In this SEC Power Poll, Daily Mississippian Sports Editor Dylan Rubino ranks the 14 Southeastern Conference teams. The Ole Miss Rebels will play Arkansas Saturday at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Kickoff is set for 2:30 P.M.
1. Alabama- Can anyone stop Alabama now? The Crimson Tide kept on rolling after their early loss to Ole Miss. Beating previously undefeated Mississippi State at home solidifies Nick Saban’s team as the top dog in the conference. All Alabama needs is to win out against Western Carolina and Auburn at home to make it to Atlanta.
2. Mississippi State- Has the formula to beat Mississippi State been proven? Stop quarterback Dak Prescott as a runner and force him to beat you with his arm. That’s what Alabama did and the result was three Prescott interceptions. Even with the loss, Mississippi State is very much alive in the playoff race.
3. Ole Miss- The Rebels moved up two spots in both the AP and coaches polls without even playing a game. A lot needs to go right for the Rebels in order to win the SEC West and advance to the SEC Championship game. A win on the road against Arkansas is the biggest concern of the week.
4. Georgia- In their most impressive win of the season Saturday, Georgia took care of business at home against Auburn and won 34-7. Losing junior running back Todd Gurley for the season with a torn ACL should not haunt the Bulldogs, and freshman Nick Chubb is more than capable of filling his shoes. If Georgia can win out, they’ll be in Atlanta.
5. Auburn- Three losses in their last five games almost certainly knocks the defending conference champs out of the SEC title and playoff race. Auburn could not get the ball rolling on offense, as Georgia held them to under 300 total yards on offense for the first time this season. There are still games left to be played for the Tigers, as the Iron Bowl awaits in two weeks.
6. Missouri- Missouri’s SEC East chances are still alive with a big road win against Texas A&M Saturday 34-27. A 28-point third quarter showed offensive explosiveness that hasn’t been seen all season. The Tigers can beat a lot of teams playing like they did in the third quarter, but will we see that again?
7. LSU- The offense struggled mightily against Arkansas, being out gained 264-123 in total yards by the Razorbacks in a 17-0 loss. Inconsistencies at quarterback with sophomore Anthony Jennings continue to hold this team back. The running game struggled the most, only rushing for a total of 36 yards. A bye week is next, then a trip to College Station to face Texas A&M.
8. Texas A&M- In a game in which the Aggies were a heavy favorite, they laid an egg at home in their 34-27 loss to Missouri. The defense could not stay off the field as Missouri dominated time of possession. A bye week is next, then their home finale against LSU.
9. Arkansas- The Razorbacks snapped their haunting 17-game conference losing streak with a 17-0 win at home against rival LSU. The defense was the bright spot, holding LSU to zero points and only 123 yards of offense. Another statement can be made with a win at home against Ole Miss Saturday.
10. Tennessee- Sophomore dual-threat quarterback Joshua Dobbs is the difference maker that the Volunteers have been missing all season. Dobbs threw for 297 yards and three touchdowns in Tennessee’s 50-16 win over Kentucky. We’ll know more about the future of Tennessee when they play Missouri and Vanderbilt in the next two weeks.
11. Florida- It was announced Sunday that head coach Will Muschamp will be stepping down at the end of the season. His inability to build an offense is what doomed the Gators, as it has been shown all season. Losing at home to South Carolina spelled doom for Muschamp. The perfect way for him to go out would be a win over rival Florida State in two weeks.
12. South Carolina- Head coach Steve Spurrier admitted that he felt bad for Will Muschamp and Florida after their overtime win on the road. Spurrier looks tired and worn out from his many years as a head coach. Could this be the end for Spurrier? Maybe this is the year that Clemson finally beats Spurrier and South Carolina.
13. Kentucky- There once was a time when Kentucky held a 5-1 record. That changed quickly as the Wildcats sit at 5-6, losing five games in a row. The offense has struggled greatly in their five-game losing streak. A bye week is next, then a matchup with in-state rival Louisville.
14. Vanderbilt- The lowly Commodores have two shots left to pick up an SEC win this season. It won’t come this Saturday, as they travel to Starkville to play Mississippi State. Could it happen in two weeks at home against Tennessee?
