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Every Wednesday, we rank the SEC and Big 12 teams in one power poll. The order of the SEC teams is based on the Week 2 SDS SEC Power Poll.
This is a huge week for the Big 12, with seven of the 10 members facing power conference teams in non-conference games.
With the Big Ten essentially relegating itself to lapped status, the Big 12 benefits the most. Attrition will happen, but all else being equal, the SEC, Pac-12 and Florida State have the inside track to College Football Playoff bids. The Oklahoma/Baylor winner now has a clear path as well.
But the conference needs teams like Texas (against UCLA), TCU (against Minnesota) and West Virginia (against Maryland) to perform well. Otherwise the Big 12 profile could deteriorate like the Big Ten did a weekend ago.
The Big 12 has two clear contenders, but beyond that, it’s unclear whether Kansas State, Oklahoma State, West Virginia or TCU represents the top of the second tier.
Overall, through two weeks, the SEC overwhelms the Big 12 through sheer numbers.
NATIONAL CONTENDERS
Oklahoma doesn’t have any superstars, at least not until Trevor Knight returns to Sugar Bowl form. But the Sooners don’t have any real weaknesses. That’s a good separator when it comes to the best teams. Dominance in specific areas is great for the regular season and against less-than-elite teams. But normally, the best teams make you play left-handed to beat them, and often the least-flawed team wins at a national level.
Baylor’s offense may be scarier than Texas A&M’s, especially in Waco, Texas. But the Sooners won their BCS game and the Bears didn’t. Also, the matchup between those two teams is in Norman, Okla., this year.
1. Oklahoma
2. Georgia
3. Alabama
4. Auburn
5. Baylor
FLAWED TWEENERS
The Aggies, Tigers and Wildcats could jump into the top group or slide down the list. All three teams are flawed to a large degree, which is why they aren’t in the Top 5 of this list, but they each have things they do very well.
6. Texas A&M
7. LSU
8. Kansas State
SCARY TO THE BIG BOYS
Oklahoma State (against Florida State) and West Virginia (against Alabama) already have proven dangerous. Florida and both Mississippi schools present challenges to the national contenders in the SEC as well.
9. Ole Miss
10. Oklahoma State
11. Florida
12. West Virginia
13. Mississippi State
CAN HANG 50 ON YOUR DEFENSE
The Tigers and Horned Frogs may or may not be conference contenders this year, but if your defense is susceptible, either team can make you look silly in a hurry.
14. Missouri
15. TCU
FALLEN POWERS
Charlie Strong is stubborn. Apparently the Longhorns’ culture was enabling the last few years, because some of the players don’t seem cool with Strong’s no-nonsense standards. Combine that with concussion issues for David Ash and Jaxon Shipley and Strong is playing with less than a full deck of cards. Steve Spurrier’s Gamecocks probably have a better chance to re-emerge this season, and the Gamecocks aren’t a traditional power, but South Carolina was the SEC East favorite. A loss to Georgia this weekend basically ends the team’s season.
16. Texas
17. South Carolina
THE HONEYMOON DIVISION
These teams each have a second-year coach who has sold the team on hope, but it’s time to turn hope into wins. Texas Tech and Arkansas face off this weekend, while Tennessee faces Big 12/SEC No. 1 Oklahoma on the road and Kentucky travels to Gainesville.
18. Texas Tech
19. Kentucky
20. Tennessee
21. Arkansas
FODDER FOR “WORST OF” ARTICLES
When your most positive news involves surgery for your in-state rival’s best offensive lineman (Iowa’s Brandon Scherff), or that your team is considering starting its fourth-string quarterback (Vandy freshman Wade Freebeck), things have gone from bad to miserable.
22. Iowa State
23. Kansas
24. Vanderbilt
An itinerant journalist, Christopher has moved between states 11 times in seven years. Formally an injury-prone Division I 800-meter specialist, he now wanders the Rockies in search of high peaks.
