SEC Network’s latest power rankings have Georgia on top, but LSU’s surge is the headline that jumps off the page.
The panel of experts - Dari Nowkhah, Benjamin Watson, Alyssa Lang and Chris Doering - placed the Bulldogs at No. 1 entering Week 2, with LSU climbing to No. 2 after a crushing Week 1 win over Clemson.
That LSU performance has already pushed the Tigers into national championship contender territory, and the AP Top 25 reflected that too, with LSU rising into the top 10 this week.
The SEC Network crew didn’t hold back in its assessment of what LSU did to Clemson. As the panel put it:
Lane Kiffin and LSU made an unbelievably strong statement by handing Clemson its largest loss in Dabo Swinney’s 241 games as head coach. After the interception on LSU’s second offensive snap that gave Clemson a field goal, LSU scored 51 unanswered points.
The LSU defense did not allow the Clemson offense to cross midfield until late in the fourth quarter, when the starters were long out of the game. LSU proved outside noise is not going to distract them; if anything, it only adds to their motivational fuel.
Behind Georgia and LSU, Ole Miss, Oklahoma and Texas are all tied at No. 3 in the SEC Network rankings. Texas stands out most in that group because the Longhorns meet Ohio State in Austin this weekend. Oklahoma also has a major nonconference test in Week 2, heading to Ann Arbor.
The league’s opening weekend was clean across the board, too. The SEC went 16-0 in Week 1, making history in the process.
In Other News...
LSU Turned A Routine Tune-Up Into A Halftime Mess
LSU came into its meeting with Louisiana Tech expecting a routine tune-up, but the first half turned into something far messier than the Tigers had in mind. The defense did its part, stacking up sacks and forcing turnovers, yet the offense never found a steady rhythm, and the run game was especially stalled with only 44 yards on 23 carries.
Much of the unease traced back to Sam Leavitt, whose first-half line included three interceptions, one of them returned 100 yards for a pick six. Even with LSU still carrying a 10-7 lead at the break, the kind of sloppy play that usually gets smoothed out in a lopsided matchup was hanging around long enough to make the Tigers sweat a little harder than expected. [Read more 🡒]
Lane Kiffins Oxford Return Just Made LSU-Ole Miss Even More Personal
LSU and Ole Miss each took care of business in their most recent games, which only adds to the buildup for an SEC matchup that already had plenty of edge. The Tigers now head into a game that is as much about emotion and familiarity as it is about the standings, with Lane Kiffin set to walk back into Oxford in a very different role than the one Ole Miss fans remember.
Kiffins move to LSU has given the rivalry an even sharper personal twist. He brought four players with him through the transfer portal, including two who are being sued by Ole Miss for breach of contract, which only heightens the intrigue around a reunion that was already drawing plenty of attention. For LSU, it is another important conference game. For Ole Miss, it is a chance to welcome back a former coach who left with plenty of storylines in tow. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Heads Into A Lane Kiffin Showdown With Extra Emotion
With Lane Kiffin back in the spotlight and LSU headed into Oxford for a Week 3 meeting with Ole Miss, the buildup has carried an extra layer of emotion well beyond the usual SEC buzz. The game is set for national television, and the storyline naturally brings plenty of attention to the Rebels side as they prepare to face the former coach who once led their program.
Trinidad Chambliss called the whole situation "weird," which fits the mood around a matchup that has plenty of noise attached to it. Still, the Ole Miss quarterback made clear the Rebels are trying to keep the focus where it belongs, on football, even with all the surrounding storylines threatening to take over the conversation. [Read more 🡒]