ESPN ranks SEC Football teams from first to last ahead of Week 7

Six weeks into the regular season and the SEC race is still as wide open as ever. Some of the top contenders have already lost games, leaving the race a bit of a free-for-all as we head into Week 7 — and the Football Power Index is adjusting accordingly.

According to ESPN, The FPI is a measure of team strength that is meant to be the best predictor of a team’s performance going forward for the rest of the season. FPI represents how many points above or below average a team is. Projected results are based on 20,000 simulations of the rest of the season using FPI, results to date, and the remaining schedule.

With that in mind, let’s check out how the FPI has the SEC sorted through the first six weeks of the season. We dive in below.

1. Alabama Crimson Tide (4-1) – 23.5 FPI score

It’s not every year you praise Alabama for a win over Vanderbilt, but the Crimson Tide are certainly in that boat this year. The win over the ‘Dores was a very solid one. And it comes in the middle of a brutal run on the schedule.

Vanderbilt was the second straight ranked opponent Alabama faced (and beat). Up next are ranked opponents in four of the next five games, including the next two. Alabama will have its work cut out for it maintaining the top spot in the SEC.

2. Georgia Bulldogs (4-1) – 20.9

It was a relatively simple bit of work for Georgia this weekend, with the program knocking off a struggling Kentucky team fairly easily. That was a nice bounce-back win following the loss to Alabama.

As far as schedules go, Georgia has one of the SEC’s lighter ones going forward. There are only two ranked opponents left on the schedule: Ole Miss and Georgia Tech. That sets things up nicely for a playoff run.

3. Ole Miss Rebels (5-0) – 19.8

Ole Miss hadn’t really been tested before it took on LSU at home last week. The big win was followed by a bye, so the Rebels weren’t in action this weekend.

Lane Kiffin and his Ole Miss squad also have a fairly navigable schedule, with only two ranked opponents left (Georgia and Oklahoma), though both are on the road. First up, though, is a non-conference game against Washington State.

4. Texas Longhorns (3-2) – 19.6

The analytics continue to like the Longhorns despite the early season struggles. How Texas fares in the SEC could shift these numbers in the coming weeks, though. A first foray in conference play was unsuccessful, with Florida beating Texas in the Swamp.

Now Texas turns around and has to face rival Oklahoma. The good news? They might get the Sooners without star quarterback John Mateer, who is dealing with a broken bone in his hand. Still, Oklahoma played well without him last week, so it won’t be easy.

5. Tennessee Volunteers (4-1) – 17.7

Tennessee is a hair away from unbeaten, having lost to Georgia in a heartbreaker in overtime. Of course, that’s the only ranked opponent the Volunteers have faced so far this season. Stiff tests are coming in SEC play.

First up, though, is a date with Arkansas. Can Tennessee keep things rolling against an interim coaching staff? If so, it’ll set up a monster showdown on the road at Alabama a week later.

6. Texas A&M Aggies (5-0) – 16.8

One of five SEC teams that remains unbeaten in league play, the Aggies have already knocked off two conference foes. This week they get to play host to Florida, a team with some newfound confidence after knocking off Texas.

That game will be a big one for Mike Elko and his guys. A playoff-caliber team would find a way to win that one, even though Florida’s probably better than its record would indicate. We’ll see how things go this weekend in College Station.

7. Oklahoma Sooners (5-0) – 16.1

As noted above, Oklahoma could be playing without quarterback John Mateer in the rivalry game against Texas this weekend. But backup Michael Hawkins was very good in relief against Kent State last weekend.

The backup quarterback threw for 162 yards and three scores, while also rushing for 33 yards and a touchdown. Can he keep up that level of play against a much higher-caliber opponent if Mateer remains out?

8. Vanderbilt Commodores (5-1) – 15.9

The ‘Dores are coming off their first loss of the season, not quite able to hang with the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa. But there’s no time to waste worrying about that one, as the next two SEC opponents are both ranked in the top 15 nationally.

Vanderbilt gets a bye week before those contests. And, importantly, both the game against LSU and the game against Missouri are at home. Win both and the playoff conversation will get very real in Nashville.

9. LSU Tigers (4-1) – 15.8

LSU was off this weekend after suffering a tough loss on the road at Ole Miss. That loss won’t derail the team’s SEC or playoff hopes, but it certainly shrinks the margin for error quite a bit going forward.

The Tigers will return to action this weekend by hosting the South Carolina Gamecocks. After that there are three straight ranked opponents coming up on the schedule. LSU can’t afford a slip-up this weekend.

10. Missouri Tigers (5-0) – 15.5

One of only four SEC teams that has played just one conference game so far, Missouri is about to start learning how it really stacks up this year. In a hurry, too.

A game against No. 8 Alabama is on tap this weekend. It’s at home for Missouri, which will be looking to prove it very much belongs in the College Football Playoff discussion after falling out of it with about a month to go in the 2024 season. Big stakes.

Rest of the SEC in the FPI

11. Auburn Tigers (3-2) – 13.0
12. Florida Gators (2-3) – 11.1
13. South Carolina Gamecocks (3-2) – 10.2
14. Arkansas Razorbacks (2-3) – 7.6
15. Mississippi State Bulldogs (4-2) – 6.3
16. Kentucky Wildcats (2-3) – 4.9