https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/sec-football/week-1-sec-power-ranking/
5. Vanderbilt (1-0, beat Middle Tennessee 28-6)
This game had all the makings of a loss for Vandy, but nobody told the Commodores. Kyle Shurmur had a smooth 20-for-28, 296 yards, 3 TDs passing line, and Vandy’s defense dominated a capable MTSU attack. It was a shutout until the fourth quarter and most of Middle’s yardage came in mop-up time. Vandy’s offense must improve on 2.0 yards per carry on the ground, but this was a pleasant surprise.
4. Georgia (1-0, beat Appalachian State 31-10)
Almost by default, the Bulldogs were the most impressive team in the East. Even after QB Jacob Eason went out, the Bulldogs never let this one slide into doubt. The one issue is that UGA never really went pedal to the metal. Averaging 5.0 yards per carry is respectable, but Nick Chubb and Sony Michel would seem likely to outgain App. State by a much wider margin than they did. Jake Fromm was capable at QB, and now the Bulldogs can get ready for a tough opponent with a genuine QB controversy.
3. Auburn (1-0, beat Georgia Southern 41-7)
The Tigers did absolutely nothing to hurt themselves. Frankly, this felt like a game dedicated to being as vanilla as possible, and a 535-78 yardage advantage speaks to Auburn’s dominance. It is fair to wonder how the Tigers will fare against a legitimate passing game, and Jarrett Stidham will need to show more than he did in Week 1. But the Tigers looked like one of the three legitimate CFP contenders in the SEC.
2. LSU (1-0, beat BYU 27-0)
Much like Auburn, you never got a sense that LSU wanted to tip its hand, but this team looked great. Beating BYU by a yardage margin of 479-97 is worth noticing. The passing game for LSU wasn’t used much, but looked much better when called upon (15-for-18 passing for 183 yards). On the ground, the Tigers chewed up nearly 300 yards and held BYU to negative rushing yardage. There was some skepticism about the Orgeron Era coming in, but with a few more games like this, there won’t be much skepticism left.
1. Alabama (1-0, beat Florida State 24-7)
They knocked out a Heisman Trophy candidate, forced three turnovers and dominated the No. 3 team in college football. If the Alabama defense was ranked separately, it might be No. 1 on its own. The offense was a little rough. Damien Harris made big plays in the running game and on special teams, and Bama’s wealth of talent should improve its passing game. But this was a significant building block in another CFP run.
5. Vanderbilt (1-0, beat Middle Tennessee 28-6)
This game had all the makings of a loss for Vandy, but nobody told the Commodores. Kyle Shurmur had a smooth 20-for-28, 296 yards, 3 TDs passing line, and Vandy’s defense dominated a capable MTSU attack. It was a shutout until the fourth quarter and most of Middle’s yardage came in mop-up time. Vandy’s offense must improve on 2.0 yards per carry on the ground, but this was a pleasant surprise.
4. Georgia (1-0, beat Appalachian State 31-10)
Almost by default, the Bulldogs were the most impressive team in the East. Even after QB Jacob Eason went out, the Bulldogs never let this one slide into doubt. The one issue is that UGA never really went pedal to the metal. Averaging 5.0 yards per carry is respectable, but Nick Chubb and Sony Michel would seem likely to outgain App. State by a much wider margin than they did. Jake Fromm was capable at QB, and now the Bulldogs can get ready for a tough opponent with a genuine QB controversy.
3. Auburn (1-0, beat Georgia Southern 41-7)
The Tigers did absolutely nothing to hurt themselves. Frankly, this felt like a game dedicated to being as vanilla as possible, and a 535-78 yardage advantage speaks to Auburn’s dominance. It is fair to wonder how the Tigers will fare against a legitimate passing game, and Jarrett Stidham will need to show more than he did in Week 1. But the Tigers looked like one of the three legitimate CFP contenders in the SEC.
2. LSU (1-0, beat BYU 27-0)
Much like Auburn, you never got a sense that LSU wanted to tip its hand, but this team looked great. Beating BYU by a yardage margin of 479-97 is worth noticing. The passing game for LSU wasn’t used much, but looked much better when called upon (15-for-18 passing for 183 yards). On the ground, the Tigers chewed up nearly 300 yards and held BYU to negative rushing yardage. There was some skepticism about the Orgeron Era coming in, but with a few more games like this, there won’t be much skepticism left.
1. Alabama (1-0, beat Florida State 24-7)
They knocked out a Heisman Trophy candidate, forced three turnovers and dominated the No. 3 team in college football. If the Alabama defense was ranked separately, it might be No. 1 on its own. The offense was a little rough. Damien Harris made big plays in the running game and on special teams, and Bama’s wealth of talent should improve its passing game. But this was a significant building block in another CFP run.
