The SEC Championship is guaranteed to feature Alabama after the Auburn Tigers were upset by Georgia in Athens on Saturday. Not many expected the SEC West to be the division decided this past weekend, but the Tide will be Atlanta bound the first weekend of December.
As for the SEC East, Florida is a win away from locking up its spot opposite Alabama, but a loss to LSU on Saturday will mean we all play the waiting game with Tennessee needing wins over Mizzou and Vanderbilt to take the division title.
All of that is to say, it certainly feels -- as it has all season -- like the SEC right now is a contest for second place behind Alabama. The SEC East still needs to be sorted out. The SEC West behind the Tide is constantly in flux with Texas A&M, Auburn and Arkansas all losing this past weekend.
The Tide remain our north star in the SEC this season; the only constant in an otherwise confusing, messy season. As has been the case all year, Alabama leads the way in this week's SEC power rankings with plenty of movement and change behind them.
1. Alabama
The Tide took a spunky Mississippi State team coming off its biggest win of the season and destroyed them 51-3. Jalen Hurts became the first Alabama quarterback to throw for 300 yards and rush for 100 yards in the same game in school history. The defense gave young Nick Fitzgerald quite the learning experience -- and I'm sure made him appreciate the cold tub after the game. The Tide have Chattanooga as a tune up this week before hosting Auburn in the Iron Bowl to cap off the regular season. Last week: 1
2. LSU
So much for any Alabama game hangover. The Tigers blasted Arkansas on the road and have a chance to dash Florida's SEC title hopes this Saturday. Two wins against the Gators and Texas A&M in the last two weeks will make a very strong case for Ed Orgeron to have the interim title dropped and become the full-time coach next year. Last week: 4
3. Auburn
Much like the top of the rankings nationally, so many teams at the top of the SEC rankings lost last week that one loss doesn't drop a team significantly. Auburn only drops one spot despite a poor showing in Athens against Georgia. There are concerns about the Tigers as they could not run the ball without Kamyrn Pettway and the passing game was non-existent. However, every team behind Alabama has concerns, so one loss in an otherwise excellent run of play does not send the Tigers plummeting. Last week: 2
4. Arkansas
I said last week that I had no idea what to think of the Razorbacks and their loss to LSU did not help. I'm coming to the realization that the Hogs are a somewhat above-average team that cannot keep up with teams that are actually good, but will feast on average to below-average competition. Losses this year have been to early season Texas A&M, Auburn, Alabama and LSU, while beating teams like Florida, Ole Miss and TCU. This week, they play Mississippi State and I won't be surprised to see them look good again. Last week: 3
5. Florida
The Gators bounced back from their loss to Arkansas with a win over South Carolina to get back on track towards the SEC East title. However, injuries are starting to pile up for the Gators on both sides of the ball and being beat up on top of having a struggling offense is going to make the LSU game all the more difficult. Even so, Florida's here as the top team from the East in the rankings. Last week: 8
6. Ole Miss
The Shea Patterson era has arrived and with it came a big win against Texas A&M on the road. Patterson had over 400 total yards (338 passing and 47 rushing) and the Rebels got a much needed win to pull within one game of bowl eligibility. This hasn't been the year most in Oxford hoped for, but Patterson's performance in College Station has to have them feeling good about the future at quarterback at least. Last week: 9
7. Tennessee
It's not over for the Volunteers. The win over Kentucky on Saturday pulled Tennessee back to 3-3 in the conference with two games left with Missouri and Vanderbilt. Winning those games, coupled with a loss this Saturday by Florida would put the Vols in Atlanta against Alabama. That's a very possible outcome, as the Vols will be favored in both of their games and Florida is a two-touchdown underdog to LSU. Last week: 10
8. Georgia
Kirby Smart finally gets himself a signature win with the Bulldogs with the upset of Auburn on Saturday. Jacob Eason is making strides, especially as a downfield passer, and the Georgia defense has really tightened up in the last month. The Auburn win will have Georgia fans thinking big for 2017 with Eason heading into his sophomore season. Last week: T11
9. Mississippi State
Everything came crashing back to Earth on Saturday for the Bulldogs as they got hammered in Tuscaloosa, but that happens to every team. The Bulldogs will look to bounce back against Arkansas, which has a defense that Nick Fitzgerald could have a big game against. Mississippi State is favored in this game, but I'm skeptical of whether the Bulldogs are good enough to get the job done. If they do win, they'll prove that the Texas A&M game wasn't just a fluke win over a spiraling team. Last week: 6
10. Texas A&M
Speaking of the Aggies in said downward spiral, here they are in 10th position this week. The Aggies, without Trevor Knight, lost at home to Ole Miss with a freshman quarterback. UTSA this week will provide a punching bag to take out some frustration on, but then it's a Thanksgiving night showdown with LSU to avoid another four-loss season after such a promising start. Last week: 7
11. South Carolina
I'll admit that I got a little wild with my love for the Gamecocks last week, but I had to reward them for a three-game winning streak. However, Muschamp's boys had absolutely nothing for Florida in The Swamp in a 20-7 loss that wasn't nearly that close. Florida's defense, despite being banged up, shut down Jake Bentley and the Gamecocks. Western Carolina this week should get them bowl eligible before they have to take a trip to Clemson to end the season. Last week: 5
12. Kentucky
Big Blue Nation gave it a run, didn't they? The 'Cats still should get bowl eligible this week with a win over Austin Peay, which would be pretty amazing considering the start to their season. Kentucky played hard against Tennessee, but just didn't have enough. It's basketball season, though, so the football 'Cats did their job to keep Kentucky fans engaged until it was time to turn attention to the hardwood. Last week: T11
13. Missouri
I'm extremely confused as to what happened on Saturday, but Missouri won an SEC football game. I was wrong about this one and I apologize to the proud Mizzou faithful. This is still not a good football team, but it is a football team with a win in conference now. Last week: 14
14. Vanderbilt
What happened, 'Dores? You lost to Missouri after pushing Auburn to the limit. I just don't understand you. Zach Cunningham is still great, but this offense is really not good. Last week: T11
