SEC Power Rankings following Week Three of 2019: No change for Vols

KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 14: Cedric Tillman #85 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates scoring a touchdown against the Chattanooga Mockingbirds with Ramel Keyton #80 during the third quarter at Neyland Stadium on September 14, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images) /

9 of 15

Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images /

833. . 2-1 (0-1). Previous: . Wildcats . 7. team

Oh, so close! The Kentucky Wildcats had the Florida Gators once again! They could have pulled off the upset for a second straight season and proved they are growing as a program under Mark Stoops! Instead they suffered an interception and a missed field goal on their final two real drives, and they fell to the Florida Gators 29-21.

Still, their play combined with the loss of the Mississippi State Bulldogs was enough for us to move them up one spot in our SEC Power Rankings. They looked really good, and while Florida fans can point to Feleipe Franks being knocked out of the game, UK was up 21-10 before he went out, and they were also without Terry Wilson.

But Behind Sawyer Smith, this team looks like it truly is a program now under Stoops. They have lost a ton of talent and continue to be dangerous and relevant, and that’s a huge deal. Now they have a few key games to define the season.

It all starts this week with the Mississippi State Bulldogs on the road. Following that they visit the South Carolina Gamecocks, and then they host the Arkansas Razorbacks. These are all teams trying to get to six wins this year, although UK may be thinking more about eight wins now. So how they do in these three games will define them.

Home/Vols Football