Lane Kiffin watches a replay during a game against Mercer in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on Sep 3, 2023. Photo by John Matthews
For the first time in AP Poll history, the SEC has four of the top five spots in the college football rankings. After the top five, Missouri and Tennessee took up the Nos. 6 and 7 spots in the AP Poll rankings in week two, proving the SEC to be the most dominant conference so far this season.
This weekend, Georgia will start conference play and could put their current No. 1 ranking on the line. Ole Miss, Alabama and Texas will continue with non-conference contests for a few more weekends, until they begin SEC play later this month.
No. 1 Georgia
The Bulldogs took the No. 1 AP Poll ranking for the second week in a row. Georgia has remained perfect after wins over Tennessee Tech and an elite ACC team in Clemson. The Bulldogs will travel to Kentucky in their first SEC game of the season this weekend and are looking to start conference play strong.
If Georgia falls to the Wildcats, they will lose their No. 1 spot in the rankings, potentially falling out of the top five. A win over Kentucky would keep their record perfect and the Bulldogs sitting at No. 1.
No. 2 Texas
Texas was ranked No. 3 in week one. After the Longhorns manhandled defending national champions Michigan 31-12 in a week two road contest, they moved up one spot. In one of the most anticipated matchups between two 2024 playoff teams, Texas proved its dominance.
Texas’ defense forced three turnovers, and the offense looked sharp as well as it steamrolled the former champions. Texas will face the University of Texas at San Antonio this week.
A loss for Texas to an unranked UTSA could hurt the current ranking and drop the Longhorns out of the top five. A win would earn a bid for the No. 1 spot depending on Georgia’s weekend performance.
No. 4 Alabama
Under new head coach Kalen Deboer, Alabama took care of business in week one, shutting down Western Kentucky 63-0. The Tide began week two with a concerning start against USF. After a late rally, they delivered a 42-16 win to improve to 2-0.
After a wake-up call for the Tide, they look to make a statement this week hitting the road to take on Wisconsin.
A win over Wisconsin could improve Alabama’s ranking, stealing the No. 3 spot from Ohio State. A loss to Wisconsin would hurt the Tide’s ranking, but they could remain in the top 10.
No. 5 Ole Miss
Ole Miss looks to be a consistent team in the top five, but will have to overcome difficult conference games to make this happen. Quarterback Jaxson Dart has broken records through two weeks as the QB1 for the Rebels and will continue to add to his impressive resume this season.
The Rebels have one of the most talented offenses in the nation, with strong receivers Jordan Watkins and Tre Harris and running backs Henry Parrish Jr. and Ulysses Bentley IV, not to mention a solid offensive line.
Ole Miss started the preseason at No. 6, the highest preseason ranking the Rebels have seen since their No. 5 ranking in 1970. With a win over Wake Forest this week in Winston-Salem, N.C., Ole Miss will likely stay at No. 5.
