Saturday in the SEC began with a major upset in Starkville and ended with a defensive showdown in Baton Rouge. Now that the dust has settled, here’s a look at our Week 10 power rankings following an eventful Week 10:
1. Alabama: It wasn't the most dominant performance of the season, but in Death Valley with a freshman quarterback and very little working on offense, a 10-point win was more than enough. Even without star safety Eddie Jackson, Alabama's defense continues to be a driving force for the top-ranked Tide.
2. Auburn: It took more fight than the Tigers would have preferred, but with a 23-16 victory over Vanderbilt, they remain in the playoff race. Texas A&M's loss means the Tigers control their own fate; win out and they can go to Atlanta for the SEC championship. They have two SEC games left, both on the road: Georgia and Alabama.
3. Texas A&M: It’s safe to say the selection committee might have had the Aggies a little high at No. 4 this past week. A trip to Starkville, Mississippi, combined with an 11 a.m. local kickoff proved to be disastrous for Kevin Sumlin’s team. The season isn’t over, but Texas A&M’s playoff hopes might as well be after Saturday's loss to Mississippi State.
4. LSU: The Tigers proved their legitimacy by playing top-ranked Alabama to a draw for three quarters, but their offense once again failed to produce much of anything against the Tide. Give LSU’s defense kudos, but after Leonard Fournette (17 carries for 35 yards) got stuffed for a second straight year, it’s clear that LSU still isn’t in Alabama’s class.
5. Arkansas: Can the Hogs figure out who they are or what they want to be already? Two weeks removed from giving up nearly 600 rushing yards, Arkansas held Florida to just 12 rushing yards in a 31-10 rout of the 11th-ranked Gators. The Hogs also gashed Florida’s vaunted defense for 466 yards, including 223 on the ground.
6. Florida: This is your fading SEC East leader, folks. The Gators were blasted 31-10 at Arkansas after 10 drives ended with either a turnover or lasted five plays or fewer. Florida entered the day allowing the fewest points (11.7) and yards (239.9) per game in the SEC. On Saturday, the Gators' defense allowed 24 points and 466 yards.
7. Tennessee: After an incredibly rough week that featured a terrible loss to South Carolina and the transfer of lead back Jalen Hurd, the Vols blanked Tennessee Tech 55-0. John Kelly replaced Hurd admirably with 104 yards and a 73-yard touchdown run, and with how bad Florida looked against Arkansas, the SEC East is still in the Vols’ sight.
8. Ole Miss: The Rebels got a much-needed win, even if it was against a Sun Belt opponent (Georgia Southern) and tougher than predicted (37-27). One potential concern: QB Chad Kelly left the game in the third quarter with a knee injury and didn't return.
9. Georgia: The Bulldogs ended a two-game losing streak by swiping a 27-24 win at Kentucky on the final play. It gets Georgia back over .500 ahead of its clash with rival Auburn next week, and the Bulldogs look like they're in good shape to get to a bowl game.
10. Mississippi State: Don’t give up on Dan Mullen just yet. His Bulldogs pulled off the upset of the day, taking down No. 4 Texas A&M at home. If nothing else, Saturday’s game showed that Nick Fitzgerald has a bright future as Mississippi State’s quarterback.
11. Kentucky: Tough home loss to Georgia for the Wildcats, who could have pulled even in the loss column with SEC East-leading Florida had they won. They still need one more win to go bowling and will likely get it in two weeks vs. Austin Peay, if not next week at Tennessee. After leading Georgia by eight points in the third quarter and having a chance to go ahead late, Kentucky has to feel as if it let one slip away.
12. South Carolina: Don't look now, but the Gamecocks are heating up. That's three wins in a row for Will Muschamp & Co. as they beat Missouri 31-21. The Gamecocks are 3-0 since making the switch to QB Jake Bentley, and he threw for 254 yards and two touchdowns on Saturday. The running game is going, and the defense has yet to allow 30 points (one of only six teams with that distinction).
13. Vanderbilt: The Commodores didn't win -- it was a tall task to go into Jordan-Hare Stadium and do so -- but they came fairly close, leading the Tigers at halftime, and they had the ball with a chance to tie at the end. This looks like an improving Vandy team, and QB Kyle Shurmur put together one of the best performances of his young career, which is encouraging. Don't count Vandy out of a bowl just yet.
14. Missouri: The Tigers are still waiting on their first SEC victory after falling to South Carolina. They officially won't be bowl-eligible this season, as they need four more wins to get there and have only three games remaining. It's the second straight year without a bowl game for Mizzou and third since joining the SEC five seasons ago.
1. Alabama: It wasn't the most dominant performance of the season, but in Death Valley with a freshman quarterback and very little working on offense, a 10-point win was more than enough. Even without star safety Eddie Jackson, Alabama's defense continues to be a driving force for the top-ranked Tide.
2. Auburn: It took more fight than the Tigers would have preferred, but with a 23-16 victory over Vanderbilt, they remain in the playoff race. Texas A&M's loss means the Tigers control their own fate; win out and they can go to Atlanta for the SEC championship. They have two SEC games left, both on the road: Georgia and Alabama.
3. Texas A&M: It’s safe to say the selection committee might have had the Aggies a little high at No. 4 this past week. A trip to Starkville, Mississippi, combined with an 11 a.m. local kickoff proved to be disastrous for Kevin Sumlin’s team. The season isn’t over, but Texas A&M’s playoff hopes might as well be after Saturday's loss to Mississippi State.
4. LSU: The Tigers proved their legitimacy by playing top-ranked Alabama to a draw for three quarters, but their offense once again failed to produce much of anything against the Tide. Give LSU’s defense kudos, but after Leonard Fournette (17 carries for 35 yards) got stuffed for a second straight year, it’s clear that LSU still isn’t in Alabama’s class.
5. Arkansas: Can the Hogs figure out who they are or what they want to be already? Two weeks removed from giving up nearly 600 rushing yards, Arkansas held Florida to just 12 rushing yards in a 31-10 rout of the 11th-ranked Gators. The Hogs also gashed Florida’s vaunted defense for 466 yards, including 223 on the ground.
6. Florida: This is your fading SEC East leader, folks. The Gators were blasted 31-10 at Arkansas after 10 drives ended with either a turnover or lasted five plays or fewer. Florida entered the day allowing the fewest points (11.7) and yards (239.9) per game in the SEC. On Saturday, the Gators' defense allowed 24 points and 466 yards.
7. Tennessee: After an incredibly rough week that featured a terrible loss to South Carolina and the transfer of lead back Jalen Hurd, the Vols blanked Tennessee Tech 55-0. John Kelly replaced Hurd admirably with 104 yards and a 73-yard touchdown run, and with how bad Florida looked against Arkansas, the SEC East is still in the Vols’ sight.
8. Ole Miss: The Rebels got a much-needed win, even if it was against a Sun Belt opponent (Georgia Southern) and tougher than predicted (37-27). One potential concern: QB Chad Kelly left the game in the third quarter with a knee injury and didn't return.
9. Georgia: The Bulldogs ended a two-game losing streak by swiping a 27-24 win at Kentucky on the final play. It gets Georgia back over .500 ahead of its clash with rival Auburn next week, and the Bulldogs look like they're in good shape to get to a bowl game.
10. Mississippi State: Don’t give up on Dan Mullen just yet. His Bulldogs pulled off the upset of the day, taking down No. 4 Texas A&M at home. If nothing else, Saturday’s game showed that Nick Fitzgerald has a bright future as Mississippi State’s quarterback.
11. Kentucky: Tough home loss to Georgia for the Wildcats, who could have pulled even in the loss column with SEC East-leading Florida had they won. They still need one more win to go bowling and will likely get it in two weeks vs. Austin Peay, if not next week at Tennessee. After leading Georgia by eight points in the third quarter and having a chance to go ahead late, Kentucky has to feel as if it let one slip away.
12. South Carolina: Don't look now, but the Gamecocks are heating up. That's three wins in a row for Will Muschamp & Co. as they beat Missouri 31-21. The Gamecocks are 3-0 since making the switch to QB Jake Bentley, and he threw for 254 yards and two touchdowns on Saturday. The running game is going, and the defense has yet to allow 30 points (one of only six teams with that distinction).
13. Vanderbilt: The Commodores didn't win -- it was a tall task to go into Jordan-Hare Stadium and do so -- but they came fairly close, leading the Tigers at halftime, and they had the ball with a chance to tie at the end. This looks like an improving Vandy team, and QB Kyle Shurmur put together one of the best performances of his young career, which is encouraging. Don't count Vandy out of a bowl just yet.
14. Missouri: The Tigers are still waiting on their first SEC victory after falling to South Carolina. They officially won't be bowl-eligible this season, as they need four more wins to get there and have only three games remaining. It's the second straight year without a bowl game for Mizzou and third since joining the SEC five seasons ago.
