Ad Disclosure
Week 6 far surpassed its hype as it featured massive upsets on a slate that looked weak on paper.
Week 7 looked incredible on paper and it also delivered the excitement in a big way. Texas routed Oklahoma. Alabama barely survived South Carolina. Tennessee and LSU both scored incredible overtime wins at home. Vanderbilt won again!
How did Week 7 impact our SEC power rankings?
Here’s a look at where each of the 16 SEC squads stand as we approach an exciting Week 8 slate:
16. Mississippi State (1-5 overall, 0-3 in SEC)
Previous ranking: 16
This week: 41-31 L at No. 5 Georgia
Next week: vs. Texas A&M
Michael Van Buren Jr. and the Bulldogs showed some real fight in Athens. There are no moral victories in college football, but this loss at least showed that Mississippi State is still fighting and hasn’t given up on the 2024 season. Texas A&M will have to be careful this coming weekend.
15. Auburn (2-4, 0-3)
Previous ranking: 15
This week: OFF
Next week: at Mizzou
If Auburn can take care of the football, it has a real chance to pull off a road upset against Mizzou in Week 8. The Missouri squad hasn’t looked impressive so far this year and was smoked by Texas A&M a couple of weeks ago. We’ll see if Payton Thorne and the Tigers made the most of their off week or not.
14. South Carolina (3-3, 1-3)
Previous ranking: 14
This week: 27-25 L at No. 7 Alabama
Next week: at Oklahoma
Another close loss for the Gamecocks, but that 1-3 record in SEC play is starting to become a concern. This team fights hard for coach Shane Beamer, but the results are not there thus far. This week’s trip to Oklahoma is an important one to Beamer, as he used to be an assistant for the Sooners. We’ll see if South Carolina can rally to finally score another SEC win.
13. Florida (3-3, 1-2)
Previous ranking: 13
This week: 23-17 L (OT) at No. 8 Tennessee
Next week: vs. Kentucky
Graham Mertz was injured in this game, which is brutal for the Gators. He has been giving his all for this team each and every week. Hopefully he’s not done for the year, but that’s a situation we’ll have to monitor.
12. Oklahoma (4-2, 1-2)
Previous ranking: 12
This week: 34-3 L to No. 1 Texas
Next week: vs. South Carolina
The defense is great. The offense has some serious issues. I could just write that every week and it would be accurate for the Sooners. Michael Hawkins Jr. is doing his best, but when your top 5 (yes, 5) receivers are all injured, it’s a no-win situation for the young freshman.
11. Ole Miss (5-2, 1-2)
Previous ranking: 8
This week: 29-26 L (OT) at No. 13 LSU
Next week: OFF
What was supposed to be a dream season is quickly turning into a nightmare for Lane Kiffin and the Rebels. The offense just isn’t putting points on the board like we’re used to seeing. They make too many trips into the red zone that come up empty. Ole Miss basically needs to win out to secure a spot in the Playoff. That would include pulling off a big-time upset of Georgia on Nov. 9 in Oxford.
10. Kentucky (3-3, 1-3)
Previous ranking: 7
This week: 20-13 L to Vanderbilt
Next week: at Florida
With games at Texas and at Tennessee still looming large on the schedule, along with a season-ending rivalry game vs. Louisville, this road trip to Florida is almost a must-win for Mark Stoops and company.
9. Arkansas (4-2, 2-1)
Previous ranking: 9
This week: OFF
Next week: vs. LSU
Do the Hogs have another massive home upset left in the tank? After shocking Tennessee in Week 6, Arkansas will be coming off an open week to host a ranked LSU team that is now firmly in the mix for a Playoff spot. We’ll see if Taylen Green, Ja’Quinden Jackson and company can work their magic again.
8. Vanderbilt (4-2, 2-1)
Previous ranking: 11
This week: 20-13 W at Kentucky
Next week: vs. Ball State
Diego Pavia and the Commodores just keep winning! Going into Lexington is no easy task (just ask Georgia), but Vanderbilt did enough on both sides of the ball to pull off the 20-13 victory. The Commodores return home in Week 8 to host Ball State. A win there would put Vanderbilt just 1 victory away from bowl eligibility. What a year for Clark Lea!
7. Mizzou (5-1, 1-1)
Previous ranking: 10
This week: 45-3 W at UMass
Next week: vs. Auburn
The Tigers took care of business in an odd road trip to UMass, blowing out the Minutemen. It was exactly what Mizzou was supposed to do against a team that entered the game 0-5 against FBS competition. Luther Burden III exited the game with an injury, so we’ll need to monitor his status. Saturday is an important SEC matchup against Auburn.
6. Tennessee (5-1, 2-1)
Previous ranking: 5
This week: 23-17 W (OT) over Florida
Next week: vs. Alabama
The Vols have been less than impressive the past 2 games – a loss at Arkansas and an overtime win at home against Florida. The interesting thing is, as we’ll discuss further in a second, Alabama looks just as bad recently, if not worse. Whoever can get their act together in Week 8 will take a step toward the Playoff.
5. Alabama (5-1, 2-1)
Previous ranking: 4
This week: 27-25 W over South Carolina
Next week: at Tennessee
As mentioned in the Tennessee section, the Third Saturday in October is setting up to be a battle between 2 teams that are trending in the wrong direction. Jalen Milroe looked good as a runner against South Carolina, but he made too many mistakes as a passer. If he can play better than Nico Iamaleava in Week 8, that could be the difference.
4. Texas A&M (5-1, 3-0)
Previous ranking: 3
This week: OFF
Next week: at Mississippi State
The Aggies are riding high at 3-0 in SEC play. They get to play Mississippi State, perhaps the worst team in the SEC, in Week 8. Still, this is an SEC road game and it can’t be taken lightly. This could quickly turn into a special season for coach Mike Elko and his squad if they keep playing the way they did against Mizzou in Week 6.
3. LSU (5-1, 2-0)
Previous ranking: 6
This week: 29-26 W (OT) over No. 9 Ole Miss
Next week: at Arkansas
Shoutout to Whit Weeks, the sophomore linebacker who had an incredible 18 tackles (10 solo) against Ole Miss. Two of those tackles were for a loss and he also had a sack. The LSU defense needed someone to step up and Weeks answered the bell. This was a huge win for LSU. Now the Tigers need to avoid the same trap Tennessee fell into at Fayetteville.
2. Georgia (5-1, 3-1)
Previous ranking: 2
This week: 41-31 W over Mississippi State
Next week: at Texas
Same story, different week. Georgia looked less than impressive but still won. Allowing 31 points to this Mississippi State squad and backup QB Michael Van Buren Jr. shows just how far this once-elite defense has fallen. Kirby Smart needs to get this unit back in shape if the Dawgs are going to have any chance at all in Austin next weekend.
1. Texas (6-0, 2-0)
Previous ranking: 1
This week: 34-3 W over No. 18 Oklahoma
Next week: vs. Georgia
Quinn Ewers was a bit rusty early in his return from injury. But starting in the second quarter, he started looking like his old self. This was an absolute master class from the Longhorns on both sides of the ball. It was a great win and an even better tune-up for next week’s potential Game of the Year against Georgia.
Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.
