Where every SEC team ranks in ESPN’s Football Power Index after Week 8
Week 8 of college football featured some big-time matchups, which led to a few big upsets and near-devastating losses.
ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) offers a look at how strong, or weak, all 133 FBS are. Though the rankings everyone values highly are human-made polls, the FPI offers a non-biased, algorithmic look at the college football landscape.
With some losses and major wins, nearly all 14 teams in the SEC saw some movement in the power index rankings. Alabama improves, Georgia stays put and a few others swap places.
Here’s where the SEC teams stand heading into Week 9.
Vanderbilt
National rank: 98
The Commodores move inside the top 100 after moving up three spots. The challenge now will be staying there for Vanderbilt
Kentucky
National rank: 44
Kentucky continues to fall in the rankings. After a strong start to the season, the Wildcats have fallen.
Mississippi State
National rank: 43
After a big, but low scoring, win over Arkansas, Mississippi State moves up five spots in the FPI.
South Carolina
National rank: 41
The Gamecocks have one of the worst records in the SEC at 2-5, but still rank above a few programs. This week, the Gamecocks fall three spots to No. 41.
Auburn
National rank: 34
Hugh Freeze and Auburn fell to Ole Miss this past week, but the Tigers still managed to move up in the FPI.
Florida
National rank: 33
The Gators aren’t in contention to win a national title, but they are playing like they still have a shot at the playoffs. They move up two spots in the latest rankings.
Arkansas
National rank: 32
Arkansas has been a disappointment this season. At 2-6, head coach Sam Pittman is feeling the heat. The Razorbacks already let go of offensive coordinator Dan Enos after an ugly loss against Mississippi State.
Missouri
National rank: 25
Missouri has one loss on the season and hasn’t gotten much love since losing the “undefeated” title. The Tigers move up two spots in the latest rankings as they continue to make a late-season push in the SEC.
Tennessee
National rank: 16
The Volunteers did not move after getting beat by the Crimson Tide in a single half. After having a 20-7 lead at halftime, the Tide stormed back and finished with 34 points, while Tennessee stayed at 20. They don’t fall in the rankings because of it, however.
Texas A&M
National rank: 15
The Aggies are 4-3 on the season and being above .500 should be viewed as a win for the program. On paper, the coaching staff and roster talent should have this program competing for national championships. That’s not the case. ESPN’s FPI values what Texas A&M has and ranks them in the top 15.
Ole Miss
National rank: 13
The Rebels are a strong SEC team. At 6-1, they could easily be undefeated if they had been able to catch Alabama. I’d consider 13 to be a bit low for Ole Miss.
LSU
National rank: 9
LSU stands at 6-2 on the season but still ranks as one of the strongest teams in the nation. A big-time matchup with Alabama in Tuscaloosa awaits in Week 10.
Georgia
National rank: 8
Georgia is the top-ranked team in the nation, but just barely makes the top 10 in the Football Power Index. As the regular season winds down, it’ll be interesting to see what happens with the Dawgs.
Alabama
National rank: 5
The Crimson Tide returns to the top 10 of the AP top 25 Poll after falling out in Week 3. The Football Power Index doesn’t see Alabama as a fringe playoff contender, they are in the thick of it based on the team’s strength. a comeback win against Tennessee moves the Tide up two spots.
