SEC power rankings after a chalky week 9: Gamecocks elevating, Bulldogs fall
16. Vanderbilt
The Commodores had a week off in the midst of their current five-game losing streak. If they're going to get a single SEC win in the final four games, though, it will probably be this week against a Mississippi State team that is without a quarterback.
15. Arkansas
Arkansas came off of their bye and managed 10 points at home against Missouri. To add insult to injury, Eli Drinkwitz started talking about the lights in their stadium for way too long in the postgame. He was complimentary, but it felt like he was trying to make some kind of passive-aggressive point.
14. Auburn
The Tigers looked like they had a shot against Ole Miss right up until they didn't, as the Rebels finally broke out of whatever funk they were in over the past game and a half. Alex Golesh will have a few easy wins coming up against Arkansas, Mississippi State without Kamario Taylor, and Samford before the Iron Bowl.
13. Mississippi State
Maybe I should drop the Bulldogs lower, as I feel like I'd pick Auburn over them right now, but I'll wait to see what they do against Vanderbilt this week. Without Kamario, though, this team feels like they're on the fast track to nowhere, now losing four in a row after getting all the way into the top 15 of the rankings.
12. Texas
The Longhorns allowed only 3 points, which will look good on a stat sheet, but they were up against a third-string QB. The worrisome thing is their injuries and continued inability to run the ball, which will bite them once or twice in these final four games.
11. Oklahoma
The Sooners look like they might just have given up on this season, as their defense— the strength of their team— was not exactly in tip-top shape against South Carolina. If the effort is similarly lackluster against Florida and Ole Miss, you can put a wrap on this year for OU— but maybe firing Ben Arbuckle can spark some kind of change in the building.
10. Texas A&M
The Aggies watched their upcoming opponent, South Carolina, with dismay this week, as the Gamecocks completely dismantled OU in Norman. Things could get pretty bad for Texas A&M this week, as this is a bad matchup just statistically speaking, not to mention the momentum for each program at the moment.
9. Missouri
The Tigers dispatched with the Razorbacks in efficient fashion on a very well-lit field. If they can navigate a potential trap game against the Longhorns this weekend, they'll have their playoff hopes on the line in Athens the following week.
8. Tennessee
The Volunteers have the win over Alabma, but their Texas loss keeps looking worse, casuing a bit of a slide here. They'll have a chance to get a big win over Kentucky this week, but if they're unable, the wheels might come off of what currently looks like a fringe playoff contender.
7. Ole Miss
Pete Golding's squad lit it up late against Auburn, getting some momentum that they desperately needed ahead of hosting the Georgia Bulldogs. Trinidad Chambliss looks like himself again after a poor game last week, but he'll face his toughest challenge yet with this Kirby Smart defense.
6. Florida
Buster Faulkner may be one of the most innovative offensive minds in the country, but the Gators are still leagues behind a team like Georgia. Hosting Oklahoma should be a get-right game for Jon Sumrall and company, but they're likely out of playoff contention at this point.
5. LSU
Lane Kiffin and company were off this week as they look ahead to the Alabama matchup— one which will all but decide their playoff fates. The Bayou Bengals are undefeated at home this year, so if they can close out with a pair of wins over Alabama and Texas, it will be huge.
4. South Carolina
The Gamecocks are rolling right now, similar to what we saw in the last part of the 2024 season. If they navigate the Texas A&M game this weekend, their only real test left will be a home game against Georgia in the penultimate weekend of the season.
3. Alabama
Kalen DeBoer's team has this one test remaining on the road at LSU— and it may be the toughest test possible in this conference. If they get through, though, they only have to beat Vanderbilt, UT-C, and Auburn to get to the Playoff.
2. Kentucky
It's prove-it time for Kentucky: road dates with Tennessee and Missouri will be very tough, but so will home games against Florida and Louisville. They can manage a 3-1 slate and still make it into the top 12, especially if those LSU and South Carolina wins keep looking better, as they continually have.
1. Georgia
The Bulldogs flexed on the Florida Gators in the pithily-named Invesco QQQ Gridiron Classic this weekend. Unfortunately for them, these final three weeks of SEC play look tougher than ever, with road trips to Ole Miss and South Carolina sandwiching a home game against Missouri.
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