Everything is now crystal clear. Heading into the last week of the regular season, two games will decide which teams head to Atlanta to play for the Southeastern Conference Championship next Saturday.
The same four teams are still in the running, so there isn’t any movement at the top of this week’s rankings. But in light of an impressive performance from LSU, there is movement in the middle.
1. Alabama (11-0, 7-0 SEC)
After a tune-up against Chattanooga, Auburn week has finally arrived in Tuscaloosa. The winner of the Iron Bowl has gone on to win the BCS National Championship each of the past four seasons, and whoever wins this year’s game should be the odds-on favorite to make it five.
Alabama’s defense gives the Tide a slight edge going into the game, but it will be their toughest test this season. The winner will be No. 1 in next week’s final rankings.
Last Week: 1
2. Auburn (10-1, 6-1 SEC)
With the help of the miracle against Georgia, Auburn will host Alabama with the SEC West on the line, and the combination of quarterback Nick Marshall and running back Tre Mason give the Tigers a chance to pull it off.
This clearly isn’t the same Auburn team that was trounced 49-0 in last season’s Iron Bowl, but coach Gus Malzahn still has his troops hungry for revenge. It’s going to be a war.
Last Week: 2
3. Missouri (10-1, 6-1 SEC)
Quarterback James Franklin returned from his shoulder injury, but the story was Missouri’s running game and defense in a 24-10 victory at Ole Miss. With multiple running backs and receivers capable of doing damage, Missouri may have the most balanced offense in the SEC.
A home game against Texas A&M is now all that stands between the Tigers and a spot in the SEC Championship Game. A win puts them in and a loss means they’re out. It’s that simple.
Last Week: 3
4. South Carolina (9-2, 6-2 SEC)
South Carolina hung 70 on Coastal Carolina and hosts in-state rival Clemson this week. It’s a big game in terms of pride, but unless Missouri loses to Texas A&M, the Gamecocks will still be left out in the cold for the SEC title game.
Last Week: 4
5. LSU (8-3, 4-3 SEC)
LSU leaps up in this week’s rankings after suddenly finding a dominating defense against Texas A&M. The inclement conditions and a strong running game helped, but it was the best defense the Tigers played all season by a wide margin.
With Arkansas coming up on Friday, LSU is poised to end the regular season on a high note and appears to be headed for a Cotton Bowl berth.
Last Week: 7
6. Texas A&M (8-3. 4-3 SEC)
LSU made Johnny Manziel look human on Saturday. And when Johnny Football plays like a mere mortal, the Aggies are not a good football team.
The lopsided loss effectively ended Manziel’s Heisman hopes, but since his regular-season finale isn’t against John Chavis and LSU, I’d expect him to put on a show on his way out of college football.
Last Week: 5
7. Ole Miss (7-3, 3-4 SEC)
Ole Miss had its chance to vault itself up the conference latter by winning out, but fell flat at home against Missouri. The Rebel Black Bears were able to move the ball, but they couldn’t stop the run and only scored three points in three trips to the red zone.
Coach Hugh Freeze will have to quickly recapture his team’s focus as Ole Miss has a short week of practice before traveling to Starkville for a rivalry game against an improving Mississippi State team.
Last Week: 6
8. Vanderbilt (7-4, 4-4 SEC)
Down 10-7 in the final minutes of regulation, the Commodores shocked Tennessee as a backup quarterback faked a jump-pass and ran into the end zone for the game-winning score.
It was a huge rivalry-game victory for Vanderbilt, its third in a row and fourth win in five games. Assuming it beats Wake Forest in the season-finale, Vanderbilt should be headed for a decent bowl game.
Last Week: 8
9. Georgia (7-4, 5-3 SEC)
Last week, I wrote things couldn’t possibly get worse for Georgia — I jinxed it.
The Bulldogs didn’t lose to Kentucky, but senior quarterback Aaron Murray tore his ACL on Senior Day. Sometimes life’s just not fair.
Last Week: 9
10. Mississippi State (5-6, 2-5 SEC)
The Fighting Cowbells went on the road and beat Arkansas by a touchdown in overtime, but should beating Arkansas really be considered progress?
In a word — no.
Last Week: 10
11. Tennessee (4-7, 1-6 SEC)
The Volunteers had their hearts ripped out on a last-minute touchdown from Vanderbilt to suffer their fourth straight loss.
But Butch Jones’ team still appears to care, and that’s enough to keep it above the bottom three in the rankings.
Last Week: 12
12. Arkansas (3-8, 0-7 SEC)
Les Miles said Arkansas is a “very quality opponent with a very quality coach that could give LSU problems this Friday.”
Don’t believe him.
Last Week: 13
13. Florida (4-7, 3-5 SEC)
Just when it seemed Florida hit rock bottom, it fell through the ground floor and into the center of the Earth with a loss to Georgia Southern. Next up comes Florida State, a team that has been hanging more than 50 points on its opponents lately.
Did I mention Georgia Southern didn’t need to complete a pass to beat the Gators?
Last Week: 11
14. Kentucky (2-9, 0-7 SEC)
After everything I just mentioned, Kentucky is still below Florida. That pretty much sums it up.
Last Week: 14