2026 Week 3 SEC Power Poll

It’s mighty crowded up top.

Welcome to the Power Poll, now that everyone has a few games under their belt and at least one conference opponent out of the way. We’re going to try to make sense of a very crowded lineup in what is, once again, America’s deepest and most dangerous conference.

The Contenders

1. Georgia — Gunner Stockton almost seems the forgotten man in a ground offense that gleefully cranks out 200+ per outing and goes four-deep in the backfield. Then you look up, and he’s completed 80% of his passes for a pair of scores and added 97 on the ground. And that defense finally looks like Georgia again. The Bulldogs are healthy, and yes, they’re back…not that they ever particularly went anywhere. The schedule has been awful, granted, but UGA isn’t screwing around with them either.

I mean, he’s not lying, is he?

2. Texas — The Horns have the better CV than the Bulldogs for sure, but you still don’t trust that running game, and Arch Manning still has yet to have that one game that makes your jaw drop. A 50% showing against UTSA isn’t helping his case. The defense can give anyone a headache though, and that defensive line in particular are packed with terrors.

3. Ole Miss — Last night was not a fluke. The Rebels were faster, more physical, better prepared, better coached, and every last one of their weapons was on display, from the SEC’s best back in Kewan Lacy to arguably the country’s best QB in Trinidad Chambliss. There are some issues in the back end, but there’s firepower for days here.

4. Alabama — This team may as well be the Rebels’ mirror twin. When the offense gets rolling, you simply cannot stop it. But, like the Rebels, there are suddenly some serious problems with tackling in the second-level. Unlike the Rebels, the Tide also like to up the degree of difficulty by digging themselves huge holes to start games.

5. Florida — The Gators always had the talent. What they did not have was a true winner, a program-builder who could get you over the hump quickly. They found it in Sumrall it appears. As seems to be a problem in Oxford and Tuscaloosa, the secondary is prone to coverage busts and some poor tackling attempts though. Next week’s game against the Rebels in the Swamp is going to feed families for generations…especially if Jaden Baugh gets going. And honestly, it may be a tossup whether he or Lacy is the SEC’s best.

6. Mississippi State — Last year, the Bulldogs were 18 points away from winning eight games. The offense is a load, and it’s not just Kamario Taylor either; the running game is quietly super dangerous. And this year, CLANGA has dedicated themselves to better defensive efforts. That Tide showdown in Starkvegas isn’t a trap game; it’s an existential threat if you’re ‘Bama.

The Middle Class

7. LSU — The DL got gashed a bit yesterday, and the corners were repeatedly picked on. The running game is still excellent, and there is talent on the outside. But that 51-10 showing v. Clemson was probably more a reflection of Clemson than LSU’s objective quality. I stand by my prediction this team is staring down a four-loss season. Sam Leavitt is absolutely awful, and is most dangerous as a runner

8. Tennessee — Faizon Brandon isn’t the story in Knoxville, the Vols’ terrifying running game is. The defense has been superb so far as well, against admittedly limited offenses. We’ll see how a freshman fares in conference play and whether SEC lines are better equipped to keep UT from rolling off 300 on the ground.

9. Kentucky — With their very talented lines and funky offense that causes all kinds of problems to defend, the Wildcats are proving to be more than spoilers. They’re good in their own right. And, yeah, they are going to ruin some seasons, innit right, Mike?

10. Missouri — Yeah, they can play a little defense, and as with all Drinkwitz teams, they’re deep and strong in the backfield. But they don’t excel at any one thing, and lack the firepower to keep up with the conference contenders. The passing game in particular is an enigma.

11. Oklahoma — Speaking of enigmatic passing games, John Mateer better be benched or Venables will be fired by Halloween. And, bless their hearts, that allegedly better running game hasn’t shown it when it needed to the most. The secondary is also uncharacteristically vulnerable; UTEP was able to find plenty of space on intermediate and short gainers to keep chains moving. In the end you have a lot of dangerous, talented pieces that haven’t put it all together. And I don’t know if they can or will.

12. Texas A&M — The Aggies under Mike Elko have relied on two things: excellent line play and a very talented running game. What happens when you punch them right back and can match them up front? You make the Aggies lean on a dreadful Marcel Reed, who will gladly give the game away. Ask Kentucky.

The Dregs

13. Vanderbilt — No, I have no idea how this team is winning ball games either, and I’ve watched two of them with my own eyes

14. Auburn — If it’s not the offense disappearing one game, it’s the defense doing so the next. Gee, imagine that happening when you chase away an SEC roster and import an ACC squad. I still think this is a 5-7 ballclub.

15. South Carolina — Remember when people bought-into USC as some lurking darkhorse? Lol. Not me; this team was always praying that LaNorris sellers could overcome a bad secondary and a questionable running game. Beamer was spotted a 16-0 lead against Mississippi State at home…and lost at home, being down one point by two touchdowns. That gets you fired.

16. Arkansas — Want to see the highlight of the Hogs game yesterday, held in the face of a fan boycott? I would have stayed in Memphis, TBH. No way is an SEC paycheck worth this weekly humiliation ritual