SEC Football Power Rankings: How far did Arkansas jump after Florida win?
Georgia remains the best team in the country and Alabama could join the Bulldogs in the College Football Playoff, or even kick them out.
But until the final weeks of the season, the most intriguing part of the SEC is in the middle, where teams No. 5 through 11 look to all be about the same. That means a chaotic final three weeks that should be as fun as Saturday was.
Ole Miss held off Texas A&M to stay among the top and send the Aggies into the muck. Arkansas came alive and knocked off Florida to keep bowl hopes alive and sent Gators fans into a crisis. Kentucky did Kentucky things and stayed the definition of “fine.” We’ll find out if Missouri is legit next week when the Tigers return from their bye.
For now, we only have the results in front of us. And here’s how we see the SEC is stacked heading into the homestretch.
1. Georgia (last week: 1)
Georgia stayed perfect, but the tough times are coming. The Bulldogs host Ole Miss and travel to Tennessee in the next two weeks.
2. Alabama (2)
Alabama’s outside shot at a national title stayed, what with a defeat of longtime rival LSU on Saturday. The remaining three games aren’t exactly tough, so it’s up to the SEC Championship, probably.
3. Ole Miss (3)
Ole Miss beat Texas A&M in a game that could have meant the Rebels were like the Rebels of the past. Instead, Ole Miss can make a play for the Playoff. Maybe. Maybe.
4. Tennessee (6)
Tennessee beat Connecticut exactly as it should have beaten Connecticut. But with Mizzou off and LSU falling, the Volunteers jumped.
5. Missouri (5)
The Tigers were off Saturday. Tennessee, Florida and Arkansas remain. To be continued…
6. LSU (4)
Had LSU beaten Alabama, only Georgia would have had a shot at the national title. Instead, the Tigers stumbled and the return to greatness is left for at least another year.
7. Kentucky (8)
Kentucky came back to .500 in the SEC after beating Mississippi State easily. The Wildcats are the prototypical middle-of-the-pack team.
8. Texas A&M (7)
Feels like Jimbo Fisher needed that one Saturday. He and the Aggies didn’t it, only further inflaming the rumors of the coach’s demise.
9. Arkansas (13)
It was only one game, so it can’t be said that Arkansas is reborn. But the Hogs suddenly look functional. It might be too late. Or it might not.
10. Florida (9)
Not to say we were the only ones that had Florida around this spot all season, but Saturday’s loss to Arkansas wasn’t a massive surprise.
11. Auburn (12)
Auburn jumped not by virtue of beating Vanderbilt, but because the team ahead of them, South Carolina, didn’t look so great.
12. South Carolina (10)
It took South Carolina too long to put away Jacksonville State. That’ll drop you a spot or two.
13. Mississippi State (13)
Mississippi State’s offense does not have a lot of gas. The Bulldogs may be better next year, but 2023 hasn’t been theirs.
14. Vanderbilt (14)
When you’re giving up 31 points to Auburn and losing by more than that, it’s been a rough year. Vanderbilt is in a rough year.
