Another Saturday in the SEC, another round of chaos that completely reshuffles the deck. This week, the middle of the conference devoured itself, with two major top-15 road upsets shaking up the hierarchy. Texas proved its mettle in a shootout, Oklahoma got a season-defining win, and Kentucky finally got an SEC victory, crawling out of the cellar by dragging Auburn down into it.
SEC football power rankings and analysis
1. Alabama Crimson Tide (8-1)
(Previously: 1) ➖
Alabama had a bye week after surviving a tough test at South Carolina. They remain the undisputed standard of the conference and stay locked in at number one.
2. Georgia Bulldogs (7-1)
(Previously: 2) ➖
In the least surprising result of the weekend but maybe the most surprising performance, Georgia squeaked by Florida 24-20 in Jacksonville. Gunner Stockton threw two more touchdowns, and the Bulldogs' machine just keeps rolling.
3. Texas A&M Aggies (8-0)
(Previously: 3) ➖
The Aggies also had a bye week, resting up as the SEC's last remaining undefeated team. They remain on a collision course with Alabama for a game that will likely decide the SEC West.
4. Ole Miss Rebels (8-1)
(Previously: 4) ➖
Ole Miss took care of business, handling South Carolina 30-14. Kewan Lacy was a workhorse, rushing for 167 yards and a touchdown. The Rebels bounced back solidly from their loss to Georgia and remain firmly in the "New Year's Six" bowl picture.
5. Texas Longhorns (7-2)
(Previously: 6) 🔼
What a performance. In a Top 20 shootout, Arch Manning (328 yards, 3 TDs) outdueled Diego Pavia in a 34-31 thriller on the road. After winning ugly last week, this was the explosive, high-level road win Texas needed to jump back into the conference elite.
6. Vanderbilt Commodores (7-2)
(Previously: 5) 🔽
Vandy's magical run finally hits a speed bump. They lost a 34-31 heartbreaker at home to Texas, but Diego Pavia was spectacular (365 pass yds, 3 TDs). There's no shame in this loss; they drop below Texas but remain one of the best stories in college football.
7. Oklahoma Sooners (7-2)
(Previously: 9) 🔼
THE JUMP OF THE WEEK. This is the win Brent Venables needed. The Sooners went into a hostile Neyland Stadium and stunned Tennessee 33-27. Xavier Robinson ran for 115 yards and a score as the defense held off a late Vols surge. This win completely changes the narrative in Norman.
8. Missouri Tigers (6-2)
(Previously: 8) ➖
Missouri had a bye week. They stay put as a solid, top-half SEC team.
9. Tennessee Volunteers (6-3)
(Previously: 7) 🔽
THE FALL OF THE WEEK. A crushing 33-27 home loss to Oklahoma. Joey Aguilar aired it out for 393 yards and 3 TDs, but two costly interceptions and a stalled run game doomed the Vols. This loss drops them significantly and ends any dark-horse SEC title talk.
10. LSU Tigers (5-3)
(Previously: 11) 🔼
LSU had a bye week as the program officially begins its search for a new head coach after firing Brian Kelly. They move up by default as the teams below them continue to implode.
11. Mississippi State Bulldogs (5-4)
(Previously: 12) 🔼
The Bulldogs got their first SEC win of the year, going on the road to beat Arkansas 38-35 in a wild one. Blake Shapen (2 TDs) and Anthony Evans III (111 yds, 2 TDs) provided the heroics. A massive win for Jeff Lebby's squad.
12. Florida Gators (3-5)
(Previously: 13) ➖
Florida played Georgia tough for a bit but ultimately fell 24-20. DJ Lagway and Jadan Baugh both scored, but the offense wasn't nearly enough. The program is in limbo as the coaching search continues.
13. South Carolina Gamecocks (3-6)
(Previously: 14) 🔼
The Gamecocks lost 30-14 at Ole Miss, their sixth loss of the season. Nyck Harbor's TD was a highlight, but the team continues to struggle against the league's top half. But they dominated Kentucky earlier, and Auburn and Arkansas are both beneat them.
14. Kentucky Wildcats (3-5)
(Previously: 16) 🔼
THEY DID IT. Kentucky snapped its painful SEC losing streak with a gritty, 10-3 defensive masterpiece on the road at Auburn. It was ugly, but it was a win, and it gets them out of the cellar.
15. Auburn Tigers (4-5)
(Previously: 10) 🔽
Absolutely catastrophic. Losing 10-3 at home to a 2-5 Kentucky team that hadn't won an SEC game in over a year is arguably the most embarrassing loss of the season for any team. The offense is broken, and Hugh Freeze's seat is now scorching hot.
16. Arkansas Razorbacks (2-7)
(Previously: 15) 🔽
THE NEW CELLAR DWELLER. The Hogs are now 0-5 in SEC play after losing a winnable home game to Mississippi State. Taylen Green's 3 INTs were killers, and not even interim coach Bobby Petrino can find a way to win.
Drew Holbrook is an avid Kentucky fan who has been covering the Cats for over 10 years. In his free time he enjoys downtime with his family and Premier League soccer. You can find him on X here. Micah 7:7. #UptheAlbion