SEC Football Power Rankings After Week 7
This week in the SEC, we saw an amazing slate of games, with several ranked matchups. This weekends upsets could have an effect on who ultimately goes to Atlanta. Let’s take a look at where they fall in the power rankings for Week 6:
14. Vanderbilt (Lost to #1 Georgia 55-0)
Vanderbilt never had a chance in this one. Georgia jumped out early and never looked back, routing the Commodores in Athens. Quarterback A.J. Swann had only 105 yards passing and Vanderbilt only managed 150 yards of total offense against the Bulldogs. Ray Davis led the rushing attack for the ‘Dores, with 29 yards on the ground. Georgia scored in every quarter and was never threatened to lose the shutout.
13. Missouri (BYE)
Missouri benefitted from the old saying, “you can’t lose your bye week”, getting the week off to prepare for Vanderbilt.
12. Auburn (Lost to # 9 Ole Miss 48-34)
The Tigers were very competitive throughout the entire game against the Rebels, despite a quarterback change mid-game. After early ineffectiveness, Robby Ashford gave way to T.J. Finley, who did not impress. Ashford returned and ended up with a mediocre day, completing eight passes for 140 yards and two interceptions. Tank Bigsby lived up to his name, however, with a big day on the ground. The 6’0”, 225 pound running back had 179 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries. With the Tigers within one touchdown after three quarters, at 38-31, they could only muster an Anders Carlson field goal in the fourth quarter. Bryan Hardin might need to touch up his LinkedIn resume.
11. Arkansas (Won against BYU 52-35)
The Razorbacks looked better with quarterback K.J. Jefferson back in action and the Razorbacks were in total control, despite playing in Provo. Jefferson threw for 367 yards and five touchdowns, leading a powerful offensive output. Raheim Sanders rushed for 175 yards and two touchdowns for Arkansas. Matt Landers had a good day catching the football, with eight receptions for 99 yards and three touchdowns.
10. Texas A&M (BYE)
The Aggies used their bye week to let their banged up offense rest. The Aggies head to Columbia, South Carolina next week.
9. South Carolina (BYE)
The Gamecocks also had a bye week, allowing them to prepare to welcome the Aggies.
8. Florida (Lost to LSU 45-35)
Anthony Richardson was once again average in the Gator loss against a different set of Tigers. Richardson threw for 185 yards and one touchdown, with zero interceptions. He did, however, add 109 yards and one touchdown on the ground. Montrell Johnson Jr. was the leading rusher again for the Gators, with 57 yards and two touchdowns. Justin Shorter had 71 yards and a touchdown on three receptions for Florida.
7. LSU (Won against Florida 45-35)
Jayden Daniels led the Louisiana State University Tigers to a decisive victory in The Swamp. Daniels threw for 349 yards and three touchdowns, while rushing for three more touchdowns, against a Gator defense that had no answers for him. Kayshon Boutte was the leading receiver for the Tigers, with 8 receptions for 115 yards. Nine receivers caught passes for LSU. Josh Williams had 106 yards on 14 carries for the Tigers.
6. Mississippi State (Lost to #22 Kentucky 27-17)
Bulldogs quarterback Will Rogers could not figure out the Kentucky defense, recording his worst performance of the season. Rogers had only 203 yards and one touchdown, to go with an interception. The Bulldogs were even more ineffective on the ground, rushing for only 22 yards. The Bulldogs defense did add a touchdown off an interception that was a great read by cornerback Emmanuel Forbes.
5. Kentucky (Won against #16 Mississippi State 27-17)
Kentucky welcomed back quarterback Will Levis and Wildcats signal caller completed 17 passes for 230 yards and a touchdown. An ill-advised screen led to a interception return for a touchdown by the Bulldogs. Chris Rodriguez had a big day for the Wildcats running back had 197 yards and two touchdowns on 30 carries. The story of the night was the Wildcats defense, which held Mississippi State to 250 total yards of offense. Deandre Square had an interception that sealed the win.
4. Ole Miss (Won against Auburn 48-34)
Lane Kiffin has finally realized that you can run the ball and have a good offense. The Rebels had a big day on the ground, rushing for 448 total yards. Quinshon Judkins, Zach Evans and Jaxson Dart all went over 100 yards for Ole Miss. Judkins had the biggest day, with 139 yards and two touchdowns. Auburn hung around, only trailing by one score to start the fourth quarter, but the Rebels put them away, only allowing a field goal in the final quarter.
3. Alabama (Lost to #6 Tennessee 52-49)
The Crimson Tide finally lost to Tennessee. The last time this happened, Facebook was brand new and Twitter hadn’t been launched. Nick Saban’s crew started slowly, only scoring seven points in the first quarter on a Jahmyr Gibbs touchdown run, his first of three on the day. The Crimson Tide defense allowed 21 points to the Vols in the first quarter. Once Bryce Young got going, however, the game changed. Young finished with 455 yards and two touchdowns. In the end, the Volunteers offense was enough to beat Alabama, with a missed field goal by Will Reichard being the difference. The loss gives Saban his first loss against Tennessee as the Tide head coach.
2. Tennessee (Won against #3 Alabama 52-49)
Tennessee looked absolutely dominant against a very good Crimson Tide squad. Inn what is surely an Instant Classic, Tennessee beat the Crimson Tide for the first time since 2006. Hendon Hooker threw for 385 yards and five touchdowns, with wide receiver Jalin Hyatt catching all of them. Hyatt added 207 yards to go with his five touchdowns. Jabari Small had 53 yards rushing and a touchdown to lead the Vols in rushing. The game was decided on a 40 yard field goal by Chase McGrath, as time expired.
1.UGA (Won against Vanderbilt 55-0)
Georgia once again looked like a national championship contender, though the competition was not the highest caliber. Stetson Bennett had a good day, while playing limited action against an overmatched Vanderbilt team. Bennett had 289 yards and two touchdowns, giving way to Carson Beck, who had two touchdowns of his own. Three Bulldogs running backs had a touchdown, with no one going over 49 yards. The Bulldogs also had eleven different receivers catch passes on the day. Georgia had 579 yards of total offense against the Commodores.