The College Football Playoff Rankings are almost upon us for Week 13. In them, we’ll see how the committee values two-loss SEC teams and be given a great glimpse at just how many SEC teams can realistically get into the Playoffs this season.
To do so, we have to set the tone and place the SEC teams in our weekly SEC Football Power Rankings to understand their value.
Week 13 SEC Football Power Rankings
Our exclusive power rankings for the SEC come from our 1-134 rankings, looking at the college football world as a whole. Following Week 12, here’s how the SEC teams stack up.
MORE: Full 1-134 College Football Power Rankings
16) Mississippi State Bulldogs (–)
National Ranking: 107th out of 134
Jeff Lebby is an offensive guru, but he’ll need time to implement a winning culture and sustained success. With Baylor QB Blake Shapen under center, the Bulldogs could score some points but don’t expect much more in Year 1 under a new head coach.
Eastern Kentucky was a good practice game to begin the season with, as Shapen and Co. unloaded 56 points on the Colonels.
However, Arizona State, Toledo, and Florida proved to be much stronger opponents than previously anticipated, handing the Bulldogs back-to-back-to-back Ls. And the fourth was all but guaranteed, with Arch Manning giving Mississippi State the business in Austin.
With further losses to Georgia, Texas A&M, and Arkansas, the Bulldogs headed into Week 10 with one win, but they cooked UMass 45-20 to earn their second. Yet, their first SEC victory still alludes them, with Tennessee thumping Mississippi State in Week 11. True freshman QB Michael Van Buren has been one of the few bright spots, flashing his potential with Shapen out with a season-ending injury.
15) Kentucky Wildcats (–)
National Ranking: 103rd out of 134
Georgia transfer Brock Vandagriff didn’t eviscerate Southern Miss in Week 1, but he still game-managed his way to a 31-0 win. Yet, with the game script reversed in Week 2 vs. South Carolina, Vandagriff flailed and was ultimately benched in favor of Gavin Wimsatt, who didn’t perform any better.
The defense can only hang on so long, especially when the offense turns the ball over twice and averages a paltry 2.8 yards per play. The Wildcats caught Georgia napping but couldn’t seal the deal, allowing the game’s only TD midway through the fourth quarter.
The commanding win over Ohio was nice, but the Wildcats shocked Ole Miss with a 20-17 upset, moving to 1-2 in conference play. But just like that, they’re 1-6, as Vanderbilt, Florida, Auburn, and Tennessee took advantage of Kentucky’s QB woes. At least Murray State allowed a glimpse at true freshman Cutter Boley, who looked surgical under center.
14) Auburn Tigers (–)
National Ranking: 94th out of 134
Surprise! Auburn has a QB problem. Oh, that’s not a surprise? Oh well.
After a four-INT game in week 2, Hugh Freeze pulled the plug on Payton Thorne and inserted highly touted true freshman Hank Brown into the starting lineup. He completed 17 of 25 passes for 235 yards and four TDs against New Mexico.
However, Arkansas was a different animal, picking Brown off three times before snatching another from Thorne later in the game. The Tigers could have Justin Jefferson, Davante Adams, and Tyreek Hill outside — their QBs wouldn’t be able to get the ball to them.
Thorne actually looked like a component starter for three quarters against Oklahoma, but when the going got rough, he reverted back to the player we knew him to be and threw a game-altering 63-yard pick-six. Although he had some decent throws against Georgia and Missouri, the Tigers were unable to pull off the upsets.
They were able to ride Jarquez Hunter’s legs (23-278-3) to a rather easy defeat of Kentucky, as the defense had their way with Wildcats QBs Brock Vandagriff and Gavin Wimsatt. Vanderbilt sent them to the gulag in Week 10, as Auburn went 2 of 13 on third down en route to a 3-6 record on the season. Leave it to a matchup with a Group of Five program (ULM) to right the ship, as Thorne threw five TDs to no picks in a blowout.
13) Oklahoma Sooners (–)
National Ranking: 90th out of 134
In Year 2 of Brent Venables’ tenure, the Sooners improved by four victories. And while momentum could stall out a bit in Year 1 in the SEC, especially with turnover at QB and OC, those around the program believe Jackson Arnold is a future star, and new play-caller Seth Littrell knows a thing or two about generating offensive production.
The Sooners went a paltry 1 for 12 on third downs against Temple and 4 for 14 against Houston — that can’t happen if they hope to make a dent in the SEC standings.
To accentuate that point, the Sooners started out 1 of 9 on third down against Tennessee in Week 4, resulting in a 22-3 lead for the Volunteers midway through the third. Arnold threw a pick and lost a fumble, earning him a spot on the bench for the rest of the game, as freshman Michael Hawkins Jr. closed it out.
Hawkins only threw the ball 15 times, but he completed 10 passes for 161 yards and produced 69 yards and a score on the ground against Auburn. Yet, it took Tigers QB Payton Thorne imploding under pressure and throwing a 63-yard pick-six in the fourth quarter to give the Sooners their first SEC win.
Their second still alludes them after Texas, South Carolina, Ole Miss, and Missouri defeated Oklahoma by multiple scores, forcing Hawkins back to the bench and leaving the Sooners 1-5 in the conference.
12) Florida Gators (–)
National Ranking: 53rd out of 134
The offensive line was roasted by Miami’s defensive line in Week 1, and the offensive scheme didn’t help, but Graham Mertz didn’t elevate the talent around him. He was injured right before the fourth quarter, allowing five-star true freshman DJ Lagway to receive valuable reps.
With Mertz out with a concussion, Lagway got the start in Week 2 and dropped 400+ yards on Samford’s secondary en route to the Gators’ first win of 2024. Yet, Napier opted to revert back to Mertz, who led zero first-half scoring drives against Texas A&M in Week 3. The ground game was even worse, generating just seven yards on eight carries by the end of the second quarter.
Somehow, some way, the Gators got back into the win column against Mississippi State and UCF. However, it was how they did it that was most surprising, as Mertz was nearly flawless in both contests after looking like a subpar Power Five QB earlier in the year.
A road trip to Tennessee ended in an overtime loss, but Florida has shown a fight we didn’t know they had, culminating in a 48-20 thrashing of Kentucky on the back of freshman RB Jadan Baugh’s school-record-tying five rushing TDs. However, after losing Lagway early vs. Georgia, the Gators had little chance of pulling off the upset, losing 34-20.
On to their third QB of the year in Week 11, Florida couldn’t even stay on the field with Texas, scoring zero points while allowing 35 by halftime. However, Lagway returned in a big way in Week 12, crushing LSU’s hopes and dreams with a 27-16 victory, bringing the Gators one win away from bowl eligibility.
11) Arkansas Razorbacks (–)
National Ranking: 47th out of 134
Since reaching a 9-4 record in 2021, Sam Pittman’s Razorbacks have steadily declined. But with Boise State’s Taylen Green and Utah’s Ja’Quinden Jackson in the backfield, the arrow appeared to be pointing up.
New OC Bobby Petrino hand-picked both players, and they generated 138 points through three weeks. The Razorbacks couldn’t hang on to upset AP Poll No. 16-ranked Oklahoma State in double overtime and were going play for play with UAB before locking in during the second half.
The defense feasted on Auburn true freshman QB Hank Brown in Week 4, snagging three INTs before adding one more from Payton Thorne. However, Texas A&M brought them right back to the loser’s bracket in Week 5, holding Jackson to 3.7 yards per carry and turning Green over three times (two fumbles and one pick).
With the Razorbacks nursing a 14-13 lead in the fourth quarter over Tennessee, Green suffered a nerve-wracking blow to his lower body and left the game. Freshman Malachi Singleton stepped onto the field and immediately finished off the drive with a rushing TD, which was all it took to upset the Vols.
Arkansas couldn’t make it an upset streak, as LSU came into Fayetteville and force-fed the Razorbacks’ defense 34 points. Yet, they flipped the script in Week 9, trouncing Mississippi State 58-25 on the road. The jubilation didn’t last long, with Ole Miss leading 35-10 by halftime in Week 10. Next? A skintight 20-10 loss to Texas that saw Green sacked six times.
10) Missouri Tigers (-1)
National Ranking: 34th out of 134
Missouri is fresh off their best season (11-2) in a decade and returned most of their offensive production.
Holding Murray State and Buffalo to zero points and snatching two picks against Boston College should’ve had the Tigers feeling a type of way on defense. But Vanderbilt forced overtime, with a missed 31-yard field goal handing Missouri a dub.
It was clear the Tigers had some questions to answer on both sides of the ball, and it all came to a head against Texas A&M in Week 6. The offensive couldn’t move the chains, going 0 and 6 on third/fourth downs while averaging just 3.5 yards per play in the first half, resulting in a 24-0 deficit.
At least Mizzou faced UMass and Auburn next, giving them confidence-inducing victories. They also narrowly defeated Oklahoma on a late fumble return TD to move to 7-2 on the year. But their 34-0 loss to Alabama and 34-30 defeat to South Carolina ended Missouri’s conference title bid early.
9) Vanderbilt Commodores (+1)
National Ranking: 30th out of 134
Vanderbilt has been a perennial bottom-feeder in the SEC, but the arrival of the New Mexico State contingent has been enough for the Commodores to crawl themselves out of the cellar.
QB Diego Pavia single-handedly drove the team to a win over Virginia Tech, even if it required overtime. The ‘Dores then took care of business against Alcorn State, beginning their season 2-0 for the first time since 2018.
However, Pavia’s heroics weren’t enough to defeat Georgia State on the road, especially after falling into a 22-10 hole entering the fourth quarter. He then powered the Commodores to overtime against Missouri, but a 31-yard missed field goal unceremoniously ended their Week 4 upset effort.
And then, the unthinkable happened. Hosting the Crimson Tide as 23.5-point underdogs, Vandy surprised the country by netting its first-ever win over a No. 1 team. With Pavia at the helm, the Commodores are here to stay — as proven by a 20-13 win over Kentucky and a 24-14 victory against Ball State since the emotional high.
But all good things come to an end, and the ‘Dores ran out of magic vs. Texas — even though they took them the distance. Pavia tossed two INTs and couldn’t pull off the comeback, leading to a 27-24 defeat.
Vandy’s three losses have come by a combined 10 points this season. But the ‘Dores punched their bowl ticket with a Week 10 win over Auburn, their first time doing so since 2018. South Carolina beat up on Pavia in Week 11, and the next two games (at LSU and vs. Tennessee) won’t be much better.
8) LSU Tigers (-1)
National Ranking: 26th out of 134
While the defense showed promise against the run (3.0 yards per carry allowed), it conceded 378 yards through the air in Week 1. Committing 10 penalties for 99 yards certainly hindered the team’s performance, but USC simply outplayed LSU in Allegiant Stadium.
It was one loss against a ranked opponent in the first game of the year — we weren’t going to drop the Tigers far. But after a lackluster showing against Nicholls and a near loss to South Carolina, it was time to drop them down the College Football Power Rankings.
However, a 34-17 win over UCLA and an eruption against South Alabama has given LSU a much-needed boost heading into a highly anticipated match with Ole Miss. In spite of two INTs from QB Garrett Nussmeier, the Tigers kicked the Rebels out of Death Valley with its second loss of the year.
Arkansas didn’t fare any better in Week 8, scoring a measly 10 points to LSU’s 34. But the Tigers met their match in Week 9, as Texas A&M won 38-23 despite paltry QB play from Conner Weigman.
It was a similar result against Alabama in Week 11, with Jalen Milroe rushing for nearly 200 yards and three scores in the blowout win. Even a lowly Florida team choked the Tigers out in Week 12, winning 27-16. With four losses on the year and Vanderbilt still to come, LSU is out of the CFP and SEC races.
7) South Carolina Gamecocks (+1)
National Ranking: 24th out of 134
The offense has looked average at best this season, particularly QB LaNorris Sellers, but South Carolina still pushed LSU to the brink in Week 3.
If Sellers can cut down on the ball security issues and Raheim Sanders is able to establish the rushing attack early in contests, the Gamecocks could play spoiler to some teams higher on the list.
Robby Ashford stepped onto the field with Sellers out in Week 4, and he gave Akron more than they could handle. He accounted for 200+ yards and two scores in the first half before taking his foot off the gas in the second.
Unsurprisingly, Ole Miss whooped on the Gamecocks in Week 6, but this is a young team with immense raw talents a year or two away from blossoming. That was clear as day against Alabama in Week 7.
Despite the 27-25 loss, Sellers had multiple opportunities not only to win but to do so by more than a few points — he just couldn’t hit his open WRs. But directionless Oklahoma offered a window into the future last week, as the Gamecocks, powered by two defensive TDs, held a 32-3 lead … at halftime.
The future became the present in Week 10, with South Carolina scoring 44 points on Texas A&M, who hadn’t allowed more than 24 this season. They followed it up with a 28-7 outing over Vanderbilt, earning a bowl berth for the third time in HC Shane Beamer’s tenure. But the Gamecocks put together another highlight-reel-worthy outing against Missouri in a ranked SEC matchup, making two fourth-quarter comebacks to win 34-30.
6) Tennessee Volunteers (-2)
National Ranking: 18th out of 134
Those in Knoxville, Tenn., have tabbed Nico Iamaleava as the chosen one, and with Josh Heupel directing traffic, it’s hard to dispute them.
Tennessee went 9-4 with Joe Milton III at the helm. If Iamaleava continues to live up to the hype, a 10+ win campaign is on the horizon. The Vols have imposed their will any way they’ve liked this season, culminating in a 65-point first half vs. Kent State in Week 3.
Oklahoma couldn’t keep pace with their own rising QB in Jackson Arnold, as Tennessee built a 19-3 lead at the half and kept the pressure defensively, forcing Brent Venables to bench Arnold for the rest of the game. But Arkansas, with Sam Pittman coaching for his job, stunted the high-flying Vols, shutting them out in three quarters.
The drought extended to the first half against Florida in Week 7, but the Vols took them to overtime and left with a 23-17 victory, prompting an upset of Alabama and a 28-18 victory over Kentucky in the next two games.
Iamaleava is a young QB who will have his growing pains, and with the CFP expanding to 12 teams, dropping a game early in the season won’t matter as much. But if the offense doesn’t find its rhythm, Tennessee could be in trouble with Georgia still on the schedule.
Iamaleava left the Week 11 bout against Mississippi State at halftime with an upper-body injury and didn’t return. The Vols still won with ease, but their QB position will need to be monitored entering their road matchup with Georgia. Iamaleava returned despite the upper-body injury being a concussion, and the result was a 31-17 loss, with the offense averaging just 4.5 yards per play.
5) Texas A&M Aggies (+1)
National Ranking: 15th out of 134
Taking on Notre Dame in Week 1 was never going to be easy, but Conner Weigman and Co. made it look damn near impossible. Yes, Weigman needed time to reacclimate to full speed after a season-ending injury last year, but he couldn’t tell the difference between the turf, his WRs, and defenders against the Irish.
Weigman threw two TDs to three incompletions against McNeese in Week 2 but missed the next three games due to an AC joint sprain. It didn’t matter, as freshman QB Marcel Reed performed well enough to take care of the directionless Florida Gators, the sneaky-good Bowling Green Falcons, and the floundering Arkansas Razorbacks.
With Weigman back and healthy, the Aggies produced their best win yet, knocking off No. 9-ranked Missouri — and it was never close. Texas A&M played a near-flawless first half of football, dominating in all phases and building a 24-0 lead the Tigers couldn’t put a dent into.
It wasn’t as one-sided in Week 8 vs. Mississippi State, but the Aggies churned out their fifth straight SEC win in Week 9, defeating LSU 38-23. The streak ended in Week 10, with South Carolina dominating Texas A&M 44-20. Now, there are five SEC teams with one loss in conference play — the race to the title has never been tighter.
4) Georgia Bulldogs (+1)
National Ranking: 11th out of 134
The Bulldogs came out firing in Week 1, making quick work of Clemson, 34-3. The offense had a few miscues, but they used Tennessee Tech as a punching bag in Week 2.
However, Georiga found itself on upset alert in a 13-12 snoozefest against Kentucky in Week 3, likely because they were looking ahead to their Week 5 date with Alabama. That did them little good, as they caved under the pressure on both sides of the ball early on, finding themselves down 30-7 at halftime.
Credit the Bulldogs for their second-half comeback effort to make it a game with under three minutes left, but it just wasn’t enough. They gifted Auburn its third straight loss, but the offense looked far less electric … until Week 7. Mississippi State was little more than bodies on the field, as Georgia bolted to a 34-10 lead coming out of halftime.
In one of the Games of the Year, the Bulldogs upset Texas 30-15 after building an early 23-0 lead. The defensive line gave the Longhorns more than they could handle, generating seven sacks — one more than Texas has allowed in the previous six contests.
Even with three Beck INTs in Week 10, the Bulldogs barreled their way to a 34-20 victory over Florida. That wasn’t the case in Week 11 against Ole Miss, as the offense scored just 10 points, their fewest in a game since Week 1 of the 2021 season. Beck and Co. found their form against Tennessee just a week later, holding the Vols to 4.5 yards per play while averaging 6.1 themselves.
3) Ole Miss Rebels (–)
National Ranking: 9th out of 134
Early returns were promising on the Rebels’ 2024 season, as they assaulted Furman 76-0, quickly dispatched Middle Tennessee State 52-3, crushed Wake Forest 40-6, and mutilated Georgia Southern 52-13. But the ball stopped in their first SEC game.
Kentucky, who took Georgia down to the wire a game before, held the No. 1 offense in the nation to just 17 points and secured the victory on the back of a missed 48-yard field goal by Ole Miss. Jaxson Dart and Co. went 1 of 10 on third down and lost a fumble, and the team as a whole committed five more penalties than the Wildcats.
The Rebels used South Carolina to iron out their kinks, garnering a 24-3 halftime lead. But a ranked conference loss to LSU set them back once again. Relatively easy victories over Oklahoma and Arkansas followed, but Ole Miss’ dismantling of Georgia in Week 11 was eye-opening and shook up the conference standings once again.
If Dart’s ankle injury doesn’t bother him too much and he remains in rhythm, the Rebels will be a tough out the rest of the season.
2) Alabama Crimson Tide (–)
National Ranking: 8th out of 134
Despite several players jumping ship after Nick Saban’s retirement, the Crimson Tide’s cabinets remain full, as indicated by their 63-0 rout of Western Kentucky in Week 1. USF posed much more of a threat in Week 2, but after a scoreless third quarter, ‘Bama put any upset worries to bed in the fourth.
After Wisconsin QB Tyler Van Dyke went down with an injury, Alabama’s Week 3 victory was all but sealed. Still, Jalen Milroe has clearly taken to head coach Kalen DeBoer’s QB whispers and has played the part of a Heisman candidate this season.
If you didn’t believe that statement before the Georgia game, you certainly have to after. Milroe completed 18 of 20 passes for 186 yards, one TD, and one INT off a dropped pass while rushing for 106 yards and two more scores in the first half. The Crimson Tide clearly dissected Georgia’s film leading up to the game, using motion to their advantage all night.
MORE: College Football Hot Seat Coaches
DOWN GO THE CRIMSON TIDE.
Apparently, Alabama’s second-half shortcomings against Georgia were a sign of things to come, as Vanderbilt held the lead for the entire game. Then, South Carolina nearly pulled off the unthinkable in Tuscaloosa. And although the Crimson Tide came out of the Week 7 conference dual with a win, they shouldn’t feel all that good about it.
Despite the back-to-back wake-up calls, Alabama didn’t answer, dropping their second SEC contest to Tennessee after shutting the Vols out in the first half. The Tide washed out Missouri in Week 9 and LSU in Week 11, highlighting the program’s ceiling in 2024. Then, a Week 12 matchup with Mercer allowed the Tide to rest the starters early and get a glimpse at some younger depth pieces.
1) Texas Longhorns (–)
National Ranking: 5th of 134
Dusting Colorado State 52-0 in Week 1 wasn’t all that surprising, but it showcased the Longhorns’ defensive prowess and gave the world a sneak peek at Arch Manning.
Quinn Ewers and the passing attack remain elite and were methodical against Michigan in Week 2, one of the best defenses in the country. Then, in Week 3, they took care of business against UTSA, although Ewers left in the second quarter due to an abdomen strain, propelling Manning back into the limelight.
The redshirt freshman then got his first two starts against ULM and Mississippi State, showcasing the skill set that earned him the No. 1 overall recruit label out of high school. Quinn Ewers returned for the Red River Rivalry against Oklahoma in Week 7, and although he looked rusty early on, he led the Longhorns to their 64th win in the series.
MORE: Simulate the College Football Season with CFN’s College Football Playoff Predictor
It’s natty or bust in Austin, and the Longhorns were playing like it — until Georgia came to town. The offensive line was ready for the Bulldogs’ speed and power upfront, leading to an early 23-0 deficit. And while they showed life in the second half, it wasn’t enough to avoid their first loss of the season.
Vanderbilt gave Longhorns fans a scare in Week 9, as Ewers threw another two picks. Texas snapped the Commodores’ three-game winning streak in their first game ranked in the Top 25 since 2012.
It was a tough win, but one that showcased the team’s toughness after a heartbreaking loss to Georgia the week prior. Florida, on its third QB of the year, stood no chance in Week 11, falling into a 35-0 hole at halftime. Arkansas made the Longhorns break a sweat, but the defense wrecked havoc in the backfield, and the offense did enough to win 20-10.
College Football Network has you covered with the latest from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, and every Group of Five conference and FBS Independent program.