The Georgia Bulldogs and the Vanderbilt Commodores carried the banner for the SEC in Week 1 of the 2024 college football season. Georgia and Vanderbilt both picked up wins over Power Four opponents while the rest of the conference went a combined 0-3.
Eleven SEC teams played cupcake opponents in Week 1 and went a combined 11-0. Of the 11 teams that played cupcakes, 10 of them won by over 30 points with the lone exception being the South Carolina Gamecocks. South Carolina narrowly won over Old Dominion and has issues on offense.
Texas, Arkansas, Auburn, South Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Mississippi State all face Power Four opponents in Week 2. There’s not much of a sample size, but it still looks like Georgia, Texas and Alabama are the top SEC championship contenders. Tennessee, Ole Miss and Missouri are secondary SEC title contenders that will need to pull off an upset or two to get to Atlanta.
SEC football power rankings after Week 1
1. Georgia (34-3 win over Clemson)
All-SEC first-team quarterback Carson Beck looked strong. The Bulldogs are the team to beat in the SEC.
2. Texas (52-0 win over Colorado State)
We’ll learn a lot more about the Texas Longhorns in Week 2 as they play at Michigan. We like Texas to win on the road.
3. Alabama (63-0 win over Western Kentucky)
Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe and the Alabama offense looked explosive against a Group of Five opponent. The Kalen DeBoer era is off to a good start.
4. Ole Miss (76-0 win over Furman)
Ole Miss Rebels quarterback Jaxson Dart threw for over 400 yards and five touchdowns against weak competition. The Rebels face an easy nonconference schedule over the first four weeks of the season.
5. Tennessee (69-3 win over Chattanooga)
Quarterback Nico Iamaleava looked good as Tennessee took care of business.
6. Missouri (51-0 win over Murray State)
7. Oklahoma (51-3 win over Temple)
8. LSU (27-20 loss to USC)
The LSU Tigers are 0-1 again! LSU’s defense did not look bad, but now the Tigers have a thinner margin of error after suffering an early loss.
9. Auburn (73-3 win over Alabama A&M)
10. Texas A&M (23-13 loss to Notre Dame)
Notre Dame is a quality opponent, but will this year really be any different for Texas A&M?
11. Kentucky (31-0 win over Southern Miss)
Kentucky’s game was cut short due to a lightning delay. Kentucky faces South Carolina in Week 2 in the first SEC game of 2024.
12. Arkansas (70-0 win over Arkansas Pine-Bluff)
Quarterback Talen Green looked sharp. Arkansas gears up for a Week 2 test against Oklahoma State.
13. Florida (41-17 loss to Miami)
There’s no hiding it. Things are going to get ugly for Florida this season.
14. Vanderbilt (34-27 win over Virginia Tech)
Vanderbilt had one of the conference’s top wins in Week 1. Welcome out of the cellar!
15. Mississippi State (56-7 win over Eastern Kentucky)
16. South Carolina (23-19 win over Old Dominion)
Getting outgained by Old Dominion is not a good sign for quarterback LaNorris Sellers and South Carolina’s hopes in Week 2 against Kentucky.
