Berry Tramel's national rankings: Georgia No. 1 as SEC rises up

Then Alabama beat Wisconsin, Ole Miss beat Wake Forest and Missouri beat Boston College.

Now the SEC is the only power league with a WINNING record against the other power conferences.

The SEC is 8-6, the Big 12 and Big Ten each 5-6, and the Atlantic Coast Conference is 6-8.

If youre looking to make the math work, remember that games against Notre Dame count, since the independent Fighting Irish are considered to be part of the power-four structure.

No one expected the SEC to be down, especially with Alabama, Georgia and Louisiana State still having power non-conference games on the schedule.

But the SECs prowess is starting to exert itself.

For the second straight week, The Associated Press poll has six SEC teams listed in its top six.

And my rankings, which are much more determined by actual performance than APs rampant speculation, also have a decided SEC tint, with five of the top 12.

The SECs desire to fill the 12-team College Football Playoff bracket with its schools is becoming increasingly likely.

Seven at-large berths are available, and the SEC was hoping to snare three or four of those, to go with the conference champion.

All systems go, so far.

Here is my top 12, and remember, this is not a projection.

This is a ranking based on who teams have played, where they played and how they did.

1.

Georgia 3-0: The Bulldogs had five potentially rough games on their schedule, away from Athens.

Georgia has navigated two of them, Clemson and Kentucky.

2.

Southern Cal 2-0: Not just the victory over LSU, but even USCs win over Utah State has some merit, now that the Aggies played tough against Utah.

3.

Texas 3-0: Texas-San Antonio has fallen far, but still, 56-7, mostly without starting quarterback Quinn Ewers, is impressive.

4.

Kansas State 3-0: The Wildcats gave Arizona a most rude welcome to the Big 12.

Manhattan, Kansas, is not a place for a pleasant football baptism.

5.

Oregon 3-0: The Ducks play interesting games, but theyre building an interesting resume so far.

6.

Northern Illinois 2-0: The Huskies arent likely to keep it up, but for now, they are winning the mid-major sweepstakes to make the 12-team playoff.

7.

Iowa State 2-0: The Cyclones resume is about to stagnate.

ISUs next four opponents are Arkansas State, Houston, Baylor and West Virginia.

8.

Alabama 3-0: Crimson Tide gets an off week, but then comes Georgia.

9.

Penn State 2-0: Nittany Lions resume is about to stagnate.

ISUs next three opponents are Kent State, Illinois and UCLA.

10.

Tennessee 3-0: Margin of victory is not supposed to matter much in the playoff committee rankings.

Good thing, else the Vols would be No.

1.

11.

California 3-0: I dont expect the Golden Bears to stay in the top 12, but theyve been solid, winning at Auburn and blasting San Diego State.

12.

LSU 2-1: The Tigers were on the brink against South Carolina, but thats the nature of early-season football.

A point or two here or there is the difference between ranked 12th and 32nd..

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