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

Power ranking the SEC after week 8: #1 - Georgia

The Bulldogs are back on top. At this point in the season, there is no team more battle-tested than UGA. They’ve played Clemson, Alabama, and Texas—none of which were at home—and claimed decisive victories in two of the three.

Things don’t get a whole lot easier, though, as they’ll have to travel to Oxford and host Tennessee. Even the game against Florida after the bye week looks like it could be a potential spot where they could stumble.

There are some concerns with Carson Beck, as well, who had a pretty bad game in Austin. It didn’t end up mattering, but you wonder whether it was a function of nerves or something that got put on tape that these upcoming defenses can take advantage of.

Whatever the case may be, their resume commends that they be given the top spot at the moment. The defense played lights-out after some troubling games, and their prospects for the playoff look brighter than ever. This three-game stretch is going to decide a lot for this team, though.