponent remaining on their schedule, coming next weekend against LSU.
4. Ole Miss Rebels
- Last week: 5
- Result: Beat Auburn 45-15
The Rebels dominated Auburn this week, and Trinidad Chambliss was very good again, and continues to look like the best quarterback in college football when he's on his game.
3. LSU Tigers
- Last week: 3
- Result: BYE
LSU was off this week, but they have a huge matchup with Alabama in week ten. It could knock one of them out of the playoffs.
2. Kentucky Wildcats
- Last week: 2
- Result: BYE
The Cats needed a bye to get some guys healthy for their massive game against Tennessee next week.
1. Georgia Bulldogs
- Last week: 1
- Result: Beat Florida 27-8
The Bulldogs passing game was held in check by Florida. Their defense dominated the game, though, and they controlled the pace with over 200 yards rushing.
This article originally appeared on UK Wildcats Wire: Where is Kentucky in SEC power rankings after bye week
