It was an unfortunate Saturday night for the Kentucky football team. They travelled south to Knoxville, and came back home the victims of a 34-6 loss to Tennessee. The defeat dropped the Wildcats to 7-2 on the season, and out of the top ten in the US LBM Coaches Poll.
Kentucky is still in a good spot overall, though. With two losses, if they can win their last three games, not an easy task, they would still be in line to make the College Football Playoff.
Around the rest of the SEC, there were plenty of fun games. All 16 teams were in action this week, and the results were interesting. The LSU Tigers were blown out by the Alabama Crimson Tide. The Texas Longhorns also beat another ranked team, taking down Missouri. The biggest game on the schedule
turned out to be the biggest blowout with the Georgia Bulldogs beating Ole Miss 42-7.
So, how did this week's games affect the SEC power rankings? As always, things are fluid in a conference loaded with talent. Here are the updated rankings.
16. Arkansas Razorbacks
- Last week: 15
- Result: Lost to Auburn 26-23
The Razorbacks were the latest victims of Byrum Brown, who Arkansas couldn't keep in the pocket. Turnovers were also an issue in this one, and they fall back into the last spot.
15. Mississippi State Bulldogs
- Last week: 14
- Result: Lost to Vanderbilt 25-23
The Bulldogs just aren't the same team without Kamario Taylor. They did play somewhat better this week, but still came up short to Vanderbilt, who has had struggles of their own.
14. Vanderbilt Commodores
- Last week 16
- Result: Beat Mississippi State 25-23
Vanderbilt did just enough to pull out the close win over Mississippi State. Quarterback Jared Curtis is going to be very good, but still plays like a freshman, even in wins.
13. Texas A&M Aggies
- Last week: 13
- Result: Lost to South Caroline 17-9
The Aggies defense played well enough for them to win. However Marcel Reed and the offense just continue to be unable to generate enough points to get wins. This season has been a massive disappointment.
12. Florida Gators
- Last week: 10
- Result: Lost 23-7 to Oklahoma
Teams have schemed to stop Jadan Baugh, and make the Gators throw the football. It has worked, no matter who has been under center for them.
11. Auburn Tigers
- Last week: 11
- Result: Beat Arkansas 26-23
Byrum Brown passed for 180 yards and ran for another 120, but the Tigers still still needed a late field goal to beat Arkansas. It has been an up-and-down season in Auburn.
10. Oklahoma Sooners
- Last week: 12
- Result: Beat Florida 23-7
As good as the Sooners defense is, the offense just needs to be ok for them to win. On Saturday, John Mateer played a clean game, and they got the win.
9. Missouri Tigers
- Last week: 8
- Result: Lost to Texas 34-20
Austin Simmons had another very good game for Missouri, and they were tied through three quarters. Then, they just came up a few plays short, and fell to the Longhorns.
8. South Carolina Gamecocks
- Last week: 9
- Result: Beat Texas A&M 17-9
At one point this season, it looked like the Gamecocks were done, and Shane Beamer would be fired. Since then, they've gone on a run, and LaNorris Sellers has looked like the star everyone assumed he would be this year.
7. LSU Tigers
- Last week: 3
- Result: Lost to Alabama 31-13
Sam Leavitt threw for almost 400 yards, but didn't have a touchdown pass. He did throw one interception, and was out-dueled by Keelon Russell, who was terrific once again.
6. Kentucky Wildcats
- Last week: 2
- Result: Lost to Tennessee 34-6
Will Stein and the Wildcats couldn't find the late-game magic this week. Second half turnovers gave Tennessee short fields, and the Volunteers made them pay for it.
5. Ole Miss Rebels
- Last week: 4
- Result: Lost to Georgia 42-7
Ole Miss ran into a buzzsaw in the Bulldogs. They got beaten in just about every way, and Trinidad Chambliss was made to look human with just 170 yards passing and an interception.
4. Tennessee Volunteers
- Last week: 7
- Result: Beat Kentucky 34-6
The Volunteers don't have an elite quarterback, but they didn't need one on Saturday. Their gameplan is to run the ball and play defense, and they controlled the game doing just that against Kentucky.
3. Texas Longhorns
- Last week: 6
- Result: Beat Missouri 34-20
Arch Manning doesn't always make it pretty, but the Longhorns keep beating ranked teams. Manning threw for 300 yards and 3 scores, and Texas played well in the fourth quarter of another big game.
2. Alabama Crimson Tide
- Last week: 5
- Result: Beat LSU 31-13
It took a little bit of time to get going, but once they did, they never looked back against LSU. Keelon Russell threw for 3 touchdowns, and the defense gave up some yards, but kept the Tigers out of the enzone for the most part.
1. Georgia Bulldogs
- Last week: 1
- Result: Beat Ole Miss 42-7
Georgia put up almost 500 yards of total offense, and Gunner Stockton threw for 4 touchdowns. In what most people thought would be a good game, the Bulldogs delivered a beatdown.
This article originally appeared on UK Wildcats Wire: How far did Kentucky fall in SEC power rankings after loss?
