SEC Power Rankings After Week 5
By Michael Luciano
The SEC is a lot more stratified than in most recent years, as the very worst teams in the conference (Tennessee, Arkansas, Kentucky, Vanderbilt) have stunk up the joint even more than usual while the conference also boasts five of the top nine teams in all of college football. With conference play underway, it's time to take stock of the SEC and separate the contenders from the pretenders.
10. Ole Miss
John Rhys Plumlee played decently under incredibly difficult circumstances against Alabama, but that was still a total decimation of the Rebels on Saturday. It remains unclear when quarterback Matt Corral will return to the starting lineup. He will have to overcome a patchwork defense to get the Rebels near bowl eligibility when he does, but more improbable things have happened in this conference.
9. South Carolina
The difference between Jake Bentley and Ryan Hilinski at quarterback is pretty noticeable, as the true freshman Hilinski has led the Gamecocks to a 2-2 record. While they still have plenty to clean up on the defensive end of things, the Gamecocks should be able to ride Hilinski and running back Tavien Feaster to around a .500 or better record and a bowl game this year.
8. Mississippi State
Saturday's demolition at Jordan-Hare was a sobering reminder at how far the Bulldogs have to go. While Nick Fitzgerald wasn't a good passer, he was born to run the read option. Vacillating between the better runner in Garrett Shrader and the better passer in Tommy Stevens has done Joe Moorhead and Mississippi State no good. They need a major change on defense and someone other than Kylin Hill to step up on offense to make teams fear them in the SEC.
7. Texas A&M
Arkansas was beat by one of the worst FBS programs in the country in San Jose State, but was able to take Jimbo Fisher and the Aggies down to the wire in Dallas with a backup quarterback in Ben Hicks. Kellen Mond doesn't look as precise as he did last year, and they haven't found any semblance of a running game. They play Alabama in the coming weeks, which could send Mond and the Aggies tumbling towards .500 in what has been a very inconsistent season for them.
6. Missouri
The Tigers might not be bowl eligible this year, but that hasn't stopped Kelly Bryant from balling out. Bryant and Missouri rebounded well from their loss at Wyoming, and have won three straight games. Bryant has 1,000 yards and eight scores through the air, a sign he has improved as a passer. Barry Odom has traditionally surprised folks in SEC East play, so Missouri could move up this list with an upset win.
5. Florida
Not only has the Florida offense stayed deadly without Feleipe Franks, it might have actually improved, as Kyle Trask has completed over 77 percent of his passes this season despite a largely ineffective running game. We will learn a lot about this Florida team when they take on Auburn next week, but Dan Mullen has been a terrific hire to this point, as he has the Gators positioned as the SEC East favorite if Georgia slips up.
4. Auburn
Defensive coordinator Chris Steele has been nothing short of a magician this season, as he has molded Auburn into one of the most aggressive units in the country. With Derrick Brown, Nick Coe, and Marlon Davidson destroying opposing offensive lines, quarterback Bo Nix can comfortably sit back and drop dimes all over the field. If Nix plays turnover-free football and the defense remains dominant, Auburn will keep winning and Gus Malzahn will keep his job.
3. LSU
Joe Burrow is still right in the thick of the Heisman race, as his improved play and Dave Aranada's stingy defense have made LSU title contenders this season. We will find out just how good this LSU team is when they play Auburn, Florida, and Alabama in the span of a month. If Burrow can keep picking teams apart while Clyde Edwards-Helaire runs over linebackers late in games, the Tigers should be just fine.
2. Georgia
D'Andre Swift, Jake Fromm, and the Bulldogs are riding high right now, as their win over Notre Dame has established them as legit title contenders. Kirby Smart has had a nasty habit of melting down in big games, but he didn't make any big mistakes as Fromm sliced up Notre Dame. If they can beat Florida, the Bulldogs will be guaranteed another chance to knock Alabama off of their perch.
1. Alabama
Tua Tagovailoa is starting to run away with the Heisman, and Devonta Smith's 274-yard, five-score game brings to light the fact that Alabama has three first-round receivers in Smith, Jerry Jeudy, and Henry Ruggs. Bama should stay at No. 1 until a team will at least give them a challenge and make them sweat a bit.