Another action-packed week of SEC football has concluded, with the conference going 11-3 against nonconference opponents, following a 13-3 record in Week 1. This week saw some intense Power Four matchups, with Texas dominating Michigan, Arkansas struggling against Oklahoma State, South Carolina pulling off an upset over Kentucky, and Cal surprising Auburn at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Despite strong offensive performances across the league, SEC teams have struggled when facing tougher nonconference Power Four opponents. So far, the SEC holds a 4-6 record in these marquee matchups, raising concerns about the conference’s overall strength against higher-level competition.
Week 3 SEC Power Rankings
| Rank | School | Game Result | Previous Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia | W, Tennessee Tech 48-3 | 1 |
| 2 | Texas | W, Michigan 31-12 | 2 |
| 3 | Ole Miss | W, Middle Tennessee 52-3 | 3 |
| 4 | Missouri | W, Buffalo 38-0 | 4 |
| 5 | Tennessee | W, NC State 51-10 | 6 |
| 6 | Alabama | W, South Florida 42-16 | 5 |
| 7 | LSU | W, Nicholls State 44-21 | 7 |
| 8 | Arkansas | L, Oklahoma State 39-31 | 11 |
| 9 | Oklahoma | W, Houston 16-12 | 9 |
| 10 | Auburn | L, California 21-14 | 10 |
| 11 | Texas A&M | W, McNeese 52-10 | 12 |
| 12 | Vanderbilt | W, Alcorn State 55-0 | 13 |
| 13 | Mississippi State | L, Arizona State 30-21 | 14 |
| 14 | Kentucky | L, South Carolina 31-6 | 8 |
| 15 | Florida | W, Samford 45-7 | 15 |
| 16 | South Carolina | W, Kentucky 31-6 | 16 |
Biggest Movers
Kentucky experienced the most dramatic fall in the rankings, plummeting from No. 8 to No. 14 after a disastrous offensive performance. Brock Vandagriff completed just three passes for 30 yards, reminiscent of an offense from the 1930s. South Carolina, a team that barely scraped by Old Dominion in Week 1, took advantage of Kentucky’s struggles, securing a 31-6 victory despite only managing 252 total yards of offense.
Key Takeaways
The SEC’s offensive prowess has been a highlight this season, but their performance against top-tier opponents raises questions. Texas continues to assert its dominance, while Georgia remains steady at the top after handling Tennessee Tech with ease. Arkansas’ close loss to Oklahoma State exposes vulnerabilities, while Kentucky’s shocking defeat highlights the volatility of the conference. South Carolina’s unexpected rise may be something to watch in the coming weeks.
As the SEC moves into Week 3, the conference will aim to improve its record against tougher competition and solidify its reputation as the premier college football conference.
