SEC Power Rankings: Ranking every SEC team after Week 12

It may have been “Cupcake Week” for many SEC teams, but the games that didn’t feature lesser foes were entertaining, at least.

Mizzou and Florida went to overtime. Vanderbilt kept things close at Ole Miss. Arkansas gave No. 2 Alabama all it could handle. And South Carolina upset Auburn in Columbia.

So, how did this weekend’s results affect our weekly power rankings?

Here’s how we rank the 14 SEC squads heading into the final week of the regular season:

14. Vanderbilt (2-9 overall, 0-7 in SEC)

Previous ranking: 14
This week: 31-17 L to No. 12 Ole Miss
Next week: at Tennessee (6-5)

This team is staring down the barrel of another winless SEC season. Of course, since he’s only in his first year at the helm of the program, Clark Lea isn’t in danger of getting fired this offseason. The Commodores are doing some good things and have managed to keep a couple of games close, but next year is going to be an important one for the future of the program.

13. Florida (5-6, 2-6)

Previous ranking: 13
This week: 24-23 L (OT) to Mizzou
Next week: vs. Florida State (5-6)

What a disaster of a season this has been for the Gators. Now, a rivalry game against Florida State next weekend will determine whether the Gators or Seminoles go to a bowl game. Will Dan Mullen still be the Florida coach for that contest? These next couple of days are going to be really interesting in Gainesville.

12. LSU (5-6, 2-5)

Previous ranking: 10
This week: 27-14 W over Louisiana-Monroe
Next week: vs. Texas A&M (8-3)

LSU looked fine on Saturday night beating Louisiana-Monroe. But, with South Carolina and Mizzou both picking up big wins, the Tigers have to fall a couple of spots. They are 1 of 3 SEC teams (along with Florida and Vanderbilt) that have not clinched a bowl berth yet. Can they do it against the Aggies on Saturday night? It should be an intense game, as it will be coach Ed Orgeron’s final game as LSU’s coach in Tiger Stadium.

11. Auburn (6-5, 3-4)

Previous ranking: 9
This week: 21-17 L at South Carolina
Next week: vs. Alabama (10-1)

It was only a month ago that Bryan Harsin was getting legitimate SEC Coach of the Year buzz. That seems like years ago at this point, though, particularly after Auburn’s loss at South Carolina on Saturday night. TJ Finley and the offense couldn’t get anything going, and the defense allowed enough big plays to give the Gamecocks the win. The honeymoon might be over for Harsin.

10. South Carolina (6-5, 3-5)

Previous ranking: 12
This week: 21-17 W over Auburn
Next week: vs. Clemson (8-3)

It might not always be pretty, but this South Carolina team plays hard for coach Shane Beamer. The Gamecocks had no business beating Auburn on Saturday night, but that’s exactly what they did. The crowd was electric — major credit to the fans for never giving up on this team. Now, the Gamecocks are bowl-eligible, which not many people thought would happen coming into the season. The rebuild under Beamer is ahead of schedule.

9. Mizzou (6-5, 3-4)

Previous ranking: 11
This week: 24-23 W (OT) over Florida
Next week: at Arkansas (7-4)

Connor Bazelak is not at 100%. That much was very clear as he struggled early against Florida. But, in a major credit to his toughness and poise, he stayed in the game and coach Eli Drinkwitz believed in him. The result? Bazelak made enough plays to lead the Tigers to a dramatic overtime win over the Gators. Just a couple of weeks ago, the Tigers’ bowl hopes were on life support. Now, they have 6 wins and have a chance to pick up win No. 7 against rival Arkansas on Friday. The Tigers have dominated that rivalry in recent years. Can they do it again?

8. Kentucky (8-3, 5-3)

Previous ranking: 8
This week: 56-16 W over New Mexico State
Next week: at Louisville (6-5)

Forgive me if Saturday’s big win for the Wildcats didn’t do much to move the needle for me when it comes to Mark Stoops’ squad. Next week’s rivalry game at Louisville will be a more interesting test, to me. Still, this is a Kentucky team I’d want no part of come bowl season.

7. Mississippi State (7-4, 4-3)

Previous ranking: 7
This week: 55-10 W over Tennessee State
Next week: vs. Ole Miss (9-2)

I really wanted to move the Bulldogs up this week, but I just can’t do it at this point. That’s not a knock on anything this team has accomplished. Will Rogers is an absolute stud. The defense has been solid. Win the Egg Bowl on Thanksgiving night and we’ll have a different conversation about the Bulldogs. That won’t be an easy task, though, of course. That’s going to be an incredibly fun game to watch!

6. Tennessee (6-5, 3-4)

Previous ranking: 6
This week: 60-14 W over South Alabama
Next week: vs. Vanderbilt (2-9)

The Vols clinched a bowl berth with an offensive outburst. That’s not surprising against a clearly overmatched South Alabama team, but it’s a nice stepping stone for Josh Heupel’s program in Year 1, anyway. Now, the Vols need to close out the regular season with a convincing win over Vanderbilt this coming weekend. Going 7-5 with a bowl berth is definitely a step forward on Rocky Top.

5. Arkansas (7-4, 3-4)

Previous ranking: 5
This week: 42-35 L to No. 2 Alabama
Next week: vs. Mizzou (6-5)

Arkansas is no longer a punching bag in the SEC. The Razorbacks have played a brutal schedule this year but still have 7 wins entering the regular-season finale against Mizzou. Sam Pittman has done a heck of a job turning around this program. The next step? Finding ways to win these tough road games, like the one the Hogs played Saturday in Tuscaloosa or earlier this year at Ole Miss.

4. Texas A&M (8-3, 4-3)

Previous ranking: 4
This week: 52-3 W over Prairie View A&M
Next week: at LSU (5-6)

Texas A&M should absolutely win next week’s game at LSU. But the Tigers will be fighting for a bowl berth and playing in coach Ed Orgeron’s last game in Baton Rouge. That’s going to be an electric atmosphere. If QB Zach Calzada doesn’t play well, the defense might not be able to win this game the way it won the Auburn game. That should be a lot of fun on Saturday night in Death Valley.

3. Ole Miss (9-2, 5-2)

Previous ranking: 3
This week: 31-17 W over Vanderbilt
Next week: at Mississippi State (7-4)

Was that a dominant win for the Rebels? No. Does it count in the win column just the same? Yes. Yes, it does. The Rebels kept their New Year’s 6 bowl hopes alive as they enter their rivalry game against Mississippi State. The Egg Bowl will be played on Thanksgiving night in Starkville and it’s going to be a ton of fun. As Lane Kiffin would say, “Get your popcorn ready!”

2. Alabama (10-1, 6-1)

Previous ranking: 2
This week: 42-35 W over No. 21 Arkansas
Next week: at Auburn (6-5)

No, Alabama isn’t an elite team like it was last year. But, this year in college football, there’s Georgia, then a little gap, then Ohio State, then a big gap and only then do we get to everyone else. This is a good team. But it’s not elite like Georgia. We’ll see if Nick Saban’s squad can get back on track in what’s sure to be an exciting Iron Bowl and give Georgia a game in Atlanta in a couple of weeks.

1. Georgia (11-0, 8-0)

Previous ranking: 1
This week: 56-7 W over Charleston Southern
Next week: at Georgia Tech (3-8)

There’s not much to say about Georgia’s big win over Charleston Southern. There’s also probably not going to be much to say about next weekend’s rivalry game at Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets just got trounced 55-0 at Notre Dame on Saturday. Bring on Atlanta and the Alabama Crimson Tide in the SEC Championship Game, please!

Adam Spencer

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.