Alabama moved up in the Week 2 SEC Power Rankings, and the jump came with a familiar kind of warning label: the Crimson Tide have the defense to cover for a lot right now, but the offense still has work to do.
At the top, Texas held steady at No. 1 after a 24-23 win over Ohio State and a 59-7 opening-week rout of Texas State. Georgia stayed right behind the Longhorns at No. 2 after following its 66-3 win over Tennessee State with a 70-20 dismantling of Western Kentucky. The Bulldogs, as the rankings put it, are “for real good.”
Alabama landed at No. 3 after a game in Lexington that split neatly in two. The Tide were stuck in “one of its worst halves of football” on offense, then answered with “one of its best halves.”
The offense remains the piece that has to come along, but Kane Wommack’s defense is carrying plenty of weight and can keep bailing the team out for now. Alabama climbed from No. 4 in Week 1.
Ole Miss moved up to No. 4 after beating Charlotte 41-9 and backing up its Week 1 win over Louisville, 41-38. The question hanging over the Rebels is whether they can get some “Lane payback” in Oxford on Saturday.
LSU dropped to No. 5 despite a 45-14 win over Louisiana Tech. The score looked clean enough, but the details were messy: “LSU turned the ball over four times and committed 10 penalties for 101 yards.”
That kind of sloppiness won’t play against better competition, and the ranking pointed to the possibility that the Bengal Tigers could be as erratic as their head coach. LSU fell from No.
Tennessee checked in at No. 6 after looking explosive under freshman quarterback Faison Brandon, even if the defense still has plenty of ground to cover. Texas A&M also landed at No. 6, climbing after a 48-20 win over Arizona State.
The Aggies were up just 24-20 going to the fourth quarter before finishing strong, and Mike Elko said the offense was inconsistent. Still, the roster talent is there to improve fast.
Texas A&M moved up from No. 8.
Oklahoma slid to No. 8 after a 17-10 loss to Michigan in the Big House. The Sooners’ defense remains strong, but the offense is holding them back from being a real Playoff threat.
Missouri came in at No. 9, just ahead of Florida at No. 10, thanks to a 38-21 road win over Kansas. Florida stayed put after beating Florida Atlantic and Campbell, though those two wins have not told anyone much yet.
Auburn sat at No. 11 after Alex Golesh wasn’t happy with penalties and a late fumble against Southern Miss, even though Bryce Brown responded well after the previous week. Mississippi State moved up to No. 12 after a Power road win, with Kamario Taylor earning most of the credit for his standout performance against Minnesota. South Carolina rounded out the list at No. 13, though injuries are a concern and the Gamecocks are expected to look much better when defensive starters Dylan Stewart and Jacarrius Peak return.
In Other News...
Alabama Had An Unexpected Game Problem While Trying To Settle Keelon Russell
During the third quarter against Kentucky, Alabama hit an unexpected snag while trying to settle in Keelon Russell, as the helmet communication link between the quarterback and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb went out. It was the sort of disruption teams prepare for but rarely want to test in real time, especially with a young quarterback still finding his rhythm in a live game.
Russell said the Tide had practiced for that kind of situation and were able to shift to sideline commands without losing control of the offense. Alabama kept rolling anyway, finishing off a 45-17 win, and the episode offered a small reminder that even in a lopsided game, the details of communication can still matter. [Read more 🡒]
Alabamas Backfield Picture Is Finally Starting To Get More Interesting
Alabamas SEC opener offered the clearest look yet at how the backfield is starting to sort itself out. Daniel Hill was on the field for 42 of 59 snaps and handled 18 carries for 104 yards, giving the Tide a steady lead option as the staff leaned more heavily on him than it had earlier in the season. Behind him, the rotation stayed wide open, with freshmen Trae'shawn Brown and EJ Crowell getting limited work and Kevin Riley seeing only a few snaps.
AK Dear remained out because of injury, which keeps another layer of uncertainty in play for a group that has already shown both upside and inconsistency through two games. Alabama has had its share of productive runs and touchdowns, but negative plays have also chipped away at the overall efficiency, so the next question is whether Hills workload becomes a one-game adjustment or the first sign of a more settled pecking order. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State's Latest Shakeup Comes Right Before Alabama
Florida State made a notable leadership change just days before its meeting with Alabama, announcing that Michael Alford is no longer the athletics director after four years on the job. Bruce Warwick will handle the role in the interim as the school begins the search for a permanent replacement, adding another layer of uncertainty around a program already under scrutiny.
The timing matters because the Seminoles are trying to steady themselves amid concerns about the football programs recent performance under Mike Norvell. With Alabama looming, the administrative shakeup only adds to the sense that Florida State is entering a critical stretch with plenty still unresolved around the direction of the program. [Read more 🡒]