The Vols rise in the SEC
1. Alabama (Last Week No. 1, 7-0 overall, 4-0 SEC West)
Last week: Beat Missouri 39-10 Takeaway: When Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa tweaked a knee with the Tide holding a 20point lead early in the second half last Saturday vs. Mizzou, it got so quiet. Tagovailoa has practiced this week without pain.
Up next: Home vs. Tennessee
2. LSU (LW No. 4, 6-1, 3-1 SEC West)
Last week: Beat Georgia 36-16. Takeaway: With the 20-point Tiger Stadium beatdown of then-No. 2 Georgia, the Tigers already own three wins over top 10 teams before the frost is even on the Halloween pumpkin.
Up next: Home vs. Mississippi State
3. Georgia (LW No. 2, 6-1, 4-1 SEC East)
Last week: Lost at LSU 36-16 Takeaway: After the Bulldogs’ debacle in Baton Rouge, it’s clear they aren’t as good right now as last year’s team that lost to Alabama in overtime in the national championship game.
Up next: Open date
4. Florida (LW No. 3, 6-1, 4-1 SEC East)
Last week: Won at Vanderbilt 37-27 Takeaway: The Gators’ offense is starting to find a comfortable rhythm under first-year coach “Smilin’ Dan” Mullen.
Up next: Open date
5. Texas A&M (LW No. 5, 5-2, 3-1 SEC West)
Last week: Won at South Carolina, 26-23 Takeaway: A&M is 5-2 heading into an open date, and it’s a situation the Aggies were in annually under former coach Kevin Sumlin before continually folding down the stretch.
Up next: Open date
6. Kentucky (LW No. 6, 5-1, 3-1 SEC East)
Last week: Open date Takeaway: A&M’s storyline repeats for Kentucky. The Wildcats’ mode of operation under Mark Stoops has been fast starts to seasons followed by falling off the cliff in the back halves.
Up next: Home vs. Vanderbilt
7. Mississippi State (LW No. 7, 4-2, 1-2 SEC West)
Last week: Open date Takeaway: The realistic expectation for the second half of the season is a 3-3 split, considering the Bulldogs’ next three SEC games are at No. 5 LSU, home vs. No. 18 Texas A&M and at No. 1 Alabama.
Up next: At LSU
8. Ole Miss (LW No. 11, 5-2, 1-2 SEC West)
Last week: Won at Arkansas 37-33 Takeaway: It remains to be seen if Ole Miss’ comeback win over Arkansas last Saturday has any residual effects.
Up next: Home vs. Auburn
9. South Carolina (LW No. 9, 3-3, 2-3 SEC East)
Last week: Lost to Texas A&M 26-23 Takeaway: When the Gamecocks play an SEC foe that possesses a semblance of offense, South Carolina just can’t quite matchup.
Up next: Open date
10. Tennessee (LW No. 14, 3-3, 1-2 SEC East)
Last week: Won at Auburn 30-24 Takeaway: Congrats to the Vols for hopping off the flaming wagon right before it went over the cliff with Auburn still aboard.
Up next: At Alabama
11. Missouri (LW No. 10, 3-3, 0-3 SEC East)
Last week: Lost at Alabama 39-10. Takeaway: Nothing against Missouri, but why is this school even in the SEC?
Up next: At home vs. Memphis.
12. Arkansas (LW No. 12, 1-6, 0-4 SEC West)
Last week: Lost to Ole Miss 37-33. Takeaway: Arkansas first-year coach Chad Morris might be an offensive guru, but he also wasn't smart enough last Saturday to not run a gadget play in which quarterback Ty Storey became a receiver who got leveled by Ole Miss’ Victor Evans.
Up next: Home vs. Tulsa
13. Vanderbilt (LW No. 13, 3-4, 0-3 SEC East)
Last week: Lost at Florida 37-27. Takeaway: Vandy brought the fight to the Gators last Saturday.
Up next: At Kentucky
14. Auburn (LW No. 8, 4-3, 1-3 SEC West)
Last week: Lost to Tennessee 30-24 Takeaway: It’s stunning to think that just five weeks ago Auburn was ranked No. 6 nationally in the AP and USA Today Coaches Polls.
Up next: At Ole Miss