Power ranking the SEC after week 6: Aggies continue ascent, others slide after upsets

Week six was a completely topsy-turvy slate in the SEC. Here's who rose and who fell following all the action this weekend.
Vanderbilt Commodores linebacker Carson Casteel (58) celebrates after knocking off the Alabama Crimson Tide 40-35 at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024.
Vanderbilt Commodores linebacker Carson Casteel (58) celebrates after knocking off the Alabama Crimson Tide 40-35 at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. / Denny Simmons / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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Power ranking the SEC after week 6: #7 - Vanderbilt

It’s hard to put into words just what this game meant to Vanderbilt. This was perhaps the biggest victory they’ve ever had as a program—maybe not in how much of an underdog they were, but certainly perception-wise.

For so long, Alabama and Vanderbilt occupied polar opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to perception as a football program. The former typified excellence, and the latter typified haplessness.

One game does not undo those preconceptions. You don’t overturn history even with a huge beatdown, much less the low-probability outcome we saw on Saturday. But for one shining moment, we saw what could be possible—and why we all love college football so much.

Vanderbilt could lose every game the rest of the year, and fans would still call this season a step forward for the program. But I think they may have one or two more big wins in them before the season is out.