And then there was one.
Missouri somehow threw itself from the ranks of the unbeatens, leaving Alabama as the only Southeastern Conference team standing without a loss.
Following another round of dominant performances from Oregon, Florida State and Ohio State, it’s now almost certain that the Tide are the conference’s only hope for keeping its consecutive BCS National Championship streak alive.
1. Alabama (8-0, 5-0 SEC)
Alabama slaughtered an awful Tennessee team on Saturday. In other news, the Earth is still round and the sky is still blue.
The Tide haven’t faced a decent opponent in more than a month, but they’re taking care of business against the lesser foes and barring a loss will remain on top of all rankings, including these.
Last Week: 1
2. Auburn (7-1, 3-1 SEC)
Quarterback Nick Marshall left Auburn’s romping of Florida Atlantic with a shoulder injury but reports are he’ll be fine for Saturday’s game against Arkansas. Auburn is the biggest threat to Alabama, but not if Marshall is hurt.
The Plainsmen’s next three opponents are unranked. If they avoid stubbing their toe, the Iron Bowl will becomes an SEC Championship play-in game.
Last Week: 2
3. Texas A&M (6-2, 3-2 SEC)
People can criticize some decisions Johnny Manziel makes off the field, but no one can question the player and competitor he is on the field.
Amid doubts about whether he would even play on Saturday due to a shoulder injury, Johnny Football tossed four touchdowns and led the Aggies past Vanderbilt, 56-24.
After the game, Manziel said not playing was never an option because his team means everything to him. That is a man leading his football team, and I love it.
Last week: 4
4. South Carolina (6-2, 4-2 SEC)
Battling a knee injury, Connor Shaw relieved Dylan Thompson and rallied the Gamecocks with 17 fourth-quarter points en route to a 27-24 double-overtime victory at Missouri.
The Gamecocks looked dead in the water for three quarters, but Shaw’s three touchdown passes revived South Carolina’s hopes at winning the SEC East.
Last Week: 6
5. Missouri (7-1, 3-1 SEC)
The Tigers dominated South Carolina for three quarters. They held a 17-0 lead and were 15 minutes away from effectively clinching the SEC East. But three Shaw touchdowns and a shanked field goal later, Gary Pinkel and company were left to wonder how they let it slip away.
Missouri still controls its own destiny and will go to Atlanta if it win out. The biggest concern is how it bounces back from a shocking loss, which isn’t easy.
Last Week: 2
6. LSU (7-2, 3-2 SEC)
LSU scuffled through the first half before blowing away lowly Furman in the second half.
Les Miles now has two weeks to get his Tigers ready for a trip to Tuscaloosa, Ala. They likely can’t catch the Tide for the SEC West title, but ending Nick Saban’s run of National Championships would make for a nice consolation prize.
Last Week: 5
7. Ole Miss (5-3, 2-3 SEC)
The Rebel Black Bears followed their upset of LSU with an easy win against the mighty Idaho Vandals and will carry a winning streak into its bye week.
The time off will allow Ole Miss to get healthier for a potential run through a soft back end of its schedule that includes three unranked opponents and three home games.
Last Week: 7
8. Georgia (4-3, 3-2 SEC)
Losers of two straight and ravaged by injuries, the Bulldogs needed last week’s open date more than anyone. It appears star running back Todd Gurley will return for this week’s rivalry game against Florida.
Things are starting to look up for Georgia. With Missouri losing, a win against the Gators would keep Georgia in the hunt for the SEC East.
Last Week: 8
9. Florida (4-3, 3-2 SEC)
The Gators are another team with two conference losses kept alive in the SEC East by Missouri’s loss.
However, they are the worst of the three. Unless Will Muschamp found a new offense during the bye week, more losses are forthcoming.
Last Week: 10
10. Tennessee (4-4, 1-3 SEC)
The Volunteers were the latest victims of the Crimson Tide buzz saw. The game was out of hand before they even realized they were in a football game.
Tennessee had played well before last week. Despite being hammered, it doesn’t drop this week because there are only a handful of teams in the country that wouldn’t suffer the same fate against Alabama.
Last Week: 9
11. Mississippi State (4-3, 1-2 SEC)
The Bulldogs have won two games in a row. Were the two wins by a combined seven points against Bowling Green and Kentucky at home? Yes. But hey, it’s progress.
I hope Dan Mullen enjoys his bye, because after that Mississippi State will travel to South Carolina and Texas A&M before returning home to play Alabama in a three-week stretch.
Last Week: 12
12. Vanderbilt (4-4, 1-4 SEC)
The Commodores played hard but didn’t look good against Texas A&M. No one expected them to stop Johnny Football, but being limited to 2.2 yards per carry by a putrid Aggie run defense is a bad sign offensively.
Vanderbilt won’t face another ranked team all reason, so James Franklin still has a chance at rallying his team to bowl eligibility.
Last Week: 11
13. Arkansas (3-5, 0-4 SEC)
The Razorbacks are one of the worst SEC teams I have seen in some time and likely won’t win another game this season. The only reason they aren’t last is that Kentucky is literally the worst.
Last Week: 13
14. Kentucky (1-6, 0-4 SEC)
See description above. Continue waiting for basketball season.
Last Week: 14