2024 Week Seven SEC Power Rankings: LSU emerges as a new contender
We're halfway through the college football season, and the SEC standings are starting to show some clarity as we're also halfway through October. The Third Saturday in October is coming up, which means Tennessee and Alabama will meet in a game that could decide who goes to Atlanta for the SEC Championship Game
Tennessee and Alabama survived last week against SEC opponents, but this year could be a "survive and advance" year for most SEC teams. The start of the SEC season has shown that anyone can beat anybody, no matter their rank, projections, or the number of stars on a roster, which is what makes any given game dangerous for every SEC frontrunner.
The SEC received a small shakeup after Week Seven. The biggest result was LSU's win over Ole Miss, which moved the Tigers to No. 3 in the SEC Power Rankings. Texas and Georgia still hold the top two spots, but the SEC frontrunners are scheduled to face off on Saturday night in Austin, Texas.
The expanded SEC is now divisionless, meaning any team can make the SEC Championship regardless of location. Texas and Georgia are at the top right now, but that could change this time next week, with two SEC "West" or "East" teams holding the top two spots.
Rank | Team | Previous Rank | Week Seven Result |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Texas Longhorns | 1 | W 34-3 vs Oklahoma |
2 | Georgia Bulldogs | 2 | W 41-31 vs Mississippi State |
3 | LSU Tigers | 6 | W 29-26 vs Ole Miss |
4 | Alabama Crimson Tide | 3 | W 27-25 vs South Carolina |
5 | Tennessee Volunteers | 4 | W 23-17 vs Florida |
6 | Texas A&M Aggies | 5 | IDLE |
7 | Arkansas Razorbacks | 8 | IDLE |
8 | Vanderbilt Commodores | 11 | W 20-13 vs Kentucky |
9 | Ole Miss Rebels | 7 | L 26-29 vs LSU |
10 | Missouri Tigers | 12 | W 45-3 vs UMASS |
11 | Oklahoma Sooners | 10 | L 3-34 vs Texas |
12 | Kentucky Wildcats | 9 | L 13-20 vs Vanderbilt |
13 | Florida Gators | 13 | L 17-23 vs Tennessee |
14 | South Carolina Gamecocks | 14 | L 25-27 vs Alabama |
15 | Auburn Tigers | 15 | IDLE |
16 | Mississippi State Bulldogs | 16 | L 31-41 vs Georgia |
Winners
Texas continues to dominate everyone in its path. Oklahoma had been their toughest test to this point, but they were no match for the Longhorns. They will have to follow their dominant win with another primetime game against Georgia this Saturday.
LSU has emerged as a contender for the SEC Championship after their win over Ole Miss. The Tigers are 2-0 in SEC play and look like one of the top dogs in the league this season.
I'm saving the best for last because Vanderbilt might be the biggest winner out of Week Seven. Vandy is coming off the high of beating Alabama last week. They're expected to lay an egg, and they go to Kentucky for their blackout game and get another SEC win.
Losers
Ole Miss went into Death Valley and had a win within arm's reach against LSU, but the Tigers bested the Rebels, virtually ending Ole Miss's chance of making the 12-team College Football Playoff.
Oklahoma's blowout loss to Texas was Brent Venables's second dominant defeat in three seasons. The Sooners are still searching for their offensive identity and will look for a spark of life against South Carolina this Saturday.
Saturday was a tough loss for Kentucky. The Wildcats are now 1-3 in conference play, and they still have games against Florida, Tennessee, and Texas on the schedule. A non-conference game against Louisville threatens bowl eligibility.
Week Eight in the SEC
Week Eight in the SEC gives us more rivalry games. Tennessee-Alabama, Florida-Kentucky, and LSU-Arkansas are all being played this week. Georgia-Texas is the premier conference matchup, with Auburn-Missouri, South Carolina-Oklahoma, and Texas A&M-Mississippi State also playing.
Next. Tennessee fans look to break their own record against Alabama. Tennessee fans look to break their own record against Alabama. dark