The final weekend of October games in the Southeastern Conference were revealing, but they largely reaffirmed what was already speculated about the 10 teams that played. As a result, there was very little movement in our SEC Power Rankings following Week 9, but that makes for a very interesting November that is coming up.
14. Vanderbilt
To nobody’s surprise, Clark Lea’s Commodores fell to a much better Ole Miss Rebels team. They are obviously the worst team in the league, and this game eliminated any chance of them finishing the season with a winning record. Now the question becomes if they can repeat last year with a strong finish.
13. South Carolina
Shane Beamer and the Gamecocks continue to slide this season, making last year look more and more like a fluke. They fell in our SEC Power Rankings by one spot with their loss to the Texas A&M Aggies, a game in which they technically covered but only because Jimbo Fisher sat on the lead late in the game.
12. Arkansas
Sam Pittman’s Razorbacks join the Gamecocks as the two teams near the bottom of our SEC Power Rankings but who deserve a spot ahead of Vanderbilt. Arkansas was lucky enough to not play this past weekend, which is why they were able to move up one spot ahead of South Carolina.
11. Florida
Another team who dropped in our SEC Power Rankings, the Gators fell not because they lost to the best team in the league. However, they got blown out by the Georgia Bulldogs in a way that shows Billy Napier’s team still remains miles behind where this program expects to be.
10. Mississippi State
Both Florida and the Bulldogs lost this weekend, and they are in a tier just above South Carolina and Arkansas, meaning these spots are interchangeable. However, losing at the Auburn Tigers, believe it or not, isn’t as bad as getting blown out, even by Georgia, on a neutral field, so MSU moved up in our SEC Power Rankings.
9. Kentucky
Nothing changes for Kentucky. Coming off a bye, playing at home and losing isn’t going to do them any favors, even if they did put up a fight against the Tennessee Vols this past Saturday. Once again, Mark Stoops’ program is still a middle of the pack SEC team, as they’ve now lost three straight.
8. Auburn
Hugh Freeze was able to snap a four-game losing streak, and the Tigers scored a key win over Mississippi State at home. Getting back to .500 was crucial, and given this team’s brutal schedule, there’s no shame in its record under a first-year head coach. As a result, they’re still middle of the pack.
7. Texas A&M
Coming off a bye, Jimbo Fisher and the Aggies had a crucial rebound. They had lost two straight, but South Carolina was the perfect team for them to have their turnaround against, and while they won 30-17, they actually dominated that game, so the wheels haven’t come off the program yet.
6. Tennessee
Josh Heupel and the Vols secured their most important win of the year. Coming off a tough loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide, they had to go visit a Kentucky team coming off a bye, and this UT team, known for struggling on the road, was able to pull off a crucial 33-27 win. Despite still being sixth, momentum. is riding high for them.
5. Missouri
Hey, the Tigers are still in control of their own destiny to win the East. They have one loss and do have a quality win at Kentucky. A tough loss to the LSU Tigers is nothing to be ashamed of either, but now, the real tests begin. Over the next two weeks, Mizzou visits Georgia and has to welcome the Vols to town.
4. LSU
Brian Kelly and the Tigers low-key looked like the best team in college football with two losses before their bye. Now, coming off their bye, they get their annual crucial November showdown with Alabama, and once again, it could technically be with the West on the line, so this team could move up soon.
3. Ole Miss
We now move to, believe it or not, the top tier of our SEC Power Rankings, and yes, the Rebels belong in it. Sure, they only beat Vanderbilt over the weekend, but Lane Kiffin’s team only has one loss on the year, and they are a top 10 caliber program at the moment. Now we see if it will hold in November.
2. Alabama
All of a sudden, Alabama’s wins over Ole Miss and Tennessee both look great. If they played the Texas Longhorns now, it’s hard to see them losing again. Nick Saban’s team has its biggest test, though, with a revenge game against LSU this week, and that should shake up the rankings going forward.
1. Georgia
For now, Kirby Smart’s team still belongs atop our SEC Power Rankings, as they looked great blowing out Florida over the weekend. However, they still haven’t proven anything with their schedule yet. That changes over the next three weeks, though, as they face Mizzou coming off a bye, then face Ole Miss and then visit the Vols.
