With the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff debuting in 2024, the SEC could send as many as five programs to the dance. The additions of Texas and Oklahoma raise the floor, but Georgia still sits on the throne in the 2024 SEC Power Rankings.
Where do the rest of the programs fall?
2024 SEC Power Rankings
16) Vanderbilt Commodores
National Rank: 85
Last Week SEC Rank: 16 (no change)
Vanderbilt has been a perennial bottom-feeder in the SEC, but perhaps the arrival of the New Mexico State contingent will be 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.
15) Mississippi State Bulldogs
National Rank: 87
Last Week SEC Rank: 15 (no change)
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 Georgia and Texas A&M on the docket, the Bulldogs could head into Week 9 with a 1-6 record.
14) Auburn Tigers
National Rank: 76
Last Week SEC Rank: 12 (-2)
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 pick 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.
13) Arkansas Razorbacks
National Rank: 61
Last Week SEC Rank: 13 (no change)
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).
Green can’t rely on the ground game and defense to bail him out anymore, and with Pittman coaching for his job, we could see a switch under center at some point.
12) Florida Gators
National Rank: 56
Last Week SEC Rank: 10 (-2)
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. However, it was how they did it that was most surprising, as Mertz was nearly flawless as a passer, leading to a 42-21 lead midway through the fourth.
11) South Carolina Gamecocks
National Rank: 51
Last Week SEC Rank: 11 (no change)
The offense has looked average at best through three games, 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.
10) Kentucky Wildcats
National Rank: 44
Last Week SEC Rank: 14 (+3)
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 impressed with a 20-17 upset over Ole Miss, moving to 1-2 in conference play.
9) Oklahoma Sooners
National Rank: 21
Last Week SEC Rank: 8 (-1)
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.
8) Texas A&M Aggies
National Rank: 17
Last Week SEC Rank: 9 (+1)
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 will need 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.
If Weigman can’t return to his early 2023 form, the Aggies are in for a rude awakening. He threw two TDs to three incompletions against McNeese in Week 2 but has been unable to suit up the last three weeks due to an AC joint sprain.
Still, 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, adding a running element Weigman does not.
7) Ole Miss Rebels
National Rank: 11
Last Week SEC Rank: 3 (-4)
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 two weeks ago, 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, pointing to a discipline issue that could derail their national title aspirations for the season.
6) LSU Tigers
National Rank: 10
Last Week SEC Rank: 7 (+1)
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.
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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. The defense finally tightened up, and the offense found its rhythm, restoring some confidence in the Tigers’ potential as they head into the heart of conference play.
5) Missouri Tigers
National Rank: 9
Last Week SEC Rank: 5 (no change)
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 tested them for the first time this year, forcing overtime.
Luckily, a missed 31-yard field goal handed Missouri a dub, but they have some questions to answer on both sides of the ball if they want to go all the way in 2024.
4) Georgia Bulldogs
National Rank: 8
Last Week SEC Rank: 1 (-3)
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. Although, credit the Bulldogs for their second-half comeback effort to make it a game with under three minutes left.
Yet, if Kirby Smart doesn’t right the ship soon, his team’s playoff chances will continue to plummet.
3) Tennessee Volunteers
National Rank: 7
Last Week SEC Rank: 6 (+3)
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.
2) Alabama Crimson Tide
National Rank: 3
Last Week SEC Rank: 4 (+2)
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.
Texas is still the No. 1 team in the SEC, but with Georgia and Ole Miss falling in Week 5, Alabama is nipping at their heals.
1) Texas Longhorns
National Rank: 1
Last Week SEC Rank: 2 (+1)
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.
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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. It’s natty or bust in Austin, and the Longhorns are playing like it, no matter who is under center.
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