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We’ve come to expect shakeups in the SEC during the course of a season. Leave it to the SEC to offer up a lot of craziness during the same week, but who besides the SEC can shake things up all kind of ways on the same day?
Coach Steve Spurrier abruptly resigns at South Carolina. Quarterback Will Grier is forced to leave the Florida lineup after a failed drug test. Ole Miss finally gets Laremy Tunsil back in two weeks.
Each of those story lines would be worthy of being the lead item in any Southern newspaper, but wow, all three happened in an eight-hour period earlier this week.
Would those developments shake up the rankings of the SEC and ACC this week?
PLAYOFF CONTENDERS
This is the last week these rankings will be in this order. Alabama plays at Texas A&M in what amounts to an elimination game for the Crimson Tide. Florida travels to LSU with the winner still in contention for the playoffs. Clemson and Florida State are coasting toward their meeting Nov. 7 at Death Valley.
1. LSU (5-0)
2. Texas A&M (5-0)
3. Clemson (5-0)
4. Florida State (5-0)
5. Florida (5-0)
IN THE CONVERSATION
Ole Miss and Alabama face tests this week. Although the Crimson Tide’s could be considered a final exam, the Rebels have a tough midterm at undefeated and ranked Memphis.
6. Ole Miss (5-1)
7. Alabama (5-1)
8. Duke (5-1)
9. Pittsburgh (4-1)
10. North Carolina (4-1)
CHALLENGERS
Some teams just won’t go away. These teams still have an outside shot at making some noise in their respective leagues.
11. Georgia (4-2)
12. Kentucky (4-1)
13. Syracuse (3-2)
14. Virginia Tech (3-3)
15. Miami (3-2)
16. Missouri (4-2)
NO ONE WANTS TO PLAY
There are cringe-worthy spots on the schedule for each coach. A team that, if caught at the wrong time, can wreck a season.
17. Mississippi State (4-2)
18. North Carolina State (4-2)
19. Tennessee (3-3)
20. Wake Forest (3-3)
21. Boston College (3-3)
ON THE UPSWING
These are the teams that started slowly, but they have improved.
22. Auburn (3-2)
23. Louisville (2-3)
24. Arkansas (2-4)
THE REST
These are the teams that are out of it and, actually, never were in it. The only question left is who will win the South Carolina-Vandy game this week to stay out of the SEC basement.
25. Vanderbilt (2-3)
26. Georgia Tech (2-4)
27. South Carolina (2-4)
28. Virginia (1-4)
Steve Barnes is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers SEC football.
