SEC Power Rankings: The top two teams for most of the year end up in Atlanta
Before Southeastern Conference play got going in earnest, the conference championship contenders in 2024 was likely to be one of the following teams based off of roster, coaching, and other factors like schedule: Georgia, Texas, Alabama, Ole Miss, Missouri, and Tennessee.
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Credit to Texas A&M for supplanting Missouri in that regard and for LSU jumping into the fray, but both ultimately fell short. The reason they fell short? The Texas Longhorns, the No. 1 seed in the SEC entering conference championship week.
No. 2? Georgia.
These will be the final SEC Power Rankings of the year, as the No. 1 team will be obvious entering next Monday.
No. 1 – Texas Longhorns
The only 7-1 team in the conference and the only team right now with 11 wins in the SEC. Texas recovered from the Georgia game and handled all comers on their march to Atlanta. Texas can win back-to-back conference titles, albeit in different conferences.
No. 2 – Georgia Bulldogs
Georgia hasn’t played a conference game since it defeated Tennessee 31-17 at home. Since that time, they’ve allowed 21 points to the UMass Minutemen and then were in an eight overtime thriller with Georgia Tech. That said, they locked up their spot in the SEC Championship via their win over the Vols and are looking to win their third SEC title in four years.
No. 3 – Tennessee Volunteers
Tennessee is in the College Football Playoff at this juncture barring something crazy happening. They’ll also have the benefit of a de facto bye. Will Nico Iamaleava be able to live up to a five-star, CFP standard?
No. 4 – South Carolina Gamecocks
While South Carolina was a few bounces of the football away from beating Alabama, they are playing much, much better football than the Crimson Tide right now. Oddly enough the two teams are similar, and LaNorris Sellers has become one of the top quarterbacks in college football. If the SEC is a four-bid league, the Gamecocks should be that fourth team.
No. 5 – Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama avoided a four-loss season by defeating Auburn in the Iron Bowl, but the idea that the Crimson Tide is looking up at four teams and might not be involved in the national championship picture is a significant departure from years past. It’s just year one.
Top 10
- 1Breaking
Oklahoma nabs OC
Sooners tab Ben Arbuckle as OC
- 2
Sam Pittman
Will return to Arkansas as head coach
- 3New
CBB Top 25
AP Poll shake up after Feast Week
- 4Hot
Harsin wears Bama gear
Former Auburn HC sports LANK shirt
- 5
BCS formula predicts CFP
Predicting the College Football Playoff Top 25
No. 6 – Texas A&M Aggies
While the Aggies are demoralized following their loss to the rival Longhorns, they put in a quality year one under Mike Elko and have a chance to win nine games in a full season for the first time since 2018.
No. 7 – Ole Miss Rebels
Lane Kiffin is trying to politick, but it won’t get that far. Losing to Kentucky, Ole Miss, and Florida doesn’t give the sense of a playoff team.
No. 8 – LSU Tigers
No. 9 – Missouri Tigers
Missouri has beaten FCS Murray State, MAC school Buffalo, 7-5 Boston College, 6-6 Vanderbilt, 2-10 UMass, 5-7 Auburn, 6-6 Oklahoma, 2-10 Mississippi State, and 6-6 Arkansas.
The losses? Smoked by Texas A&M. Smoked by Alabama. Loss to South Carolina after taking the lead with 1:10 left.
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No. 10 – Florida Gators
7-5 with the schedule the Gators had is commendable. 8-5 is possible. That wasn’t really thought to be a possibility in August.
