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Power ranking the SEC after week 2: UT into second place, pass rush lifts SC

Here's how the SEC power rankings shake out after a quite eventful week 2 in the conference.

By Graham Harmon

Aug 31, 2024; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback Dante Reno (10), quarterback LaNorris Sellers (16) and tight end Joshua Simon (6) celebrate after a touchdown against the Old Dominion Monarchs in the second half at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
Aug 31, 2024; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback Dante Reno (10), quarterback LaNorris Sellers (16) and tight end Joshua Simon (6) celebrate after a touchdown against the Old Dominion Monarchs in the second half at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images / Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
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Power ranking the SEC after week 2: #7 Texas

. . . Previous ranking: 6. b. . . 467. . 7

Longhorn fans are basking in the glow of what currently is a top-10 win, as well they should. Nothing wrong with getting excited about a win in one of the twelve games you’re guaranteed in the course of a season.

But in reality, that was a game that told us a lot more about Michigan than it did about Texas. The Wolverines in this post-Harbaugh era, despite retaining Mason Graham and Will Johnson, look positively dreadful.

It’s not just me that’s thinking this: Texas beat writers were already calling out the fact that this is a Wolverine team that is more likely to end 6-6 than 9-3.

With that in mind, we should treat this game similarly to how we would if (and likely when) the Longhorns beat Vanderbilt later this year: nice, but we have to consider the quality of opponent.

I’ll continue to hammer on these concerns that have been evident so far this year: the offensive and defensive lines have simply looked a little bit soft so far. Sark is great at scheming up some runs, but the push from the OL has left something to be desired. The PPA/Rush for the Longhorns against CSU was just barely over what A&M managed against Notre Dame, and far below that mark against Michigan.

Similarly, the rush defense has not at all looked like it did last year. They were able to key in on the rushing attack of the Wolverines given the general ineptitude of the UM quarterbacks, but even then it was still just an okay performance.

Overall, there are still a lot more questions than most Longhorn fans want to acknowledge at this point. I think they’re probably a top-15 team, but there’s more that needs to be proven.

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