POWER RANKINGS

Breaking down the SEC

1. Alabama:

The Crimson Tide wasn’t perfect but the flaws are correctable for all the consternation.

2. LSU:

The Tigers were very impressive in their win at Austin. Best quarterback play they’ve had since Jamarcus? Rohan? Bert Jones?

3. Georgia:

Not really a demotion, but I would honestly take LSU on a neutral field, so...

4. Auburn:

The Bo Nix love on the Plains is understandable but at the end of the day, it’s all about that defense for AU.

5. Texas A&M:

Hard to ding a team too much for losing at Clemson but the remaining schedule (see all teams above) could make the Aggies the best 7-5 team ever.

6. Florida:

The Gators (like Alabama) aren’t running the ball as they’d hoped and that puts a lot of weight on Feleipe Franks’ shoulders in SEC play.

7. Mississippi State:

One of several SEC teams that lost a quarterback in Week 2, MSU turned to freshman Garrett Shrader who is 60 years younger than Bill Snyder.

8. Missouri:

As the season goes along, I think the Tigers are really going to regret the scheduling decision that took them to Laramie in Week 1.

9. Kentucky:

The Wildcats slip even though they continued their domination of the MAC. But UK lost starting QB Terry Wilson and that is going to be difficult to overcome.

10. South Carolina:

Freshman quarterback Ryan Hilinski had an impressive debut against Charleston Southern but this week, the training wheels come off.

11. Ole Miss:

The Rebels bounces back from a bad weekend in Memphis (haven’t we all?) and should go to 2-1.

12. Vanderbilt:

Vandy edges up for playing (and losing to) a second Power Five team but this doesn’t look like a team that is going anywhere but down from here.

13. Arkansas:

Quarterback switch (to Nick Starkel) ahead because why not? Colorado State is a winnable game if Starkel sparkles.

14. Tennessee:

The jokes are easy but Jeremy Pruitt’s job is hard. If the Vols are in the “finding out who wants to be a Vol” phase, it’s going to take years, not weeks.