Week 2 SEC Power Rankings

We're now officially through two full weeks of the college football season, and it's already going by too quickly. Nonetheless, week two provided us with a day full of upsets, close calls, and instant classics. Many of those took place within the SEC, so get ready to find out where all 16 teams stand in the official week two SEC power ranking!

(Reminder: a team with a loss cannot be ranked ahead of a team without a loss.)

1. #1 University of Texas (last week: won 24-23 vs #6 Ohio State)

The Longhorns etched what could be the biggest win in the history of DKR this past weekend, overcoming a 20-point deficit to take down the number one team in the country. For Steve Sarkisian, it proved that he can handle the big games and not tighten up when his team needs him. For Arch Manning, it proved that he truly has a chance of living up to his last name, as well as showing that he belongs in the Heisman discussion.

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2. #7 LSU (last week: won 45-14 vs Louisiana Tech)

Although it wasn't the mud stomping that was given out in week one, the Bayou Bengals handled their in-state foe in week two. I wouldn't put too much stock in their performance, because we all know what's really on the mind of the Tigers: trying to get their head coach out of his old town with a win against Ole Miss. If Lane Kiffin can lead his team to a victory in that environment, LSU may all of a sudden be up there with the Texas and Georgia of the world in terms of title odds.

3. #8 Ole Miss (last week: won 41-9 vs Charlotte)

Ole Miss followed up week one's classic against Louisville by taking care of business against an opponent from the American Conference. But now, all eyes are set on week three and the absolute blockbuster that is Lane Kiffin's return to Oxford. I'm not saying this game will make or break the Rebels' season, but a win would vault them into top five discussions. A loss, however, may have them wondering where to go from there.

4. #10 University of Alabama (last week: won 45-17 at Kentucky)

This was a game that the Crimson Tide likely would have lost if it were played in either of Kalen DeBoer's first two seasons at Alabama. When faced with adversity on the road, it had become somewhat common for the Tide to lay down and accept defeat. This time, however, things were different. Alabama went into halftime down four, and by the time they made it back to the locker room after the game, they were up 28. This was a great second-half performance from a team that now sits solely in first place in the SEC.

5. #9 Texas A&M University (last week: won 48-20 vs Arizona State)

The Aggies deserve their flowers for knocking off a relatively big-time opponent on Saturday, taking down an Arizona State team that will likely contend for the Big 12. However, the Aggies continued to show the same cracks in the armor that caught up with them last year. Marcel Reed will have to tighten things up if he wants to have his name thrown into Heisman considerations.

6. #2 University of Georgia (last week: won 70-20 vs Western Kentucky)

I know what you're thinking: in what world is the number two team in the country sixth in a conference power ranking? Well, to quote college football personality Josh Pate, "these are power rankings, not power ratings." In a power rating, the Bulldogs are likely either first or second on this list. But this is a ranking based on what has happened in 2026, and in 2026 Georgia has blown out two cupcake teams. They'll have more than their fair share of opportunity to climb this list, but as of now there are too many teams with either ranked wins or power four wins to rank the Dawgs any higher.

7. #20 University of Missouri (last week: won 38-21 at Kansas)

Words cannot describe how badly the college football world needed this rivalry game back. "The Border War" delivered its second consecutive good game this past Friday, as the final score doesn't really do justice to how close the game was. Missouri, however, still looked like a very good team, and Austin Simmons still looks like a very good quarterback. If they can stay afloat until Ahmad Hardy comes back, this is a team that could backdoor themselves into the playoff.

8. #15 University of Tennessee (last week: won 45-24 at Georgia Tech)

This year, for the first time in what feels like forever, the Volunteers won't play the Georgia Bulldogs. So they settled for the next best thing, Georgia Tech. Josh Heupel's group notched a very impressive road victory last week, sending the Yellow Jackets to 0-2. While the Vols don't get started in SEC play quite yet, they will face off with Kennesaw State to wrap up the non-conference slate this Saturday.

9. Mississippi State University (last week: won 38-13 at Minnesota)

On College Gameday this past week, Nick Saban called Kamario Taylor "the best-kept secret in America." Well, I hate to break it to you, Nick, but 'super Kamario' is no longer a secret. The Bulldogs' freak athlete of a quarterback dominated the Golden Gophers at their place in week two, putting the college football world on notice. This team probably won't compete for a championship, but nobody is safe walking inside Davis-Wade Stadium if number 1 is taking the snaps.

10. Auburn University (last week: won 43-8 vs Southern Miss)

Auburn won on Saturday yet fell a couple of spots in this week's rankings. Why is that? Because a host of other ball clubs got involved in some power four action in week two. Nonetheless, the Tigers did what they needed to do against Southern Miss with their eyes now set squarely on a matchup with the Florida Gators in week three.

11. University of South Carolina (last week: won 45-9 vs Towson)

The Gamecocks, through two weeks of cupcake games, are 1-1 against the spread. They dismantled their week one opponent while just merely squeaking out a 34-point victory on Saturday. In all seriousness, the Gamecocks can still hang with just about anyone in the SEC when Lanorris Sellers plays his best football. He will have to begin to do it, though, with games against Mississippi State and Alabama in the next two weeks.

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12. University of Florida (last week: won 52-3 vs Campbell)

While the Gators have looked dominant through two weeks to start the year, they have looked dominant against both FAU and Campbell. Every team ahead of the Gators has either beaten a power four team or was ranked higher than the Gators by myself to begin the year. However, Florida has a chance to jump several spots this week as they will head to Jordan-Hare Stadium in week three to take on Alex Golesh and his Auburn Tigers.

13. Vanderbilt University (last week: won 35-26 vs Delaware)

Many in Nashville were hoping that week one's sloppy performance could simply be attributed to typical week one miscues. But after another ugly victory over an opponent far more inferior, the Commodores now have serious questions surrounding them heading into conference play soon. Despite a ten-win season from Clark Lea and company last year, they very well may find themselves in a battle for last place with the Razorbacks.

14. #24 University of Oklahoma (last week: lost 17-10 at #19 Michigan)

This is the first time this year that my rule about undefeateds really comes out to show itself. Of course I don't believe Oklahoma is the third-worst team in the SEC, but I also know that everyone in the SEC has played two games, and the Sooners are one of three that have lost one of them. That means that the Sooners will spend the rest of this season with their back against the wall, as we know, the unspoken magic number for playoff elimination has been three losses in the 12-team era.

15. University of Kentucky (last week: lost 45-17 vs #10 Alabama)

Kentucky is another early case of a team likely not being one of the worst teams in the conference, but someone had to lose in week 2, and it wasn't Alabama. Although it is far too early to tell, Will Stein's first two games in Lexington lead me to believe he may be the guy for the Wildcats; it's just going to take some time.

16. University of Arkansas (last week: lost 43-10 at #17 Utah)

Razorbacks fans came into this season with hope that Ryan Silverfield would be the one to pump new life into the Arkansas football program, and after two weeks of disappointing football, that hope is likely starting to dwindle. The Hogs looked sloppy and dejected in Utah this past weekend, but they'll have an opportunity to turn things around at home this week... against Georgia.