Wildcat Blue Nation
Fansided

Kentucky football: Power Ranking the SEC after week 2

By Mat Mlodzinski

Sep 9, 2023; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats wide receiver Barion Brown (7) celebrates in the end zone after scoring a touchdown during the third quarter against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels at Kroger Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 9, 2023; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats wide receiver Barion Brown (7) celebrates in the end zone after scoring a touchdown during the third quarter against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels at Kroger Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 3
Next

Kentucky football struggled to blow out EKU, a game in which the Wildcats were favored to win by a lot more than they did. However, at 2-0, it’s clear the Cats are on the prowl in the SEC.

Week two in SEC football didn’t deliver a whole lot of surprises, although if UK wasn’t able to finish out EKU, that would’ve dropped the Wildcats down to last in the power rankings. Of course, Kentucky prevailed, and so did most of the teams in the best conference in America.

However, a few teams didn’t pull out wins, and there are some changes at the very top of our power rankings. I’m sure you can guess who fell. (Hint: it rhymes with “Pama.”)

Regardless, let’s drive into a new week of SEC football power rankings.

Bottom of the barrel:

  • No. 14 – Missouri Tigers (2-0)

Last week: 14

They might be 2-0, but the Tigers aren’t playing like it. A week after a 25-point win over an FCS team, Missouri only beat Middle Tennessee State, 23-19. Sure, a win is a win in the grand scheme of things, but in power rankings, there’s more to it than just that. Quarterback Brady Cook was arguably outplayed by Raiders’ QB Nicholas Vattiato. And while MTSU scored 9 points late to cut the deficit from 13 points to just 4, the Tigers should be scoring more than just 23 points against a team that gave up 56 to Alabama.

  • No. 13 – Vanderbilt Commodores (2-1)

Last week: 9

We were waiting to see if Vandy is for real or not, and the Commodores pretty much proved they in fact, are not for real. After a 2-0 start against so-so opponents, Vanderbilt had no chance at a 3-0 start, losing 36-20 to Wake Forest. The game featured a long lightning delay at the very start, but I doubt that had an effect on AJ Swann’s 2 costly interceptions. The Demon Deacons are far from a contender in the ACC, so a Vanderbilt 16-point loss says a lot about their team.

  • No. 12 – Florida Gators (1-1)

Last week: 12

What did we really learn from Florida? Sure, they won a game by 42 points after being handled by a Utah team not even at full strength. But it came against McNeese. Simply put, the Gators are staying put until the next edition of these power rankings, when they will be fresh off a game against Tennessee. Montrell Johnson Jr. does deserve a shoutout though, because 15 carries for 119 yards and 2 touchdowns against any team is pretty darn good.

Home/Kentucky football