SEC Power Rankings after Week 1 of 2019: Yes, Vols are tanking

Yes, we value quality wins over anything else, and the LSU Tigers are in the mix with a bunch of schools who beat Power Five teams. But the Georgia Southern Eagles are always uniquely dangerous because you have to prepare for that triple-option and change up all of your schemes. LSU did that to perfection over the weekend.

This was a Georgia Southern team that went 10-3 last year and returns a ton of talent. Experience from a 10-win team that runs the triple-option is as dangerous as things can get. But while the Georgia State Panthers were upsetting the Vols, Ed Orgeron was making sure his team did not struggle at all with the Eagles.

Dave Aranda shutting down their offense was impressive enough. Joe Burrow, though, was another star, completing 23 of 27 passes for 278 yards and five touchdowns. The offense had 472 yards in total while Georgia Southern couldn’t even get 100. As a result, LSU clearly belongs up here in our SEC Power Rankings.

This was a real test, and they aced it. Now they get a tougher test with the No. 10 ranked Texas Longhorns on the road this week. Winning this game could let everybody know that Orgeron truly does have the team to compete with Bama this year, finally. Northwestern State, Vanderbilt and Utah State follow, but Texas will define the early part of the season.