SEC Power Rankings following Week Two of 2019: Vols still at bottom

After a huge win over the Oregon Ducks to start the season, the Auburn Tigers are looking better given the fact that Oregon beat the Nevada Wolf Pack 77-6 a week later. Remember, Nevada beat the Purdue Boilermakers, who just blew out the Vanderbilt Commodores. So there’s a bit of circular logic to prop up Gus Malzahn’s team.

However, an ugly win over the Tulane Green Wave still keeps them at No. 4 in our SEC Power Rankings. To be fair, we’re in the final tier of those rankings, as Auburn right now looks like one of four teams that clearly belongs in the top tier. But the fact of the matter is they still have a lot to prove going forward.

Freshman Bo Nix has completed fewer than 50 percent of his passes on the year, even if he has proven to be clutch. The big story is the defense is continuing to rise to the occasion, and it’s why they are 2-0 with a major quality win to this point.

A home game against the Kent State Golden Flashes this week gets them to 3-0, but then they get a series of tests to see just how good they are. First, Auburn visits the Texas A&M Aggies. Then they host the Mississippi State Bulldog, and they follow that up with a visit to the Florida Gators. That stretch will determine if they are in the title hunt come late October.