SEC Power Rankings after week 4: Vols near bottom

We said last week the Kentucky Wildcats were No. 5 in our SEC Power Rankings by default. Them dropping to No. 9 this week doesn’t mean much. It was kind of what we expected after we figured they’d find a way to blow it against the Florida Gators.

And that’s exactly what they did.

Apparently Kentucky forgot about what cornerbacks were for, and a blunder by Mark Stoops’s coaching staff allowed an easy touchdown pass for the Florida Gators to beat Kentucky 28-27.

Now fans may think that playing tough with Florida is a turning point for Kentucky. They shouldn’t.

Florida is not that good, as we’ve been saying all year. So a loss to the Gators is more than enough to drop the Wildcats down our SEC Power Rankings.

At No. 9, they still are a solid middle of the pack team. But remember, they looked hideous in their two wins to open the season.

And beating the South Carolina Gamecocks on the road when Deebo Samuel goes out is nothing impressive. Right now, this team may have played the easiest schedule of anybody in the SEC.

Funny enough, it’s about to get easier. The Wildcats host Eastern Michigan and then the Missouri Tigers over the next two weeks. Then they have their bye. So they’re perfectly set up to head into their bye week at 5-1.

Afterward, though, things get brutal, as they face the Mississippi State Bulldogs, Vanderbilt Commodores and Georgia Bulldogs on the road down the stretch. And they have to host the Tennessee Vols, Ole Miss Rebels and Louisville Cardinals.

So while 5-1 looks good, they’ll still be lucky to finish 6-6.