New Jersey

2024 SEC Football Power Rankings: Week 9

Seren Anwen October 27, 2024

Welcome to the Week 9 Power Rankings, where nothing matters except what happens between the white lines. No preseason rankings, talent recruiting compositions, or programmatic expectations are taken into account. The only formula is wins and losses when we analyze college football’s top conference.

Another week of Southeastern Conference games gives us new information to consider as we head into the home stretch of the season. The conference championship picture is starting to take shape as two teams battle it out in Atlanta for the right to the SEC title.

It was a big week as a team earned its first league win of the year, a clear leader in the conference standings was established, and more.

1. Texas A&M (↑4) (7-1, 5-0)

The Aggies find themselves alone atop the SEC standings after beating LSU on Saturday night. Mike Elko’s team has rattled off seven straight wins after losing in the season opener. Switching to backup quarterback Marcel Reed in the second half made the difference as he scored three rushing touchdowns.

2. Georgia (↓1) (6-1, 4-1)

The Bulldogs enjoyed a BYE week before next week’s rivalry game with the Florida Gators.

3. Texas (↓1) (7-1, 3-1)

The Longhorns traveled to Nashville and defeated the powerhouse Vanderbilt Commodores 27-24. Quinn Ewers found receiver DeAndre Moore Jr. for six receptions for 97 yards and two touchdowns to stay in the running for the SEC Championship Game.

4. Tennessee (-) (6-1, 3-1)

The Volunteers enjoyed a bye week before hosting rival Kentucky next weekend.

5. LSU (↓2) (6-2, 3-1)

The Tigers took a 17-7 halftime lead but couldn’t stop backup quarterback Marcel Reed in College Station. LSU lost 38-23 but is still not out of the SEC title race and the College Football Playoff. Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier passed for 405 yards but threw three interceptions in the loss.

6. Alabama (↑1) (6-2, 3-2)

The Crimson Tide put together a dominant defensive performance against an undermanned Missouri Tigers team. Alabama forced three turnovers and threw a shutout en route to a 34-0 win.

7. Vanderbilt (↓1) (5-3, 2-2)

The Commodores gave Texas everything they had but came up a little short in the end, losing 27-24 at home. Vanderbilt was only able to convert 3:12 in the third period, so things went uphill offensively all evening.

8. Ole Miss (↑1) (6-2, 2-2)

The Rebels entered the locker room to boos from the home fans after trailing Oklahoma. Lane Kiffin and Co. turned things around in the second half, but Ole Miss continues to fall short of preseason expectations, making last month a big one in Oxford.

9. South Carolina (↓1) (4-3, 2-3)

The Gamecocks had a BYE week and will host Texas A&M at Columbia next week.

10. Missouri (-) (6-2, 2-2)

The Tigers went to Tuscaloosa and were beaten 34-0, but were extremely shorthanded in the game. Missouri did not have a starting running back and starting quarterback Brady Cook was well below 100 percent and left the game early.

11. Arkansas (↑1) (5-3, 3-2)

Razorbacks quarterback Taylen Green rushed for 314 yards and five passing touchdowns as Arkansas went to Mississippi State and beat the Bulldogs’ breakout 58-25.

12. Oklahoma (↓1) (4-4, 1-4)

The Sooners took a 14-10 halftime lead but were shut out by Ole Miss and lost their third straight game at Oxford. Oklahoma was just 8-18 on third downs, spelling doom for their surprising performance.

13. Florida (-) (4-3, 2-2)

The Gators enjoyed a week off before facing the Georgia Bulldogs next week.

14. Auburn (↑1) (3-5, 1-4)

It took Hugh Freeze coming down with food poisoning to realize his best player was running back Jarquez Hunter. The tailback required 23 carries for 278 yards and two touchdowns as Auburn earned its first SEC victory over Kentucky.

15. Kentucky (↓1) (3-5, 1-5)

The Wildcats have lost three straight games to Vanderbilt, Florida and now the Auburn Tigers, giving Hugh Freeze and Co. their first SEC win of the year. Things won’t get any easier for Big Blue Nation when they travel to Knoxville next week.

16. Mississippi State (-) (1-6, 0-4)

The Bulldogs continue to occupy our last spot as they hit hard this week. The Arkansas Razorbacks defeated Mississippi State 58-25 in Starkville.

Yiamastaverna

Yiamastaverna