hottytoddy
The Southeastern Conference is a tangled web for anyone attempting to sort out the hierarchy within the 16-team league. While certain truths are evident—such as Texas and Georgia occupying the top spots and Arkansas languishing at the bottom—the middle tier is a jumble of uncertainty.
Ole Miss boasts a victory over LSU but stumbled against Florida. Florida, in turn, just fell to Missouri, which had previously lost to Mississippi State, and Mississippi State was dismantled by Alabama. Kentucky needed a 17-point comeback to edge South Carolina by a single point. Auburn forced Tennessee to change quarterbacks even though the Volunteers won by 10. Clearly, there is no definitive picture of where each team belongs in the SEC Power Rankings, but that won't deter an attempt to impose order.
Below are this week's power rankings, which feature several notable shifts. Additionally, a performance review for each team based on its current body of work has been included.
1. Texas
Last week: Off
This week: vs. Oklahoma
Performance review: Meets Expectations. The Longhorns are exactly where they should be, though they are far from flawless.
2. Georgia
Last week: def. Vanderbilt, 38-14
This week: at No. 6 Alabama
Performance review: Exceeds Expectations. Extra credit for executing practice drills during a game.
3. Alabama
Last week: def. No. 16 Mississippi State, 56-23
This week: vs. No. 2 Georgia
Performance review: Exceeds Expectations. The addition of a run game has worked wonders.
4. Ole Miss
Last week: Off
This week: at Vanderbilt
Performance review: Needs Improvement. Tackling remains an essential job function.
5. LSU
Last week: def. McNeese, 63-14
This week: at Kentucky
Performance review: Meets Expectations. A very productive week. Please replicate these results against an SEC opponent.
6. Missouri
Last week: def. No. 8 Florida, 45-17
This week: vs. Texas A&M
Performance review: Promotion Under Consideration. Continued progress will warrant a higher ranking.
7. Florida
Last week: lost to No. 25 Missouri, 45-17
This week: vs. South Carolina
Performance review: Exceeds Expectations. Has shown lots of improvement, but Heisman Trophy talk was premature.
8. Kentucky
Last week: def. South Carolina, 35-34
This week: vs. No. LSU
Performance review: Exceeds Expectations. Demonstrates excellent crisis-management skills. We would like fewer self-created crises.
9. Tennessee
Last week: def. Auburn, 24-14
This week: at Arkansas
Performance review: Meets Expectations. Passing responsibilities have been reassigned pending further review.
10. Mississippi State
Last week: lost to No. 7 Alabama, 56-23
This week: Off
Performance review: Promotion Withheld. Employee showed promise during the probationary period. Then senior management arrived.
11. Texas A&M
Last week: def. Arkansas, 34-7
This week: at No. 14 Missouri
Performance review: Meets Expectations. Beating Arkansas will not result in a promotion, but it does stop the disciplinary meetings.
12. Oklahoma
Last week: Off
This week: vs. No. 1 Texas
Performance review: Needs Improvement. Starting to become too generous with the turnovers.
13. Auburn
Last week: lost to No. 17 Tennessee, 24-14
This week: Off
Performance review: Probationary Period Extended. We're still waiting to see signs of improvement.
14. Vanderbilt
Last week: lost to No. 2 Georgia, 38-14
This week: vs. No. 9 Ole Miss
Performance review: Needs Improvement. Must show ability to keep pace with peers without Diego Pavia.
15. South Carolina
Last week: lost to No. 24 Kentucky, 35-34
This week: at No. 16 Florida
Performance review: Performance Plan Initiated. Continued failure may lead to termination.
16. Arkansas
Last week: lost to Texas A&M, 34-7
This week: vs. No. 15 Tennessee
Performance review: Meets Expectations. Nobody specified the expectations were good.
Originally reported by hottytoddy.