It’s clear after seven weeks that there’s no single dominant team in the SEC. Ole Miss and Texas A&M remain the only unbeatens, Alabama has surged with five straight wins, and Tennessee continues to roll with its high-flying offense.
1. Alabama
The Tide are back on top. After falling to Florida State in Week 1, they’ve rattled off five straight wins, three of them against ranked opponents. They’ll face Tennessee this week in what will be their fourth consecutive game against a ranked team.
2. Ole Miss
Ole Miss survived a scare against Washington State to stay perfect at 6–0. The Rebels are one of just two remaining undefeated SEC teams and face another major test this Saturday when they travel to Georgia.
3. Texas A&M
The Aggies pulled away late from Florida with a 10-point fourth quarter to win 34-17. They jumped Ole Miss to No. 4 in the AP Poll, but the Rebels’ résumé remains slightly stronger for now. The offense looked sharp, putting up 34 points, but the defense was dominant as they held Florida to just 1-for-11 on third and fourth downs and sacked DJ Lagway three times.
4. Georgia
Georgia showed resilience, coming back from a 10-point deficit to beat Auburn. The Bulldogs played clean football with no turnovers, though they didn’t find the end zone until midway through the third quarter. They’ll host College GameDay this week as they look to hand Ole Miss its first loss.
5. Tennessee
Tennessee’s top-rated offense kept humming, topping 30 points for the sixth straight game. QB Joey Aguilar threw for 220 yards, but RB DeSean Bishop carried the load with 146 yards and a touchdown on just 14 carries. The Vols visit Alabama next in a huge matchup that could shake up the SEC standings.
6. LSU
LSU held off South Carolina on Saturday night but struggled to score consistently. Garrett Nussmeier threw for 250 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, while the defense did its job, recording five sacks and forcing two turnovers.
7. Missouri
Missouri had a chance for a game-winning drive against Alabama, but Beau Pribula threw his second interception of the game. Ahmad Hardy touched the ball just 12 times, with four of those coming on the first two drives. The Tigers’ playoff hopes aren’t dead yet, but they need Hardy and Pribula to elevate their play.
8. Oklahoma
The Sooners looked lost against Texas. QB John Mateer returned from hand surgery but was off rhythm, tossing three interceptions. The defense held up for a while but was eventually worn down, allowing Texas to control the game on the ground with a 136-48 rushing edge.
9. Vanderbilt
After suffering their first loss of the year to Alabama, Vanderbilt was idle this week. They’ll look to rebound from their disappointing effort against the Tide with a Saturday home tilt against #10 ranked LSU.
10. Texas
Texas rebounded from a loss to Florida with an emphatic win over Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry. The defense dominated, and Arch Manning delivered one of his most efficient performances yet against a quality opponent.
11. South Carolina
South Carolina stayed close with LSU most of the night before a late field goal sealed their fate. Shane Beamer’s squad couldn’t find a passing rhythm but was effective on the ground, racking up 193 rushing yards.
12. Mississippi State
The Bulldogs were idle this week after being dominated by Texas A&M in their last outing. Now 0–2 in conference play, they’re one of only four SEC teams still searching for a league win.
13. Auburn
Auburn sits at 3-3 after losing three in a row, but all three losses have come against ranked opponents. QB Jackson Arnold helped build an early 10-0 lead over Georgia before the Dawgs scored 20 unanswered. Auburn faces another ranked team this week in Missouri and could use a statement win.
14. Arkansas
Arkansas battled Tennessee tough but fell by three. The defense and offensive line remain issues, surrendering nearly 500 yards and five sacks. The offense, at least, rediscovered some rhythm after struggling against Notre Dame two weeks ago.
15. Florida
After an ugly loss to South Florida earlier this season, Florida rebounded with an upset of Texas but couldn’t sustain the momentum. WR Dallas Wilson was held in check by Texas A&M after torching the Longhorns a week prior. The Gators stayed competitive for three quarters before the Aggies pulled away late.
16. Kentucky
Kentucky was idle this week. They’re 0-3 in conference play, with their only wins coming over Eastern Michigan and Toledo. The Wildcats have struggled to stay competitive and it doesn’t look to get much easier for Kentucky in the coming weeks as their next four games are against Texas, Tennessee, Auburn, and Florida.
Want more Sandman? Come connect with us here at sandmansports.com/onestopshop
Author
