AL.com’s SEC Football Power Rankings for Week 3 of 2024: Some shuffling going on

The first two weeks of the 2024 SEC football season have been a mixed bag.

On the good side are teams like Georgia, Texas, Tennessee and Vanderbilt, who have rung up big-time non-conference wins. Ole Miss, Missouri and Alabama also look like potentially dynamic teams who will be in the mix for the conference title and playoff berths.

But on the lower end of the scale, teams like Kentucky, Florida, Texas A&M and Auburn have taken it on the chin in the early going. Arkansas and Mississippi State also didn’t exactly cast glory upon the SEC in their non-conference ventures.

So how do the teams in the SEC stack up after two weeks of action? Here’s the Week 3 edition of AL.com’s SEC football power rankings for 2024 (all times Central and all games Saturday):

16. Kentucky (1-1, 0-1)

Last week’s ranking: 11

Last week’s game: Lost to South Carolina, 31-6

This week’s game: vs. Georgia, 6:30 p.m., ABC

It’s pretty well understood that the Wildcats have already peaked under 12th-year coach Mark Stoops; the question now is whether or not this is the bottom. Kentucky was thoroughly embarrassed on its home field by South Carolina on Saturday, with the Gamecocks’ front seven terrorizing transfer quarterback Brock Vandagriff and the offense. It’s not likely to get better this week, as the top-ranked Bulldogs come to town for a prime-time matchup.

15. Florida (1-1)

Last week’s ranking: 16

Last week’s game: Beat Samford 45-7

This week’s game: vs. Texas A&M, 2:30 p.m., ABC

It was an FCS opponent, but any win was appreciated after the Gators carried a 5-game losing streak into the offseason and then flopped in their opener vs. Miami. Freshman quarterback DJ Lagway showed promise in his first career start, throwing four touchdown passes. Starter Graham Mertz should be out of concussion protocol this week, so it will be interesting to see how Billy Napier handles the QB rotation as Florida jumps back into the gauntlet with a visit from Texas A&M. The Gators need to start banking some wins before the schedule takes a brutal turn in November.

14. Auburn (1-1)

Last week’s ranking: 9

Last week’s game: Lost to California, 21-14

This week’s game: vs. New Mexico, 6:30 p.m., ESPN2

This is the Hugh Freeze experience — put together some of the best recruiting classes in the country, play well against top-level competition, but continually fall flat against inferior opponents. One position the Tigers didn’t upgrade in the offseason was quarterback, and Payton Thorne had the worst game of his career vs. California. Freeze is now 7-8 as Auburn’s head coach; much-maligned predecessor Bryan Harsin got off to an 8-7 start.

13. Mississippi State (1-1)

Last week’s ranking: 12

Last week’s game: Lost to Arizona State, 30-23

This week’s game: vs. Toledo, 6:30 p.m., ESPNU

The Bulldogs made this one closer than it really appeared to be with a strong second half after falling behind 27-3 at halftime. Arizona State’s Cam Skattebo ran all over the MSU defense, piling up 262 yards on 33 carries. Transfer quarterback Blake Shapen made some plays for the ‘Dogs, but had one brutal turnover that led directly to a Sun Devils touchdown. Toledo, a strong MAC team, visits Starkville this week, then the conference season begins.

12. Arkansas (1-1)

Last week’s ranking: 13

Last week’s game: Lost to Oklahoma State, 49-41 in 2OT

This week’s game: vs. UAB, 3:15 p.m., SEC Network

The Razorbacks were on the verge of their biggest win in years on Saturday before completely melting down in the second half and overtime. Arkansas piled up 648 yards of offense on the road and somehow lost. Two missed field goals and three turnovers were the biggest culprits, but one has to wonder if this situation is fixable for Sam Pittman. The Hogs should beat hapless UAB this week, then open SEC play at Auburn.

11. Vanderbilt (2-0)

Last week’s ranking: 14

Last week’s game: Beat Alcorn State, 55-0

This week’s game: at Georgia State, 6 p.m., ESPN+/SECN+

The era of good feeling continued for the Commodores, who beat up an inferior opponent (there aren’t that many for Vandy) to improve to 2-0. It’s worth noting Clark Lea’s team also won its first two games last year before losing 10 straight, but there’s a different feel this time around. The Dores must travel to face a Group of 5 team this week, but should be able to handle Georgia State. Things then get serious with a trip to Missouri in Week 4.

10. South Carolina (2-0, 1-0)

Last week’s ranking: 15

Last week’s game: Beat Kentucky, 31-6

This week’s game: vs. LSU, 11 a.m., ABC

A week after nearly giving the game away against Old Dominion, the Gamecocks throttled their old SEC rival Wildcats on the road. South Carolina’s front seven — led by veterans Debo Williams and Tonka Hemingway and 5-star freshman Dylan Stewart — is a serious bunch, and could keep Shane Beamer’s team in any game provided the offense shows up. LSU visits Williams-Brice on Saturday with College GameDay in town, so this is a real chance for South Carolina to make a statement.

9. Texas A&M (1-1)

Last week’s ranking: 10

Last week’s game: Beat McNeese, 52-10

This week’s game: at Florida, 2:30 p.m., ABC

The Aggies bounced back from a disappointing home loss to Notre Dame by taking care of business against a solid FCS opponent. It’s still not clear if Conner Weigman is the answer at quarterback, but he at least showed improvement in Week 2. A potentially dangerous trip to Florida begins SEC play, and the Aggies can’t afford another loss this early in the season if they want to contend in Mike Elko’s first season.

8. Oklahoma (2-0)

Last week’s ranking: 8

Last week’s game: Beat Houston, 16-12

This week’s game: vs. Tulane, 2:30 p.m., ESPN

Brent Venables’ team made a narrow escape against one of the weaker Power 4 teams in the country, but getting to 2-0 is notable when a few high-profile ranked teams have already flopped on their home field this season. Oklahoma had just 249 yards of total offense against the Cougars, which is not what many envisioned with 5-star sophomore quarterback Jackson Arnold at the controls. The Sooners’ defense appears solid, however, which is to be expected with Venables in charge. A dangerous Tulane team visits Norman on Saturday, so the time to tighten things up is now.

7. LSU (1-1)

Last week’s ranking: 7

Last week’s game: Beat Nicholls, 44-21

This week’s game: at South Carolina, 11 a.m., ABC

The Tigers’ consistency issues continue, as they led just 23-21 against an FCS opponent before pulling away in the second half. Garrett Nussmeier threw six touchdown passes, but LSU ran for only 64 yards despite four returning starters on the offensive line (starting running back John Emery is out for the year with a torn ACL). Brian Kelly’s teams tend to get better as the season goes along, but the Tigers need to sort out their problems in a hurry with a trip to face suddenly frisky South Carolina this weekend.

6. Alabama (2-0)

Last week’s ranking: 3

Last week’s game: Beat South Florida, 42-16

This week’s game: at Wisconsin, 11 a.m., Fox

If ever a final score was not indicative of how the game went, the Crimson Tide’s victory over South Florida certainly was a prime example. Mistake-prone Alabama led just 14-13 after three quarters before tacking on four touchdowns in the fourth. The offensive line piled up penalties and couldn’t keep the heat off Jalen Milroe for most of the game, but looked like a different unit after Elijah Pritchett took over at right tackle. Kalen DeBoer’s team hits the road for the first time on Saturday with a trip to Wisconsin and iconic Camp Randall Stadium.

5. Missouri (2-0)

Last week’s ranking: 5

Last week’s game: Beat Buffalo, 38-0

This week’s game: vs. Boston College, 11:45 a.m., SEC Network

The Tigers haven’t exactly played a team with a pulse yet, but 89-0 over the course of two games is 89-0. The defense obviously has been outstanding, while the offense has done just enough to get the job done. Missouri is halfway through a season-opening four-game homestand, but things get a little tougher with Boston College and Vanderbilt (both 2-0) visiting Columbia over the next two weeks. Even so, there’s no reason to believe the Tigers won’t be undefeated entering their Sept. 21 open date.

4. Ole Miss (2-0)

Last week’s ranking: 4

Last week’s game: Beat Middle Tennessee, 52-3

This week’s game: at Wake Forest, 6:30 p.m., The CW

The Rebels actually gave up a field goal this week, but continue to overwhelm their opposition with a relentless offense that has rung up 128 points in two games. The running game carried the day this time, with Henry Parrish rushing for four touchdowns. Despite being on the road, Ole Miss should have its way with Wake Forest this week. The Demon Deacons gave up 31 points in a 1-point loss to Virginia on Saturday. The Rebels might double that.

3. Tennessee (2-0)

Last week’s ranking: 6

Last week’s game: Beat North Carolina State, 51-10

This week’s game: vs. Kent State, 6:45 p.m., SEC Network

Speaking of rolling up points against an ACC opponent away from home, Tennessee absolutely hammered a then-ranked N.C. State 51-10 in Charlotte. Nico Iamaleava made a few mistakes, but also some big plays. However, the Volunteers’ running game and defensive front might be what separates the 2024 version from past Josh Heupel teams. Kent State shouldn’t pose much of a problem this week before the SEC opener at Oklahoma in Week 4.

2. Texas (2-0)

Last week’s ranking: 2

Last week’s game: Beat Michigan, 31-12

This week’s game: vs. UT-San Antonio, 6 p.m., ESPN

A week after Georgia tore apart Clemson, Texas made short work of the defending national champions in Ann Arbor. As Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian pointed out, quarterback Quinn Ewers — who threw three touchdown passes on Saturday — now has victories at Alabama and at Michigan the last two seasons. UTSA is a solid G5 program, but with the Roadrunners, Louisiana-Monroe and Mississippi State up the next three weeks, the Longhorns should cruise into their Oct. 5 open date at 5-0. After that comes Red River, then Georgia.

1. Georgia (2-0)

Last week’s ranking: 1

Last week’s game: Beat Tennessee, Tech, 48-3

This week’s game: at Kentucky, 6:30 p.m., ABC

The Bulldogs are off to a faster start this year than last, not giving their opposition much hope at all through two weeks. Carson Beck threw five touchdown passes against the overmatched Golden Eagles, and Trevor Etienne had some big runs in his Georgia debut. Injuries to linebacker Mykel Williams and tight end Oscar Delp are concerning, but Kirby Smart’s team opens SEC play against a very shaky looking Kentucky squad before an open date leading into its Sept. 28 battle with Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

Creg Stephenson has worked for AL.com since 2010 and covered college football for a variety of publications since 1994. Contact him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter at @CregStephenson.