yahoo
Week 9 of the college football season delivered its share of surprises, none more prominent than No. 2 Ohio State's 30-18 defeat at USC. The Trojans dominated from start to finish, handing Ryan Day's Buckeyes their second loss. Other notable upsets included Oregon's 36-24 win over No. 20 Northwestern, Iowa's 30-0 shutout of Wisconsin, Syracuse's 30-27 edge over No. 19 SMU, and Iowa State's wild 51-49 victory against No. 24 Oklahoma State. Several highly ranked teams also survived close calls: No. 4 Indiana needed a 60-yard field goal to force overtime before beating Minnesota 23-16; BYU escaped Arizona State 27-20; No. 13 Texas Tech held off No. 22 Arizona 34-26; and No. 1 Miami recovered a late onside kick to secure a 38-35 win over North Carolina.
Against that backdrop, the SEC Power Rankings for Week 10 see little movement at the top. Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Texas, and Ole Miss comprise the top five, with the Bulldogs leading the way after a convincing 27-8 win over Florida. The Bulldogs' defense forced four turnovers and limited the Gators to just 48 rushing yards, while the offense leaned on a 217-yard ground attack. Georgia managed only 101 passing yards, and while the defense continues to shine, the offense must find consistency to contend for a national title. The Bulldogs, now 7-1 overall and 5-1 in SEC play, are tied with Kentucky atop the standings and face a tough road test at Ole Miss next week.
Key Analysis
Kentucky holds at No. 2 after a bye week. First-year head coach Will Stein has guided the Wildcats to a 7-1 record and a six-game winning streak since a Sept. 12 loss to Alabama. Kentucky will face a stiff challenge at Tennessee on Saturday, where the Volunteers' talented defense could disrupt the Wildcats' rhythm. A win would further bolster Kentucky's resume and keep its surprising season rolling.
LSU stays at No. 3, also coming off a bye. The Tigers' two losses came in difficult environments: a home defeat to Ole Miss in Lane Kiffin's return to Oxford, and an overtime road loss at Kentucky. LSU has otherwise handled its business and will have a chance to make a statement when Alabama visits next week.
Texas remains No. 4 after a 31-3 rout of Mississippi State, which was without injured star quarterback Kamario Taylor. The Longhorns have impressive wins over Ohio State, Tennessee, and Ole Miss but have battled inconsistency. A road trip to Missouri, which is undefeated at home, offers Texas a chance to solidify its top-three case.
Ole Miss rounds out the top five following a 45-15 demolition of Auburn. The Rebels' high-powered offense is capable of scoring on anyone, and they would likely be ranked above Texas had they not lost to the Longhorns the previous week. Ole Miss hosts Georgia next Saturday in a game that could reshape the SEC race.
Tennessee (No. 6) and Alabama (No. 7) each had byes. The Volunteers boast a strong defense but have suffered frustrating losses to Texas and South Carolina. Alabama has shown offensive inconsistency, scoring 17 against Georgia, 10 at Tennessee, and 31 against Texas A&M. The Crimson Tide travel to LSU next week with a chance to climb.
Missouri (No. 8) is difficult to gauge; the Tigers were blown out by Ole Miss but rebounded with a 34-10 win at Arkansas. They host Texas next week with a chance to prove they belong among the SEC's upper tier.
South Carolina (No. 9) has won three straight after an 0-3 SEC start, easing pressure on head coach Shane Beamer. The Gamecocks' victory over Tennessee was a signature win, and they can improve to 6-3 overall with a home win over Texas A&M next week.
Florida (No. 10) remains inconsistent. The Gators have impressive wins over Auburn and Ole Miss but disappointing losses to South Carolina, Missouri, and Georgia. Against Georgia, Florida managed just 48 rushing yards and committed four turnovers. A home game against Oklahoma next week offers a chance to get back on track.
Oklahoma (No. 11) has been a major disappointment after reaching the College Football Playoff last year. The Sooners have scored fewer than 20 points in four of eight games and are coming off a 42-25 loss to South Carolina. They travel to Florida next week needing a more consistent offensive performance.
Auburn (No. 12) has faced a brutal schedule and shown flashes, including a win over Georgia, but was overwhelmed by Ole Miss 45-15. The Tigers have a favorable stretch ahead against Arkansas, Mississippi State, and Tennessee Tech to regain momentum.
Texas A&M (No. 13) also reached the CFP last year but has struggled. The Aggies need at least two wins in their final four games to become bowl-eligible, but face a daunting stretch: at South Carolina, vs. Tennessee, at Oklahoma, and vs. Texas.
Mississippi State (No. 14) started strong but has faded due to injuries, particularly to quarterback Kamario Taylor. The Bulldogs were routed by Texas 31-3 but have a chance to rebound with home games against Vanderbilt, Auburn, and Tennessee Tech.
Arkansas (No. 15) continues to struggle, falling 34-10 to Missouri. The Razorbacks have a tough remaining schedule and could finish with just three wins, putting pressure on first-year head coach Ryan Silverfield.
Vanderbilt (No. 16) remains winless in SEC play after a bye. The Commodores have shown promise with freshman quarterback Jared Curtis but have been plagued by inconsistency. They host Mississippi State next week, hoping to capitalize if Taylor remains out, before facing Alabama, Florida, and Tennessee to close the season.
Originally reported by yahoo.