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Writer's pictureA.J. Hester

SEC Power Rankings Heading Into Week 6

SEC | Ryan Williams, Alabama

The always enthralling Southeastern Conference did not disappoint in Week 5. Fans witnessed a clash of Associated Press Poll top 5 teams as newly No. 1 Alabama (4-0, 1-0) downed No. 5 Georgia (3-1, 1-1). There was a huge upset, Kentucky (3-2, 1-2) shocked now No. 12 Ole Miss  (4-1, 0-1). And No. 19 Oklahoma (4-1, 1-1) earned its first SEC road win in a hostile Jordan-Hare Stadium.


It's always a good time in the SEC. Let's take a look at what other shenanigans the league got into, and where each team falls in this week's power rankings.



No. 1 Alabama (4-0, 1-0)

The highest anticipated game of the season to date did not disappoint. Alabama defeated the Georgia Bulldogs in dramatic fashion. Bama fans experienced the best of both worlds as they got to see their Crimson Tide dominate the Bulldogs early, while also having to come from behind to win the game. The Tide went into halftime with a 30-7 lead, but Georgia took the lead after a 19-point fourth quarter. The heroics of quarterback Jalen Milroe (491 total yards, 4 total touchdowns), and freshman receiver Ryan Williams (177 yards, 1 touchdown) lifted the Tide over the Dogs in the end. Milroe is on the fast track to a seat in New York, and fans would never guess how old Williams is. Bama next visits a scrappy Vanderbilt (2-2, 0-1) team.




No. 2 Texas (5-0, 1-0)

After a less-than-stellar outing in a 51-3 drubbing of Louisiana Monroe (3-1), quarterback Arch Manning regained the form Texas fans hoped to see out of their QB of the future. Manning completed 26-of-31 passes for 325 yards and 2 touchdowns against Mississippi State (1-4, 0-2) in the Longhorns' SEC opener. Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian has remained steadfast that QB Quin Ewers will be the starter when he returns from injury, but Longhorn fans have to feel pretty confident about who is waiting in the wings. Texas has a bye week but looks ahead to the Oklahoma Sooners in the annual Red River Rivalry in Dallas.


No. 3 Tennessee (4-0, 1-0)

The Volunteers and sensational freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava are coming off a bye week, but now set the crosshairs of their explosive offense on the Arkansas Razorbacks (3-2, 1-1).


Tennessee | Nico Iamaleava. QB

No. 4 Georgia (3-1, 1-1)

The Bulldogs were thumped around in the first half against Alabama. But responded well in the second half, and were in a position to win the game. It truly was an epic battle. Quarterback Carson Beck completed 27-of-50 passes for 439 yards and 3 touchdowns but hopes to rebound from his 3 interceptions. The Bulldogs look to get back on track in the coming week, as they host the Auburn Tigers in the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry.


No. 5 Missouri (4-0, 1-0)

The No. 9 Tigers are coming off a bye week, and head to College Station, Texas to face off against the Texas A&M Aggies (4-1, 2-0).


No. 6 LSU (4-1, 1-0)

The No. 13 Tigers handled their business against South Alabama (2-3), defeating the Jaguars 42-10. LSU racked up 667 yards of total offense. The Tigers head into a bye week before a highly anticipated matchup with the Rebels.



No. 7 Ole Miss (4-1, 0-1)

The No. 12 Rebels dropped a shocker to the Wildcats. The Wildcats' defense stifled the nation's top-ranked offense, and Kentucky's offense continuously moved the chains, and the 'Cats came out on top 20-17. Up next for the Rebels is a matchup against the feisty South Carolina Gamecocks (3-1, 1-1).


No. 8 Kentucky (3-2, 1-2)

The Wildcats pulled off one of the bigger upsets of the SEC season so far in defeating Ole Miss 20-17. Fans are still trying to decide what this Kentucky team is. They have shown the ability to push a team like Georgia to the brink of a loss, and their defense held the Rebels' dynamic offense to only 17 points. But they also were drubbed by South Carolina 31-6. Wildcats fans will have to wait for an answer as UK has a bye week before facing off against Vanderbilt.



No. 9 South Carolina (3-1, 1-1)

The Gamecocks are coming off of a bye week and will host Ole Miss. The Rebels will be looking to get back into the win column after a disappointing loss to Kentucky, but South Carolina has shown some spunk this season. Many of the 'Cocks' stars and key contributors are listed as questionable heading into the game but expect South Carolina to scrap regardless of who makes it onto the field.


No. 10 Oklahoma (4-1, 1-1)

Sooner fans might have gotten the best first SEC road trip that any team could have asked for. Oklahoma traveled to face Auburn (2-3, 0-2) in Jordan-Hare Stadium. The crowd was raucous, and the game was tight. Auburn led the majority of the game, but after a gutsy effort from true freshman quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. and a late turnover by Auburn QB Payton Thorne, the Sooners came out on top 27-21. Welcome to the SEC, Sooners. It generally sounds like that, and it often ends as wild as that.



No. 11 Texas A&M (4-1, 0-1)

The Aggies scraped by the Arkansas Razorbacks in Week 5. A&M was outgained 379-297 in total offensive yards. Up next is the Missouri Tigers. Mizzou packs a bit more of a punch than the Razorbacks do on offense. A&M will have to find a way to keep up with the likes of QB Brady Cook and wide receiver Luther Burden III if they hope to pull off the upset.


No. 12 Arkansas (3-2, 1-1)

The Razorbacks dropped their previous game to Texas A&M 21-17. The Hogs outgained the Aggies on offense but failed to find the endzone enough. Arkansas' defense played well enough to win and held A&M to less than 300 yards, which is great. But next up is Tennessee. And the Vols aren't A&M.



No. 13 Auburn (2-3, 0-2)

The Tigers led the Sooners for the majority of the game. Auburn outgained Oklahoma 482 to 291 yards on offense. Thorne played perhaps the best game he has played in the Orange and Blue. And Auburn avoided their biggest bugaboo of the season, turnovers. Until they didn't. With around four minutes left in the game, Thorne threw an interception that was returned for the defining touchdown. Oklahoma linebacker Kip Lewis was the recipient of Thorne's errant pass. The play is being referred to as the "Kip Six." Sorry, Auburn fans. But that's pretty good.




No. 14 Vanderbilt (2-2, 0-2)

Vandy is going to be a problem. The Commodores are giving off real spoiler energy. Will that energy translate against their next opponent, Bama? Almost certainly not. But watch for Vandy to be a pain for teams in the goings-forward.


No. 15 Florida (2-2, 1-1)

The Gators won an SEC game, then rolled into a much-needed bye week. It feels like Gator head coach Billy Napier's job is hanging by a thread, and will be decided on a game-to-game basis. Up next for Florida is in-state opponent UCF (3-1, 1-1) of the Big 12 Conference. So far, Napier is winning enough to hang on to his job. But what happens if the Gators drop a game to their in-state cousin in Gainsville? This is also the type of game that UCF head coach Gus Malzahn would pull out of his hat. Regardless of the outcome of this game, Florida fans are aware there is an imminent coaching search coming to the swamp.


No. 16 Mississippi State (1-4, 0-2)

It wasn't a terrible showing for the Bulldogs against the Longhorns. But it wasn't great. One of the best teams in the country only beat MSU 35-13. That might be something to hang a hat on? At this point State is grasping for straws and can deal with a moral victory.



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