POWER RANKINGS
After three weeks of conference play, the top SEC softball teams are emerging.
Tennessee, Georgia, Texas A&M and Florida have become consistent names in the top four of the power rankings, with the Lady Vols the only remaining undefeated team in SEC play. Missouri had the biggest jump after winning the series against LSU to recover from getting swept by Tennessee.
Here are the SEC softball power rankings, based on games through March 24. 1
The Lady Vols’ depth came through in a close win over the Gamecocks on Saturday, which allowed for a 7-0 victory Sunday to take the series. Tennessee is looking just as dominant as last season, and everyone should be scared of the reigning champions. 2
Georgia gave Ole Miss a reality check last week after it stunned LSU on the road. The Bulldogs swept the Rebels on the road, putting them back in the bottom half of the conference. Georgia had a close call in Game 2, but it pulled it out to bring its SEC record to 5-1. 4
The Gators didn’t give the Wildcats a chance to breathe in Gainesville. Florida run-ruled Kentucky in five innings the first two games to end the series before the Wildcats knew it started. The Gators are rolling now at 5-1 in SEC play. 3
The Aggies ended their week on a high note with an SEC sweep after dropping a midweek matchup to Texas State. Texas A&M sent Auburn back to Alabama with three more losses on their SEC record, including a run-rule loss to cap it off Sunday. 11
Missouri, welcome back to the top five. The Tigers rebounded from a tough sweep against Tennessee with a series win over a struggling LSU. The Tigers from Baton Rouge haven’t done well in the SEC due to a key injury, but it’s still a solid win for Missouri. 5
Alabama split two games with No. 16 Virginia Tech, both of which were close – until they weren’t. The Tide won the first game 1-0 and then the second went to an extra inning, but the Hokies tacked on five runs to win 8-3. The losses are stacking up for Bama, but it’s getting enough ranked wins to balance it out. 9
The Bulldogs brought home some big wins from Arkansas last week. Mississippi State needed a series win to stay within striking distance of the top teams, and it put an exclamation point on the series win by run-ruling the Razorbacks on Sunday. 12
The first two losses were respectable for Auburn. But then the Tigers got steamrolled 14-6 in five innings in the finale of Texas A&M’s sweep, and they now sit at 2-7 in SEC play. 13
Giving up 12 runs to Ohio State was just a signal of what was to come for Kentucky in SEC play. The Wildcats got run-ruled twice by Florida and got outscored by the Gators 26-4 while getting swept on the road.