SEC power ranking shakeup after week 8: Contenders emerging and pretenders exposed

Power ranking the SEC after week 8: #6 - Texas

After enduring six weeks of Longhorn fans declaring that they run the conference based on their results against Colorado State and ULM, I think it was a breath of fresh air for all involved to see them get humbled.

I’ve been harping on several things this entire season about this team: their offensive line being overrated (and resultantly, their worrying results running the ball and protecting the passer), and their results against the run being similarly played-up.

Well, all of these chickens came home to roost against the first real team they’ve faced all year. Despite being given every advantage in this game, Sark’s team could not overcome the massive disparity in quality in the trenches against the Bulldogs.

In so many ways, this game was handed to the Longhorns on a silver platter. Even one of those routine bounce-of-the-ball plays that looked to go against them initially was overturned in an unprecedented way, thanks to fans littering the field with garbage (a fitting metaphor in several respects).

Holds went uncalled, including one that would have resulted in a safety on what turned out to be the biggest pass play of the game for the Horns. They were gifted a red zone interception by Carson Beck. 

They still registered the worst home loss by an AP number 1 team in over 40 years.

Listen, they’re not a bad team. They’re probably a top-15 outfit when all is said and done. But this might have been the weakest number 1 ranking we’ve seen in quite some time.