Alabama didn’t budge in the latest ESPN Football Power Index update, staying put at No. 7 in Week 3. The Crimson Tide were one of three SEC teams to hold steady, joined by Texas at No. 2 and Tennessee at No. 10.
The biggest mover in the league came from Lexington. After knocking off Texas A&M in College Station, Kentucky surged 15 spots to No.
- That jump headlined a mixed week for the SEC, which still packed the top of the board even as several teams slipped.
Georgia climbed one spot to No. 3, while LSU also moved up one notch to No. 8 despite its loss to Ole Miss. The Rebels kept trending the right way, rising four spots to No.
- Mississippi State moved up five places to No. 22, and Arkansas improved three spots to No.
A handful of SEC teams took hits. South Carolina fell six spots to No. 27, and Missouri also dropped six places to No.
- Texas A&M slid four spots to No. 12, while Vanderbilt dropped four to No. 43 even after its comeback win over North Carolina State.
Oklahoma moved down three spots to No. 14.
Florida slipped one spot to No. 16 despite beating Auburn on the road, and Auburn fell one spot to No. 24.
The SEC still owns the FPI’s upper tier. Eleven league teams sit inside the top 24, while the Big Ten has seven teams in the FPI top 25.
Strength of schedule tells another part of the story. Arkansas has faced the toughest slate in the SEC, checking in at No. 2 in SOS among all FBS teams.
Kentucky is next at No. 4.
Ole Miss sits at No. 19, Texas at No. 21, and LSU at No.
Alabama’s schedule has been more middle-of-the-pack at No. 51.
At the other end of the SEC, South Carolina is No. 86, Texas A&M No.
90, Tennessee No. 104, Missouri No.
112, Vanderbilt No. 16, and Georgia No. 120.
ESPN’s efficiency numbers are still early enough to move plenty over the next few weeks, but they already offer a snapshot of where teams stand. Georgia ranks No. 1 in Offensive Efficiency and No. 22 in Defensive Efficiency.
Alabama is No. 33 on offense and No. 12 on defense. Texas comes in at No. 9 offensively and No. 6 defensively.
LSU is No. 3 in Defensive Efficiency, but only No. 48 in Offensive Efficiency. Mississippi State has been strong on one side of the ball at No. 5 in Offensive Efficiency and sits at No. 32 in Defensive Efficiency.
In Other News...
Keelon Russell May Have Changed Alabamas Ceiling Faster Than Expected
For a quarterback still finding his footing, Keelon Russell made Alabama look awfully grown up against Florida State. He helped drag the Crimson Tide out of a 21-6 hole, finished 23 of 30 for 320 yards and three touchdowns, added 56 rushing yards and another score, and guided an offense that scored on seven straight possessions in a 50-36 win.
The bigger takeaway for Alabama is not just the comeback itself, but how quickly Russell appears to be raising the programs offensive ceiling. He was careful afterward to describe himself as still developing, which is probably the most intriguing part for the Tide: if this is the early version, the rest of the league has reason to pay attention. [Read more 🡒]
Danny Kanell Takes Another Shot At Alabama Over Weather Delay
The Alabama-Florida State season opener turned into a long night of stops and starts after lightning pushed the game through multiple weather delays, turning what should have been a clean first look at both teams into a test of patience. As the interruptions stacked up, CBS Sports analyst Danny Kanell took to social media and questioned whether the second delay was really necessary, adding another layer of scrutiny to a game already shaped by the weather.
Kanells comments quickly drew pushback, with the response centering on the safety standards that guide lightning-related suspensions rather than the feel of the storm from a TV booth or social media feed. Weather professionals then stepped in to explain the rules behind those decisions, a reminder that these delays are not made on instinct, even when they frustrate fans and analysts alike. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Gets An Early SEC Reality Check In New AP Poll
The first real stretch of SEC play has already started to reshape the AP top 25, and Alabama fans can see how unforgiving that weekly grind can be. Ole Miss win over LSU gave the Rebels another boost in the league race, while Florida moved into the rankings after a road win at Auburn, a reminder that early conference games can swing the national conversation fast.
Texas A&M also took a hit after falling to Kentucky, a result that only added to the sense that the leagues middle tier is still sorting itself out. For Alabama, the early poll movement serves as a useful checkpoint on what the SEC demands week after week, with contenders, sleepers and disappointments all starting to separate a little more clearly. [Read more 🡒]