POWER RANKINGS
Breaking down the SEC
1. Alabama (6-0): Allowing 31 points to Arkansas might show the first chink in Alabama’s armor. Of course you’ve got to catch them to put something in that chink.
2. Georgia (6-0): The Bulldogs make a rare trip to Baton Rouge and might find the bayou hard to navigate by dog paddle.
3. Florida (5-1): A huge win at The Swamp has the Gators maneuvering for the first spot behind Texas in the “We’re Back” line.
4. Mississippi State (4-2): Who is more beat up at this point, Nick Fitzgerald or Conor McGregor? Both are tough as nails.
5. LSU (5-1): Not a bad loss at Florida but a definite dent in the Legend of Joe Burrow, and not much time to bounce back.
6. Texas A&M (4-2): All of a sudden, Texas vs. Texas A&M in a New Year’s Day bowl sounds really fun.
7. Auburn (4-2): Defense has carried this team so far that it deserves frequent flier points. But offense isn’t helping.
8. Kentucky (5-1): Third-and-one in overtime? Give it to Benny Snell. They stop him for no gain? Give it to Benny Snell again.
9. South Carolina (3-2): There’s no Will Muschamp like a soaked Will Muschamp, but rain or shine, Carolina won the battle for Spot No. 9.
10. Missouri (3-2): The Tigers have dropped two heartbreakers in a row to fade out of the East race but get a nice consolation prize. Wait. They don’t.
11. Ole Miss (4-2): Saturday’s game at Arkansas may be the first in college history with an over/under of “infinity.”
12. Vanderbilt (3-3): The Commodores, as often happens, have come untethered from the mothership and are floating to the Black Hole of No. 14.
13. Tennessee (2-3): The good news? An open week allowed the Vols to rest and regroup. The bad news? This isn’t another open week.
14. Arkansas (1-5): Scoring 31 points against Alabama didn’t pull the Hogs out of the cellar, but it did at least turn on the light bulb over the stairs.