LIVE: SEC Football Power Rankings for Week 8 of 2024 hit out” as Texas longhorns steps on the cement mountain” leaving Mississippi State under the Grass” Oklahoma still pushing the top wheel barrow” while Kentucky continue chasing the board” here is the full ranks from 1-16…

Last week’s game: Open date

This week’s game: at Missouri, 11 a.m., ESPN

The Tigers come out of their first bye week desperate for a win, but the schedule looks a little tougher than it might have prior to the season. Auburn will certainly be an underdog at Missouri this week, and might be at Kentucky and at home vs. Vanderbilt — which would have been unthinkable in September. Even Louisiana-Monroe on Nov. 16 is no sure win for Hugh Freeze’s team, which is looking for any kind of positive momentum as another season goes off the rails.

14. South Carolina (3-3, 1-3)

Last week’s ranking: 14

Last week’s game: Lost to Alabama, 27-25

This week’s game: at Oklahoma, 11:45 a.m., SEC Network

The Gamecocks very nearly become the latest team to make its season at the expense of Alabama, but committed too many mistakes in the final few minutes to finish off the upset. Perhaps a more-seasoned quarterback than LaNorris Sellers would have been able to make those plays down the stretch. South Carolina’s defensive front is legit, however, and Shane Beamer’s team is going to pick off one of the SEC’s blue bloods at some point. Perhaps a shaky Oklahoma team this week will be the one

13. Florida (3-3, 1-2)

Last week’s ranking: 13

Last week’s game: Lost to Tennessee, 23-17 in OT

This week’s game: vs. Kentucky, 6:45 p.m., SEC Network

The Gators had a chance at a three-game winning streak, but folded late in the game vs. Tennessee after leading much of the way. Coach Billy Napier did his team no favors by losing his nerve and electing to kick an extra point rather than go for two late in regulation. Florida should be playing like a team with nothing to lose, but Napier’s conservative nature cost them a shot at what could have been a signature victory.

12. Kentucky (3-3, 1-3)

Last week’s ranking: 12

Last week’s game: Lost to Vanderbilt, 20-13

This week’s game: at Florida, 6:45 p.m., SEC Network

The Wildcats had a bye week after upsetting Ole Miss — their biggest win in years — but couldn’t build on it against suddenly red-hot Vanderbilt. Kentucky just doesn’t have the offensive firepower to have any margin for error on defense. Mark Stoops’ team has won three straight games against Florida, which had dominated the rivalry for the previous three decades. With a brutal November schedule, this might be a must-win for the Wildcats’ bowl chances

11. Oklahoma (4-2, 1-2)

Last week’s ranking: 7

Last week’s game: Lost to Texas, 34-3

This week’s game: vs. South Carolina, 11:45 a.m., SEC Network

The Sooners’ team identity has flipped in the past few years, as they now rely on defense and struggle to score consistently. But Brent Venables’ team didn’t put up much of a fight against Texas on either side of the ball in the Red River Showdown. Freshman Michael Hawkins doesn’t appear to be the answer at quarterback, and it might not be a bad idea to switch back to Jackson Arnold if Oklahoma wants to have any hopes of putting a strong offense on the field this season.

10. Ole Miss (5-2, 1-2)

Last week’s ranking: 6

Last week’s game: Lost to LSU, 29-26 in OT

This week’s game: Open date

The Rebels put everything into this season both on and off the field, but it appears they are out of contention for the SEC championship — and maybe the College Football Playoff — before mid-October. Ole Miss seemed to be in control most of the way at LSU on Saturday night, but gave the game away with mistakes on both sides of the ball. Lane Kiffin and company have an open date to regain their bearings before facing Oklahoma, Arkansas and then Georgia, the latter being a game that will probably mean less than many anticipated going into the season.

9. Arkansas (4-2, 2-1)

Last week’s ranking: 11

Last week’s game: Open date

This week’s game: vs. LSU, 6 p.m., ESPN

The Razorbacks hit their open date after a big-time upset of Tennessee, and will try extend that streak to two when surging LSU visits Fayetteville on Saturday night. Arkansas still makes too many mistakes on offense, but clearly has closed the gap with most of the conference from a talent standpoint. Sam Pittman appears to have saved his job for now, so it’s time for the Bobby Petrino offensive coordinator hire to start paying dividends.

8. Vanderbilt (4-2, 2-1)

Last week’s ranking: 10

Last week’s game: Beat Kentucky, 20-13

This week’s game: vs. Ball State, 6 p.m., SECN+/ESPN+

The Commodores are the darlings of college football these days, and proved that the upset of Alabama was no fluke by outmuscling Kentucky on the road Saturday. Diego Pavia and company should breeze past Ball State this week, which would put them a win away from bowl-eligibility heading into a home game with Texas on Oct. 26. They might even get a visit from College GameDay at some point, an idea that seemed like a pipe dream after losing to Georgia State a month ago

7. Missouri (5-1, 1-1)

Last week’s ranking: 9

Last week’s game: Beat Massachusetts, 45-3

This week’s game: vs. Auburn, 11 a.m., ESPN

The Tigers slipped off the radar after getting blown out by Texas A&M two weeks ago, but took care of business on the road against the Minutemen on Saturday. The only concern was a possible nagging injury to star receiver Luther Burden. Missouri has a chance to prove it belongs back in the SEC race the next two weeks, first hosting a struggling Auburn team before heading to Tuscaloosa to face the suddenly vulnerable Crimson Tide.

6. Tennessee (5-1, 2-1)

Last week’s ranking: 5

Last week’s game: Beat Florida, 23-17 in OT

This week’s game: vs. Alabama, 2:30 p.m., ABC

The Volunteers’ disappearing offense has been one of the great mysteries of this season, as Nico Iamaleava and company have struggled to put points on the board since halftime of the Oklahoma game Sept. 21. Dylan Sampson is arguably the top running back in the conference and Tennessee’s defense remains salty, but the days when Josh Heupel’s team would tempo opponents to death seem like a memory. The Third Saturday in October vs. Alabama has lost a little luster, but it’s suddenly a must-win for both teams.

5. LSU (5-1, 2-0)

Last week’s ranking: 8

Last week’s game: Beat Ole Miss, 29-26 in OT

This week’s game: at Arkansas, 6 p.m., ESPN

As we (college football observers as a group) have tended to do in recent years, we all but wrote off Brian Kelly and the Tigers after their Week 1 struggles vs. USC. It didn’t help that LSU played with its food for a while against Nicholls, South Carolina and UCLA, but the Tigers proved in the second half vs. Ole Miss on Saturday that their offense is still explosive and that Death Valley is still Death Valley. With Texas A&M and Alabama looming, LSU has a potential trap game this week at Arkansas.

4. Alabama (5-1, 2-1)

Last week’s ranking: 4

Last week’s game: Beat South Carolina, 27-25

This week’s game: at Tennessee, 2:30 p.m., ABC

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me for 10 straight quarters … we can’t get fooled again (I think that’s how that goes). Something’s going on with this team, whether it’s the growing pains of new offensive and defensive schemes, complacency or just sloppiness. The Crimson Tide was extremely fortunate to escape with a win over South Carolina, which had multiple opportunities to deal Kalen DeBoer’s squad a second straight stunning upset. Alabama now plays the first of what should be three straight ranked teams in the next four weeks, and its hopes of returning to contender-hood hang in the balance.

3. Texas A&M (5-1, 3-0)

Last week’s ranking: 3

Last week’s game: Open date

This week’s game: at Mississippi State, 3:15 p.m., SEC Network

Ever since the Aggies pounded Missouri two weeks ago, the conference’s power structure has crumbled around them. That game vs. the Tigers kicked off at 11 a.m., and Texas A&M had an open date this past week. Since then, we’ve seen Tennessee, Ole Miss and Alabama fall on (relative) hard times, clearing the way for Mike Elko’s team to climb into the driver’s seat for an SEC championship game berth. The Oct. 26 home game vs. LSU — sandwiched between road trips to Mississippi State and South Carolina — suddenly has massive conference title implications.

2. Georgia (5-1, 3-1)

Last week’s ranking: 2

Last week’s game: Beat Mississippi State, 41-31

This week’s game: at Texas, 6:30 p.m., ABC

The Bulldogs hit another gear in the second half of their loss to Alabama on Sept. 28, but have throttled things back down in closer-than-they-should-have-been wins over Auburn and Mississippi State the last two weeks. Perhaps Kirby Smart and the boys were just saving the real stuff for top-ranked Texas, which welcomes Georgia to Austin on Saturday night. The Bulldogs and Longhorns have not played in the regular season since 1958, and let’s just say the stakes are a little different this time around.

1. Texas (6-0, 2-0)

Last week’s ranking: 1

Last week’s game: Beat Oklahoma, 34-3

This week’s game: vs. Georgia, 6:30 p.m., ABC

Steve Sarkisian’s plan to manage Quinn Ewers’ injury worked to perfection, as Arch Manning gained valuable game reps in breezy wins over UT-San Antonio, Louisiana-Monroe and Mississippi State. Ewers returned for an equally dominant win over Oklahoma in Dallas, a game that matters more to Texas’ fans and boosters than it will in the SEC championship race this year. The Longhorns have already established themselves as the team to beat in their new conference, and could create even more separation with a win over Georgia on Saturday night at Darrell K Royal Memorial Stadium.