Georgia is alone at the top of the Week 7 247Sports SEC poll after a big Saturday win changed the shape of the conference race.
The Bulldogs collected all 15 first-place votes after beating Alabama 20-17 in Tuscaloosa, their first victory there in 19 years. Texas had held four first-place votes before this week, but Georgia now stands as the poll’s clear No. 1.
The rest of the top tier settled in with Alabama at No. 2, Ole Miss at No.
3, Texas at No. 4 and Missouri at No. 5.
Kentucky climbed into the No. 6 spot, followed by Tennessee at No. 7.
LSU and Mississippi State are tied at No. 8, while Oklahoma sits at No. 10, Florida at No.
11, South Carolina at No. 12, Texas A&M at No.
14, Vanderbilt at No. 15 and Arkansas at No. 16.
Kentucky was the week’s biggest mover, jumping four spots after its 35-34 overtime win over LSU. South Carolina also made a sharp move, rising three places after knocking off Florida 38-19. Oklahoma was the only other team to make a multi-spot jump, climbing two after its 27-24 win over Texas.
A group of teams moved up one spot as well: Alabama, Ole Miss, Missouri, Tennessee and Mississippi State.
Florida took the hardest fall, sliding four spots after losing at home to South Carolina. LSU and Texas A&M each dropped three places, with the Tigers falling after their road loss at Kentucky and the Aggies slipping after a 27-6 loss at Missouri. Texas was the only other team to fall more than once, while Vanderbilt dropped one spot.
The poll is in its fourth season, with writers from across the 247Sports network ranking SEC teams each week from 1 through 16. The goal is to track how the league stacks up as teams push for playoff positioning and a place in the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta.
Week 7 brings another loaded SEC slate: Florida at Texas, Mississippi State at LSU, The Citadel at Texas A&M, Alabama at Tennessee, Auburn at Georgia, Missouri at Ole Miss, Arkansas at Vanderbilt and Kentucky at Oklahoma.
Texas A&M is the only SEC team with a non-conference game, and South Carolina is the only league team on a bye this week.
In Other News...
Georgia Is No. 1 But The Real Test Starts Now
Georgias rise to No. 1 in the latest AP Poll came on the heels of a statement win over Alabama and Texas loss to Oklahoma, a combination that pushed the Bulldogs to the top of the rankings with 66 of 70 first-place votes. Notre Dame, Miami and Indiana picked up the other votes, even without the same kind of marquee wins on their rsums, but Georgias spot at the summit comes with a familiar catch: being the target is usually harder than getting there.
The Bulldogs are still the SECs last unbeaten team, and the calendar is not about to make things easier with five conference games left. The road ahead includes a trip to Ole Miss and a home date with Missouri, matchups that could shape Georgias path to the SEC Championship Game and determine how long the No. 1 label stays on the teams chest. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Defense Just Sent A Clear Message In The Alabama Win
Georgias win over Alabama had the feel of a statement game from the start, but the defense made sure it stayed that way. The Bulldogs came away with a 20-17 victory after keeping the Crimson Tide to 17 points, a sharp turn from the explosive pace Alabama had shown earlier this season. Linebacker Chris Cole and safety Khalil Barnes pointed to the physical edge of Georgias preparation and the units defensive focus as big reasons the group looked so locked in when it mattered most.
The second half is where Georgia really separated itself, allowing only three points after halftime and nothing at all in the final quarter. Barnes said the defense was ready because of the way the team practiced during the week, and the performance backed that up on Saturday. For Georgia, it was more than just getting a win over a heavyweight opponent. It was a reminder that this defense can still set the tone when the stakes rise. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Just Took A Huge Step Back Toward The Top
Georgias win over Alabama did more than add another marquee result to the rsum. It also reshuffled the top of the college football picture, with Texas losing to Oklahoma and South Carolina knocking off Florida, creating the kind of weekend that can send a team surging straight to the front of the AP Top 25 discussion.
For Kirby Smarts program, the timing matters almost as much as the victory itself. The Bulldogs are positioned for a return to the top of the poll after building the kind of profile that gets rewarded in October, and the ripple effects from around the country only strengthened that case as the latest rankings take shape. [Read more 🡒]