Heading into Week 3 and we’re back with our power rankings, you can check out our Week 2 rankings here to see who moved the most. Is anyone good? For years the SEC has flexed its muscles in the non-conference portion of the schedule but this year the rest of the CFB has punched back. SEC Fatigue is certainly driving the narrative but the results speak for themselves. Lets look at where we stand going into a Week 3.
1. Georgia 2-0
The Dawgs jump back into the top spot by virtue of having an easy schedule and not falling flat on their face. Georgia dominated Ball State 45-3 but once again never really had to get out of 2nd gear. Defensively they controlled the game forcing 3 turnovers and only allowing 224 yards total. Carson Beck was fine as he threw for 283 yards and 3 TD but Georgia still hasn’t figured out their run game as they failed to get over 100 yards on the ground. Still pretty confident that Georgia is going to go 12-0 based on how easy that schedule is but they still haven’t looked overwhelmingly dominant yet. They open SEC play this Saturday at home against South Carolina. The game airs on CBS at 3:30pm ET.
2. Ole Miss 2-0
Ole Miss jumps all the way to number 2 this week after going on the road and beating a good Tulane team 37-20. The Rebels were in an absolute dog fight most of this game and were tied 17-17 going into the 4th quarter and it must be said that while Tulane is a good football team, they were without their starting QB. Jaxson Dart was again pretty good throwing for 267 yards and 2 TD and 1 INT, but Ole Miss is still struggling to create running lanes for the best RB in the SEC. 18 carries for 48 for Quinshon Judkins is not good enough and Ole Miss needs to get it figured out quickly. Ole Miss gets credit from me for not being cowards and actually scheduling a good G5 team on the road while other teams struggle to beat meh teams at home. This Saturday Ole Miss welcomes Georgia Tech to Oxford and it’s an oddly important game for not just the Rebels but for conference perception. The game airs on the SECN at 7:30pm ET.
3. Alabama 1-1
Whoo boy, the takes have been flying the last few days regarding the Saban Era after the Tide lost at home to Texas 34-24. Alabama has some serious flaws and probably would have dropped further if everyone else in the SEC didn’t stink it up worse, The most concerning issue is Alabama getting dominated on both the OL and DL throughout the game, that is something we haven’t seen in more than a decade. The Tide only rushed for 107 yards and 44 of that was Jaylen Milroe running for his life and scrambling to avoid sacks (he was still sacked 5 times). The lack of protection and running game never allowed the young QB to get comfortable and forced him into a bunch of mistakes as he tried to create something. He is no Byrce Young, and it isn’t really fair to expect him to be but the Alabama D also allowed Quinn Ewers to control the game. The Tide are still a good football team and I think can still win a National Championship but there are chinks in the armor for teams to exploit. Texas has a truly elite front 7 on D and what looks like an elite QB so it remains to be seen if that game-plan can be replicated by other programs (they also have a coach familiar with the Saban Way). The Tide are on the road this Saturday to South Florida. The game airs on ABC at 3:30pm ET.
4. Tennessee 2-0
In what appeared to be a theme in the SEC this week the Vols sleepwalked through their game against FCS opponent Austin Peay, winning 30-13. It seemed the Vols were being vanilla on purpose, barely pushing the ball downfield as Joe Milton only threw for 228 yards and 2 TD. The running game did get going with over 228 yards on the ground. It’s hard to take too much from these games (it would be awesome if SEC programs would stop scheduling FCS teams) but the Vols did their job. Tennessee heads down to Gainesville this Saturday to take on the Florida Gators. They haven’t won there since 2003 so we should learn a lot about the Vols one way or the other. The game airs on ESPN at 7pm ET.
5. LSU 1-1
The Tigers rebounded from their week 1 loss with a 72-10 win over Grambling State. Jayden Daniels dominated with almost 300 total yards (throwing and passing) and 5 passing TD but the running game flexed its muscle too picking up over 300 yards on the ground as a team. Obviously beating Grambling State doesn’t mean much for the Tigers as they had high hopes but considering how other SEC teams struggled it was a good sign. Up next LSU heads to Stark Vegas to take on the Mississippi State Bulldogs. The game is on ESPN with a noon kickoff.
6. Mississippi St. 2-0
Despite still being in transition Mississippi State was able to knock off the Arizona Wildcats 31-24 in OT. The Bulldogs defense carried the day forcing 5 turnovers and holding the Wildcats to under 100 rushing yards. Based on the defense’s play they probably should have won by multiple scores, but the offense is still figuring things out as they move away from the Air Raid. Will Rogers only attempted 17 passes and threw for 162 yards, but the running game showed some promise with Jo’Quavious Marks and Seth Davis rushing for over 150 yards combined. Mississippi State gets another big test with LSU coming to town for a noon kick (11am local time) but that defense is likely going to give them a chance in a lot of SEC games.
7. Arkansas 2-0
The Razorbacks won an ugly game over Kent State 28-6. They never really seemed to be all that into the game offensively but also never really seemed to be threatened. KJ Jefferson only threw for 136 yards and 2 TD but added another 48 on the ground. Defensively the Hogs looked totally dialed in forcing 7 sacks, 11 TFL, and 1 INT that was returned for a TD. If the defense can build off that performance the Hogs can become a dangerous team in the SEC West. Up next Arkansas welcomes new B12 opponent BYU to Fayetteville in another big-time non-conference game for the SEC. The game airs on ESPN2 at 7:30pm ET.
8. Auburn 2-0
Auburn headed out west and clawed out a 14-10 win over the Cal Golden Bears. The game was hard to watch with both teams showing some horrendous offensive execution. The Tigers couldn’t even muster 100 passing yards and were probably fortunate that Cal is just as toothless. It took a late score in the 4th quarter to take the lead, but I am giving the Tigers credit for traveling in the non-conference and playing a P5 opponent. Up next for the Tigers they welcome FCS opponent Samford to Jordan-Hare. The game airs on SECN+ at 7pm ET.
9. Texas A&M 1-1
The Aggies came in to 2023 with a lot of hype but sputtered at Miami this past weekend losing 48-33. In a vacuum losing to an improved Miami team on the road isn’t the worst thing in the world but giving up 48 points should have the alarm bells ringing in College Station. The Aggie defense was torched for 374 yards and 5 TD by Tyler Van Dyke and looked to have no answer schematically. Conner Weigman did throw 2 INT but he was hardly the problem as he also threw for 336 yards and 2 TD. There is enough talent in College Station for A&M to be a serious contender, but money can’t buy you a culture and A&M seems determined to learn that hard way. Plenty of time to get things corrected and we may learn that Miami is a really good football team, but it still feels like the Jimbo experiement has run its course. Up next Texas A&M welcomes UL-Monroe to Kyle Field. The game airs on SECN at 4pm ET.
10. Kentucky 2-0
Kentucky drops two spots after a truly pathetic first half display against Eastern Kentucky. They ended up winning 28-17 but anytime you are in a one possession ball game in the 4th quarter with an FCS team you’ve done something wrong. For whatever reason Kentucky just hasn’t looked like a dangerous team through two games. Defensively they are struggling to get off the field on 3rd down (against EKU and Ball State no less) and offensively they’ve been disorganized and a half-step slow until after HT in both games. That being said, there is talent on this team on both sides of the ball and the schedule appears to be getting easier with every SEC team struggling. The Cats have one more G5 game when Akron comes to town this Saturday (ESPNU at 7:30pm ET) before getting 8 straight SEC games and Louisville to close out the season.
11. Florida 1-1
The Gators picked up their first win of the season by beating FCS opponent McNeese St. 49-7. The Gators used their massive size advantage and just dominated the game rushing for over 300 yards and held the Cowboys to just 112 total yards. It doesn’t mean much since it’s just an FCS team, but Billy Napier badly needed something positive going into Tennessee week and he got it. Florida has a big opportunity to get some real momentum for the program with Tennessee coming to town.
12. Missouri 2-0
Missouri found itself in a dogfight with CUSA opponent MTSU this past weekend but held on to win 23-19. The Tigers D continues to prove that they are the strength of the team as they racked up 4 sacks and 12 TFL but the offense is still not quite up and running. Brady Cook was efficient, and they have a few playmakers out wide but it seems Drinkwitz knows what his strength is and isn’t going to do anything that loses him the game on offense. That works against MTSU, we’ll see how that plays once they play tougher teams. We’ll find out Saturday as Missouri welcomes Kansas State to Columbia in another big non-conference showdown for the SEC. The game airs on SECN at Noon ET.
13. South Carolina 1-1
After losing last week the SEC’s most annoying coach/QB combo beat FCS opponent Furman 47-21. Spencer Rattler threw for 345 yards and 3 TD but the OL still allowed 7 TFL. Per usual it’s hard to take anything from SEC teams beating up on FCS programs but not taking the lead until about a minute to go in the first half might be a worry. It still feels like a bunch middle-aged, dorky media members got hoodwinked by Beamer’s Tik-Tok dances because I don’t see much substance with the Gamecocks. They have a big chance to prove me wrong as they had to Athens to take on Georgia this Saturday.
14. Vanderbilt 2-1
Visions of the Commodores going 12-0 were dashed this past weekend as Vandy took their first L of the season on the road to Wake Forest 36-20. Vandy was competitive but fell into a 10-point hole just before the half after a fumble was returned for a TD. AJ Swann had a good day, but he forced some throws trying to get Vandy out of the hole and ended up giving the ball away twice. The defense allowed almost 300 yards on the ground and were never able get the game back under their control. I would imagine there are going to be a lot of games like this for Vandy as the margins are so thin and one mistake will likely cost them. On days they avoid that crucial mistake they will find themselves in a competitive football game. Up next Vandy travels to Las Vegas to take on UNLV. The game airs on CBSSN at 7pm ET.
