After Week 1, we dropped Alabama to eighth in SEC after an embarrassing loss to Florida State. Nearly two months later, the Crimson Tide has climbed to the top spot on the strength of four consecutive wins over ranked opponents. A deep league is unfolding with 10 teams still sitting with two or fewer losses. After that, however, there’s a steep dropoff to the hot seats. Onto the rankings!
1. Alabama (6-1)
Last week: 2
This week: at South Carolina
What to know: A few hours after UA topped Tennessee, rain poured in Tuscaloosa. And when the storm ended, the cigar smoke still hung in the air.
2. Texas A&M (7-0)
Last week: 3
This week: at LSU
What to know: Aggies needed a 12th man to stop Arkansas’ Taylen Green, but 11 were just enough.
3. Georgia (6-1)
Last week: 4
This week: Idle
What to know: Up next for the Bulldogs: Florida and its new Billy (Gonzales).
4. Oklahoma (6-1)
Last week: 7
This week: vs. Ole Miss
What to know: Helluva year for OU, but to Sooners fans, that Texas loss looks like a fly on a wedding cake.
5. Ole Miss (6-1)
Last week: 1
This week: at Oklahoma
What to know: Georgia found the tonic for its offense, and its name was Pete Golding.
6. Vanderbilt (6-1)
Last week: 10
This week: vs. Missouri
What to know: Until further notice, Vanderbilt’s an SEC Championship Game threat. Go ahead, read it again.
7. Missouri (6-1)
Last week: 8
This week: at Vanderbilt
What to know: After two weeks of rough sledding against Alabama and Auburn, Ahmad Hardy is looking more human.
8. Tennessee (5-2)
Last week: 5
This week: at Kentucky
What to know: That 99-yard interception return Alabama got away with? UA cornerback Zabien Brown might’ve had UT’s playoff hopes in the other arm.
9. Texas (5-2)
Last week: 6
This week: at Mississippi State
What to know: Um, 177 yards of total offense at Kentucky? Something’s Wronghorns.
10. LSU (5-2)
Last week: 9
This week: vs. Texas A&M
What to know: Go tell the Cajuns there’s no shame in losing to Vanderbilt. Just do it from the driver’s seat with the engine revved.
11. Florida (3-4)
Last week: 14
This week: Idle
What to know: In the unforgettable words of Judge Elihu Smails … “Billy, Billy, Billy. Oh, Billy.”
12. South Carolina (3-4)
Last week: 11
This week: vs. Alabama
What to know: Bigger disappointment this year: the Gamecocks, or iOS 26?
13. Mississippi State (4-3)
Last week: 12
This week: vs. Texas
What to know: Bulldogs oh-so-close again to Jeff Lebby’s first SEC win. Maybe the Texas offense gets them over the top next week.
14. Auburn (3-4)
Last week: 13
This week: at Arkansas
What to know: Hugh Freeze has forgotten what a good offense looks like, but Arkansas is about to remind him.
15. Kentucky (2-4)
Last week: 15
This week: vs. Tennessee
What to know: Merge the Wildcats defense and the Arkansas offense into one team, and Arkantucky might contend.
16. Arkansas (2-5)
Last week: 16
This week: vs. Auburn
What to know: Tackling continues to be optional in Fayetteville.
Tuscaloosa News columnist Chase Goodbread is also the weekly co-host of Crimson Cover TV on WVUA-23. Reach him at cgoodbread@gannett.com. Follow on X.com @chasegoodbread.
