If you’re an Ole Miss fan, you should be feeling pretty good about now, right? The Rebs are currently 7-1, ranked 10th in the country, and in the first college football playoff rankings, the Rebs are also in the 10 spot. Ole Miss only has one really tough opponent remaining on their schedule, so 10-2 seems like almost a worst-case scenario. Weirdly, it’s been a mostly quiet run thus far—everyone’s still talking about UGA, Bama and LSU—but let’s give the Land Sharks a pat on the back.
Anyway, let’s get to the rankings…
1. Georgia (last week: 1)
The Dawgs turned in a dominant performance against Florida last week, 43-20. This week UGA hosts Missouri, a game where both teams have plenty to prove. Don’t forget, last year UGA was down 10 in the fourth quarter at Missouri and managed to win.
2. Alabama (last week: 2)
A bye week gave the Tide time to reset before this week’s epic matchup against LSU. It also gave Nick Saban two weeks to gameplan for Jayden Daniels. If that’s not enough time for Saban to figure out how to stop Daniels, I’m not sure there is enough time.
3. Ole Miss (last week: 3)
Last week, Ole Miss politely dispatched Vandy, 33-7. They get Texas A&M this week, essentially a warm-up for next weekend when they travel to Athens to play UGA. Trap game, anyone?
4. LSU (last week: 4)
As of this morning, Jayden Daniels was still at +450 odds to win the Heisman (behind Michael Penix and JJ McCarthy). This weekend could be his best chance at leapfrogging the other two.
5. Missouri (last week: 5)
OK Tigers, let’s see what you got. It’s a make-or-break weekend, in Athens against UGA. And this time, you aren’t going to catch UGA by surprise.
6. Texas A&M (last week: 6)
TAMU has beaten all the bad teams on their schedule, and lost to all the good ones. This week, they play a good one (Ole Miss). So…
7. Tennessee (last week: 8)
I’m moving Tennessee above Florida, even though they lost to Florida, because I think right now Tennessee is the better team. This week the Vols have a bye against UConn.
8. Florida (last week: 7)
Somehow, the Gators made it to 5-2, got the opening kickoff against UGA and scored a TD straightaway, and things were looking bright! Then UGA scored 36 consecutive points. Woof. Also, Florida going for it on fourth-and-one by snapping it through the legs of the QB to the RB, then having him attempt a pass (he got sacked), was one of the dumber play calls I can remember this season.
9. Kentucky (last week: 9)
Kentucky lost a close one to Tennessee last week, which makes three straight losses after five straight wins. Playing Mississippi State this week should make things better.
10. Auburn (last week: 10)
As bad as Auburn has been all season, their schedule sets up for them to now win four in a row (Mississippi St, Vandy, Arkansas, NM State). Then Alabama at the end. Finishing 7-5 with this kind of quarterback play could be one of Hugh Freeze’s most remarkable miracles yet.
11. South Carolina (last week: 11)
They’re dunzo, unless maybe Connor Stalions shows up on the sidelines with those recording sunglasses. I’m really curious to see if they have enough left to beat Vandy in two weeks.
12. Mississippi State (last week: 12)
They beat Arkansas! Then they lost to Auburn. Now they get Kentucky and then TAMU.
13. Arkansas (last week: 11)
The Hogs have lost six straight and fired an offensive coordinator. Can they find any sort of positive momentum this week against Florida?
14. Vanderbilt (last week: 14)
Why doesn’t Vandy schedule a cupcake at this point in the season, like so many other SEC teams do? Nope, the Commies are plowing ahead with an all-SEC slate the rest of the way. Good luck.