Power ranking the SEC after week 1: Texas A&M football falls, UF plummets, UT rises

Even though many teams played cupcake opponents, there was plenty of movement in this week's edition of the SEC power rankings.

Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava (8) during Tennessee's game against Chattanooga in Neyland Stadium in Knoxville on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024.
Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava (8) during Tennessee's game against Chattanooga in Neyland Stadium in Knoxville on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. | Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
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Power ranking the SEC after week 1: No. 3 - Tennessee

My biggest question about the Volunteers coming into this year was whether Nico Iamaleava is everything he was cracked up to be. I know it was just UT-Chattanooga, but through one game, he really does look like he is.

That man was putting his passes on a dime routinely throughout this one. It doesn’t matter whether they were short, medium, or long—he was dialed in and placing the ball right where it needed to be.

Everything else looked like it should against an opponent like the Mocs. The defense was stifling, the offense was balanced, the crowd was loud, etc.

Heupel with a quarterback like this can be really dangerous. As I mentioned, I’m excited to see how this team matches up with Oklahoma in a couple of weeks when the Vols travel to Norman. That will be a telling game.

Schedule

Schedule