SEC power rankings entering college football Week 9: Ole Miss falls, new top-10 team

No conference in college football is quite like the SEC. They proved it in non-conference play this year, but they also prove it every week. There are no weeks off in this conference. In most leagues, a game against a team near the bottom of the standings is an easy victory.

Not here. If you have a road game against a team near the bottom of the SEC, you’ve either got to go to Starkville and try to contain Kamario Taylor, a spooky trip to Jordan-Hare against Alex Golesh’s unique offense, or even a trip to Norman to play one of the top-5 defenses in the country. It just means more!

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Ranks 10-6

10. Missouri

The Tigers are tough to rank. They stay here at #10 for now after their Week 8 Bye. Their wins are aging well, but not their losses. Let’s just see how they do the rest of the way.

9. Tennessee

Will Josh Huepel go back to Faizon Brandon? In the 24-21 loss to South Carolina, George MacIntyre looked in over his head as the starting QB, and Desean Bishop carried the load to the tune of 32 carries. The ceiling of this offense is much higher with Brandin, but the floor may also be lower.

8. South Carolina

Gamecocks fans had hope heading into the 2026 season because they had their 2 stars coming back: QB LaNorris Sellers and DE Dylan Stewart. Both made massive plays down the stretch to pull off the victory against Tennessee and save Shane Beamer’s job (for the time being).

7. Florida

Week 8 was a perfect time for a Bye week for the Gators. They get another week of practice to break in Tramell Jones as the starting QB, and an extra week to prepare for Georgia.

6. Kentucky

Only Kentucky and Georgia control their own destiny in the SEC title race. Which is an insane statement to be true 8 weeks into the season. But Will Stein and Kenny Minchey have instantly turned fortunes around in Lexington, and a CFP berth is not impossible.

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Top 5

5. Ole Miss

The loss to Texas showed some blemishes for this Rebels team — once Kewan Lacy went out, the run game was non-existent. The defense was opportunistic, but got gashed in the run game and routinely let up open receivers downfield. With a difficult schedule remaining, it would be a shame to squander a brilliant season from Trinidad Chambliss by failing to make the CFP.

4. Alabama

This Alabama offense is simply not the same without Ryan Coleman-Williams. It clearly affects Keelon Russell, who had a very up-and-down performance against Texas A&M. It didn’t cost them this week, but it may down the road.

3. Georgia

The loss to Auburn may be the wake-up call that the Dawgs needed, and a Week 8 Bye to get an extra week to prepare for Florida may also have been a need. Buster Faulkner’s offenses at Georgia Tech have been an issue for Kirby Smart in the past.

2. LSU

This team is starting to come together, and it could be scary. First, TE Trey’Dez Green is back. Second, the defense is flying all over the field, making plays. Third, Jackson Harris is looking like a bona fide WR1, going for more than 150 against Auburn.

1. Texas

In the win over Ole Miss, the Longhorns showed exactly why they have the highest ceiling of anyone in the conference. When Arch Manning is at his best, the offense looks effortless, and the defense is swarming when they are not making mental mistakes. It’s time to acknowledge that this is actually a very good football team who just lost two games in very unlikely fashion.

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