The SEC still sets the standard, and every week feels like a heavyweight fight. With non-conference showdowns and early league battles already shaping the picture, here is where things stand after this past weekend.
LSU
LSU owns the best win of the season so far, storming into the other Death Valley and knocking off Clemson in week one. Since then, they have looked every bit like a playoff contender. The defense is relentless, piling up six interceptions, including five against Florida.
Georgia
Georgia went into Knoxville and beat Tennessee for the ninth straight time, their biggest win of the season so far. New quarterback Gunner Stockton has been flawless, throwing for more than 700 yards with zero turnovers.
Tennessee
Tennessee’s offense is on fire, and new quarterback Joey Aguilar has slid right into Josh Heupel’s system. They have put up 158 points in three games, including 41 in the loss to Georgia. Even with that defeat, this team looks like one of the most dangerous in college football.
Texas
Arch Manning’s debut against Ohio State was a flop, but almost everyone struggles against the Buckeyes. Since then, Texas has beaten San Jose State and UTEP, but it still does not feel as dominant as Longhorn fans expected and Manning’s Heisman hopes have long been dashed.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma’s highlight so far is a week two win over Michigan, and Mateer has looked sharp. Still, Brent Venables has not turned into the program-changing hire the Sooners hoped for, and roster holes keep them out of the elite tier.
Alabama
The week one loss to Florida State stung, but Alabama answered with easy wins over Louisiana-Monroe and Wisconsin. They look steadier now, but we will find out who they really are when they face Georgia in two weeks.
Ole Miss
Ole Miss is ranked 13th nationally and already owns wins over Kentucky and Arkansas. Austin Simmons hurt his ankle against the Razorbacks, but backup Trinidad Chambliss stepped in and lit it up for 353 yards.
Missouri
Missouri is 3-0 with a rivalry win over Kansas. Quarterback Beau Pribula has been sharp, and the Tigers’ running back tandem is one of the best in the nation. The schedule hasn’t been overly difficult, but the offense is humming.
Texas A&M
The Aggies are known for hype they rarely match, but this year they finally delivered a signature win. Beating Notre Dame in South Bend was their first road victory over a ranked team since 2014.
Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt is unbeaten after hammering South Carolina in Columbia. Quarterback Diego Pavia has been a spark, and Clark Lea has brought energy to the program. His overall record is still 19-33 with one winning season, but this team looks different.
Mississippi State
Last year’s SEC cellar-dweller has been a surprise so far. Mississippi State is 3-0, with an upset of No. 12 Arizona State already on the board. A tune-up against Northern Illinois is next before league play begins.
Auburn
Auburn is undefeated, and while the win at Baylor was impressive, the other two victories came against lowly Ball State and South Alabama, and I still have questions about how good this team really is. An upset of Oklahoma next week would change that, but until then, they sit here.
South Carolina
South Carolina’s season may have turned ugly when quarterback LaNorris Sellers went down with a concussion during their loss to Vandy this past weekend. No word yet on if or when he will return. Even with him, they looked shaky, so without him, this season could turn into a nightmare in Columbia.
Arkansas
Arkansas has been exactly what we expected. They handled two easy wins and then lost a shootout to Ole Miss. The defense was fine against two inferior opponents, but got lit up by the Rebels this past weekend. The good news is that the offense is rolling at 570 yards per contest, good for fifth in the nation.
Kentucky
Kentucky is 2-1, but they have looked like one of the weakest-looking teams in the SEC. The only thing keeping them out of the bottom spot is Florida’s collapse.
Florida
Florida bottomed out with a home loss to USF, one of this season’s most shocking results so far. The Gators still face seven ranked opponents, and it is possible they lose every one of them. The schedule was always brutal, but the USF loss crushed their confidence and could turn this into a nine-loss season.
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