No surprise: Arkansas not among seven SEC teams in and about USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll
The SEC spent a good chunk of the 2022 regular season cannibalizing itself. But at the end of 13 weeks, one team stood head and shoulders above the rest.
Georgia will play LSU in the SEC Championship game Saturday as the meeting will feature the No. 1 team and the No. 13 team in the final USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll of the regular season. The Bulldogs have been at the top for weeks while LSU dropped seven spots after falling to Texas A&M in the regular-season finale.
The Aggies, of course, didn’t sniff the poll, finishing tied with Auburn and Vanderbilt for the worst record in the conference (5-7).
Other SEC teams in the poll include Alabama (No. 6), Tennessee (No. 8), South Carolina (No. 20) and Mississippi State (No. 25). The Gamecocks and Bulldogs are new to the poll this week. Ole Miss, de facto No. 26, was the only other SEC team to pick up a vote.
The poll released Sunday isn’t the last Coaches Poll of the season, so more SEC teams could crack it before the final one is released in January, depending on how bowls shake out.
Georgia
Oct 15, 2022; Athens, Georgia, USA; Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart walks off the field with defensive back Christopher Smith (29) after the game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Michigan
Oct 29, 2022; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines running back Blake Corum (2) rushes in the first half against the Michigan State Spartans at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Texas Christian
Oct 29, 2022; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; TCU Horned Frogs running back Emani Bailey (9) celebrates with TCU Horned Frogs quarterback Max Duggan (15) after a touchdown during the second quarter against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
Southern California
Nov 19, 2022; Pasadena, California, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams (13) and offensive lineman Mason Murphy (76) celebrate the victory against the UCLA Bruins at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Ohio State
Nov 19, 2022; College Park, MD, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes safety Lathan Ransom (12) celebrates after blocking a Maryland Terrapins punt in the third quarter in their Big Ten game at SECU Stadium.
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Alabama
Oct 22, 2022; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Jahmyr Gibbs (1) celebrates with offensive lineman Tyler Booker (52) after scoring against the Mississippi State Bulldogs during the first half at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports
Penn State
Nov 19, 2022; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Drew Allar (15) throws the ball against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the second half at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Tennessee
A pass to Tennessee wide receiver Bru McCoy (15) falls incomplete while he is covered by Missouri defensive back Jaylon Carlies (1) during an NCAA college football game on Saturday, November 12, 2022 in Knoxville, Tenn.
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Washington
Nov 19, 2022; Seattle, Washington, USA; Washington Huskies quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (9) waves to fans while walking to the locker room following a 54-7 victory against the Colorado Buffaloes at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Kansas State
Nov 19, 2022; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; Kansas State Wildcats safety Josh Hayes (1) celebrates after a defensive stop during the third quarter against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
Clemson
Clemson quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei (5) after the game at Truist Field in Winston-Salem, North Carolina Saturday, September 24, 2022.
Ncaa Football Clemson At Wake Forest
Utah
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – SEPTEMBER 25 : Cam Rising #7 of the Utah Utes throws a pass during warmups before their game against the Washington State Cougars September 25, 2021 at Rice Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
LSU
FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS – NOVEMBER 12: Jayden Daniels #5 of the LSU Tigers is sacked in the first half by Drew Sanders #42 of the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on November 12, 2022 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
Florida State
Florida State Seminoles quarterback Jordan Travis (13) celebrates a touchdown as the Seminoles and the Ragin’ Cajuns face off at Doak Campbell Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022 in Tallahassee, Fla.
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Oregon
Oregon running back Bucky Irving sprints into the end zone for a touchdown as the No. 12 Oregon Ducks host the No. 10 Utah Utes in Oregon’s final home game of the season at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022.
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Oregon State
Nov 19, 2022; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Oregon State Beavers quarterback Ben Gulbranson (17) celebrates following the game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
UCLA
Sep 30, 2022; Pasadena, California, USA; UCLA Bruins wide receiver Jake Bobo (9) celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the second half against the Washington Huskies at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Tulane
Sep 30, 2022; Houston, Texas, USA; Tulane Green Wave quarterback Kai Horton (12) looks to pass the ball during the fourth quarter against the Houston Cougars at TDECU Stadium in Houston, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports
Notre Dame
Apr 23, 2022; Notre Dame, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman runs onto the field for warmups before the Blue-Gold Game at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
South Carolina
Dec 30, 2021; Charlotte, NC, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Shane Beamer celebrates his first bowl win holding the South Carolina Gamecocks mascot Big Spurr over the North Carolina Tar Heels at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Texas
Texas Longhorns running back Bijan Robinson (5) reacts after scoring a touch down during the Texas Longhorns football game against the Kansas Jayhawks in Lawrence, Kansas on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022.
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North Carolina
Nov 19, 2022; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Drake Maye (10) passes the ball to wide receiver Josh Downs (11) (not pictured) in the fourth quarter at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Central Florida
UCF Knights running back Isaiah Bowser (5) scores a touchdown in the fourth quarter during a college football game Cincinnati Bearcats, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022, at FBC Mortgage Stadium in Orlando, Fla. The UCF Knights defeated the Cincinnati Bearcats, 25-21.
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Texas-San Antonio
Sep 10, 2022; West Point, New York, USA; UTSA Roadrunners running back Brenden Brady (5) celebrates his touchdown with tight end Oscar Cardenas (9) during the second half against the Army Black Knights at Michie Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports
Mississippi State
Sep 17, 2022; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs head coach Mike Leach looks on against the LSU Tigers during the first half at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
