Nov 215 min read

SEC Power Rankings Ahead of Week 13

Updated: 6 days ago

What a wonderfully wild season it has been for the Southeastern Conference. Fans who have followed the SEC over the past 17 years are unfamiliar with the level of parity the conference has experienced in 2024. For the better part of two decades, fans could safely wager on which team would sit atop the conference come year's end. Looking at you, No.7 Alabama (8-2, 4-2). And over the past eight seasons, No. 10 Georgia (8-2, 6-2) made the conference a two-team conversation. It was basically a foregone conclusion that the Tide and Bulldogs would handle their business every Saturday and wouldn't have to seriously concern themselves with the possibility of losing until they met each other in the conference title game.

Not in 2024. No team has been safe. It has been an extreme example of conference cannibalism as the top of the conference has been in constant turmoil. And now, with two weeks left in the regular season and plenty of room for more chaos, six teams are vying for the SEC crown and/or a place in the College Football Playoff. If everything goes as predicted, No. 3 Texas (9-1, 5-1) will face 'Bama in the SEC Championship. But this season has been anything but predictable. Weeks 13 and 14 could still hold some surprises.

No. 1 Texas (9-1, 5-1 SEC)

The historic rivalry between Texas and Arkansas (5-6, 3-4) was a talking point amongst fans and media during the week leading up to the game, but it seems nobody reminded the Longhorns they were heading into a historic rivalry. Texas squeaked by the inferior Razorbacks 20-10. If the Longhorns win out, they will play in the SEC Championship in their inaugural season in the conference. Was the Arkansas game a side effect of looking ahead? Time will tell. The Longhorns get Kentucky (4-6, 1-6) at home this week.

No. 2 Alabama (8-2, 4-2)

After 'Bama dropped a couple of games and played another one closer than expected it felt like fans were witnessing a different Alabama Tide than they were accustomed to. But now, after a string of dominating performances, including a 42-13 victory over LSU (6-4, 3-3) in Week 11, there's an aura around 'Bama that feels like classic Crimson Tide. All 'Bama has to do to continue its residency in the conference championship game is beat Oklahoma (5-5, 1-5) and Auburn (4-6, 1-5) in the final two weeks.

No. 3 Georgia (8-2, 6-2)

It has been a rollercoaster two weeks for the Bulldogs, falling to No. 9 Ole Miss (8-2, 4-2) in Week 11 and defeating No. 11 Tennessee (8-2, 5-2) in Week 12. Georgia is finished with SEC play. The Bulldogs will spend the final weeks of 2024 seeking to secure their spot in the playoffs with nonconference victories and keeping an eye on what happens with Alabama's final two games.

No. 4 Ole Miss (8-2, 6-2)

The Rebels got to sit at home and enjoy their Week 11 victory during their Week 12 bye. Ole Miss travels to Gainsville, Fla. to face the Florida Gators (5-5, 3-4) in Week 13.

See how our picks stack up compared to odds across all betting sites.

No. 5 Tennessee (8-2, 5-2)

The Volunteers will get an opportunity to course-correct after the loss to the Bulldogs as they face UTEP (2-8, 2-5 Conference USA) in Week 13. The Vols need to win out to maintain their fragile position in the CFP, and Vanderbilt (6-4, 3-3) awaits in the season finale.

No. 6 Texas A&M (8-2, 5-1)

The No. 15 Aggies briefly held the top spot in these power rankings before predictably falling the next week in true Aggie fashion. A&M and Texas are the two SEC teams with just one conference loss, and the two teams are on a collision course to decide a spot in the championship game. It would arguably be the biggest game in Aggie program history. That is if A&M can get past the Auburn Tigers (4-6, 1-5) in Week 13. The Tigers are not as bad as their record suggests, and much like the game with the No. 18 South Carolina Gamecocks (7-3, 5-3) felt, this feels like the type of game the Aggies would traditionally drop. But let's not put that evil on Aggies coach Mike Elko. Yet.

No. 7 South Carolina (7-3, 5-3)

The Gamecocks continued their run as one of the more fun stories of the SEC in 2024 as they defeated No. 23 Missouri (7-3, 3-3) in a thrilling fourth quarter in Week 12. The 'Cocks play the Wofford Terriers (5-6, 3-5 Southern Conference) of the FCS in Week 13 before setting their sites on ruining in-state rival No. 17 Clemson's (8-2, 7-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) season in Week 14.

No. 8 Missouri (7-3, 3-3)

Mizzou played in consecutive photo finishes. The Tigers beat Oklahoma in Week 11 and fell to South Carolina in Week 12. Both games came down to two of the more exciting fourth quarters of the season. Up next for the Tigers is Mississippi State (2-8, 0-6).

No. 9 Vanderbilt (6-4, 3-3)

Vanderbilt ( 6-4, 3-3) had been the story of the SEC season. The Commodores beat the SEC's favorite child in Alabama, pushed Texas to within three points and became bowl-eligible after defeating Auburn. The shine of the story has worn a little after the 'Dores fell to South Carolina in Week 11. But after a bye week in Week 12, Vandy is positioned to regain some love as it has LSU and Tennessee remaining on the schedule.

No. 10 Florida (5-5, 3-4)

The Gators (5-5, 3-4) have not been the abject dumpster fire many expected them to be this year. They haven't been very good either. But they were better than LSU in Week 12, defeating the Tigers 27-16. Up next for the Gators, a visit from Ole Miss.

No. 11 LSU (6-4, 3-3)

LSU would more than likely have been on the outside looking in when it comes to the conference championship game or the CFP, but a bad couple of weeks for head coach Brian Kelly and the Tigers have solidified their fate. LSU hosts Vandy and Oklahoma to close out the season. Kelly's seat could get considerably warm were the Tigers to lose either of those games.

No. 12 Arkansas (5-5, 3-4)

Nobody had to remind Arkansas about the Texas rivalry. The Hogs showed up and held the Longhorns to just 4-of-15 on third-down conversions. The Razorbacks host Louisiana Tech (4-6, 3-4 Conference USA) in Week 13.

No. 13 Auburn (4-6, 1-5)

The Auburn Tigers showed rhythm and consistency against Louisana Monroe (5-5, 3-3 Sun Belt Conference), and defeated the Warhawks 48-14. Auburn fans hope that same team shows up against the Aggies in Week 13.

No. 14 Oklahoma (5-5, 1-5)

The Sooners are coming off a bye week and will host the Crimson Tide in Week 13. Oklahoma's defense is good enough to play with anybody but don't expect the Sooners to pose much of a threat to Alabama's postseason pursuits.

No. 15 Kentucky (4-6, 1-6)

The Wildcats (4-6, 1-6) took out some frustration in Week 12 against Murray State (1-10, 0-7 Missouri Valley Football Conference) of the FCS. But the 'Cats have not had a fun season. Up next for Kentucky? Basketball season.