SEC Football Power Rankings Week 5: Should Tennessee Be No. 1?

Chris Lee and Blake Lovell share the Southeastern 16 staff's SEC football power rankings for Week 5 in the 2024 season. Topics include:
- Alabama’s defense has been terrific inside the red zone and the Crimson Tide get a huge test Saturday with Georgia.
- Arkansas got an upset at Arkansas thanks to one huge Taylen Green play.
- Auburn has quarterback chaos on its hands as the Tigers can’t stop turning the ball over.
- Florida looked good, especially at the quarterback spot, in a road win over Mississippi State.
- Georgia enjoyed a bye week before this week’s game with Alabama.
- Kentucky got a productive game from Brock Vandagriff in a rout of Ohio.
- LSU lost Harold Perkins for the season but rode a good offensive game to beat UCLA.
- Ole Miss scored another big win a series of big wins against mediocre opponents with its win over Georgia Southern.
- Mississippi State lost its game with Florida and also lost quarterback Blake Shapen for the season.
- Missouri rode a big game from Nate Noel to a double overtime win over Vanderbilt.
- Oklahoma couldn’t move the ball against Tennessee and benched Jackson Arnold for Michael Hawkins.
- South Carolina got a great game from quarterback Robby Ashford in a thrashing of Akron.
- Tennessee’s defensive front destroyed Oklahoma as the Vols move into the discussion for the No. 1 overall team.
- Texas is No. 1 in the polls, are the Longhorns finally No. 1 here?
- Texas A&M remains a bit of a mystery after an unremarkable win over Bowling Green.
- Vanderbilt just missed a road upset of Missouri as Diego Pavia continued his outstanding play.
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[@Bman6464]

Leave TN as low as possible...want these guys practicing and playing hard and focused. There will be no questions by seasons end with the playoffs

[@keithier1958]

Im a Tennessee fan, and no we should not be number one.

[@jakefromstatefarm33]

UGA or Bama will be #1 next week, so it doesn’t matter where Tennessee is this week. Just keep winning.

[@joshuaclark3414]

No. Tennessee is not #1. Im a Dawg but so far id say, Texas, Georgia, Bama, Tennessee and then Ole Miss would be my top 5 SEC ranking. Georgia vs Bama will be settled this weekend but the loser is still top 3 in SEC. Also can’t read too much into this. Long season to go still and football is a game of match ups so 🤷‍♂️

[@phatfield72]

As much as it pains me to say this as a Tennessee fan, I agree. We're good, but I don't think we're no. 1 good. Not yet. Top 5 yes. Not to mention, every time we get a bunch of hype, we crap the bed. We've got a tough stretch coming up.

[@zackharris5998]

Bama has 0 ranked wins

[@amazingturtle5075]

TN fan and I’m still not convinced for this seasons Alabama- but I agree with this list as of now. It’s close though

[@mattomara]

We’ll find out soon enough

[@jeffmercer9655]

Yeah same old same old but I think you're wrong Tennessee smoke bama this year

[@flyingblind5677]

I’m Ron burgundy? lol love the ending. Big game for Arkansas Saturday, WPS

[@zackharris5998]

Pretty obvious that texas georgia bama Tennessee and ole miss are the top teams in the sec by a mile only question is order

[@krusty9570]

If Ark could ever play a complete game and not constantly hurt themselves they’ll be pretty tough by years end.

[@dustincaldwell2049]

Texas beating last years champion gets them number 1 for me. Bama should be 4. 1 Texas 2 Tennessee 3 Georgia 4 bama

[@jeffmercer9655]

Whoever wins between Georgia and Alabama will be number one

[@gregorydeckelman4262]

If Green puts it all together, he will shred ANY defense! This makes Ark. dangerous to anyone! A few plays short of 4-0, Petrino and company are IMHO, ready to unleash the full offense this week or, depending how it goes in the A&M game, he may get to hold back until the Tenn game. One or more of the upcoming games at home will result in an old fashion butt whoopin' to the visitor(s)!!! I personally hope it is the Texas game! WooPig

[@umbreonix]

Agreed. They’re getting better each week. One of these teams will be the first victim when it all gets put together

[@mattpleasant8658]

I'm not saying TN should be #1, but TN is the only team with multiple ranked wins so far this year. Both of which were on the road and I also add the combined score of those wins totals 76-25. Sure, there are teams with a win over SIGHTLY higher ranked teams, but each of them only has 1 ranked win. I get the season is a marathon and not a sprint, but at this point in the season, I think most would agree that TN has the best resume to date.

[@JBPVFL]

As a Tennessee fan, I'm fine with us anywhere in the top 5. Everyone in that grouping will be playing each other, aside from Ohio State, so not to even say that the rankings don't matter, but that they will work themselves out without any guesswork to be done.

[@grimbyrne195]

Texas has a cake walk this season except for their game with Georgia. They are definitely going to the playoffs, either undefeated or with one loss. I know Oklahoma and Texas A&M want to knock the Longhorns out, but I don't think that is going to happen.

[@johnnydelgoto]

LSU over South Carolina is WILD if you actually watched the game 😂 South Carolina played the entire second half with NO QB and it still took the Refs coming through with bad calls for LSU to BARELY win

[@robertmiller1638]

I’m a Vol fan, but I don’t really have a problem with the rankings. If we perform well as the season goes on the Vols will get rewarded.

[@jakez3171]

Tennessee fan here. No higher than 5th makes sense yet. Think Arkansas will be a much bigger test for Tennessee. I’d have it a coin flip.

[@michael-thetailgate]

TN has a case for top 4 in the SEC and Nationally, but right now it is hard to put them over TX (best ranked win) and UGA (been elite for years). They could flip flop with Bama honestly. This is from a Vols fan.

[@EricBJones]

Whatsup Blake & Chris GB🍊 Vols !

[@jneal713]

Having Georgia in front of Tennessee and Alabama after barely beating a hapless UK team by 1 is just unjustifiable at this point in the season. Not based on actual results.

[@landongest8364]

With a&m I think you could look at the improved o line play and strong run game as a strength. Also our defense is pretty good(not great) yet. For that a&m should slide up past lsu and OU. Our starting qb is still working back to full health as well

[@amazingturtle5075]

I’m a TN fan and no, we haven’t played enough to be ranked #1. We have a strong team, and strong coach but the team is young. Top 5 definitely, but give us some more teams to prove something a little higher

[@Xorthos]

I'm a Vol fan, but I think we should probably be around 3rd/4th, behind Texas and UGA and on par with Bama and Ole Miss (Posting this prior to watching the video)

[@bobbysmith3196]

I’m pulling for Bama!!! Just because i Can 😊 Just in That Particular Game 🤣 Spurs Up☝️ Go Gamecocks!!! 🏈🏆✅

[@P5Cowdrey]

Wait….. whaaaaat? Did I just hear you say you sat on the Vandy side of the Mizzou game?😢 Vandy played great - we didn’t so much and better get our stuff together during “The Bye” this week. Go Mizzou❤. Next time if you are in COMO…. You can sit with Mizzou fans!!!!

[@tylercollins3130]

He covers Vandy.

[@jeffr.womack9070]

And Chris is a life long Vandy fan.

[@clipempolitics]

“40 game winning streak.” Why do games 2 or 3 years ago - much less LAST YEAR - impact polling this year??

[@jasonejoness77]

I'm a Tennessee fan and why not #1? We beat two ranked teams. Go V-O-L-S

[@Ken-no2sz]

Obviously your ranking is based on your own personal feelings and not facts. Tennessee is the only SEC team that has beaten 2 ranked teams. They have given up fewer points then the majority of teams and they have also scored more than most of the teams. They arguably have one of the best defenses in the SEC. Tennessee can beat up on nobody's and oh it's bad. Texas and Georgia can beat up on nobody's and they're great not to mention Georgia almost lost to Kentucky. Your pics seem to be blinded by favoritism and not facts. The AP poll is based on favoritism ie. Ohio State Texas Georgia who haven't beaten a ranked team. It seems the only obvious fact here is that you really really don't like Tennessee.😅

[@Servingemanualcouragously]

Always moving the goalpost!!! But I don't care right now, just come December and January

[@Sean-ku8pc]

With all due respect, you watched NC State against WCU and Clemson. Oklahoma is good but when you talk about Georgia, Texas, Alabama, they are just different beasts. It can all change from one game.

[@theonlykog]

Most rankings are.

[@albertlin7133]

With all due respect, ou just benched their 5 star qb and you should really look at their rankings in passing and running. They were a bad team waiting to be exposed.

[@Ryan-mx2kr]

​@@Sean-ku8pcTexas doesn't get that respect because they had 1 good year.

[@P5Cowdrey]

Makes sense….I like Vandy’s coach & QB! Will be cheering for them (now).

[@ronniemoore2756]

Texas, Tennessee, ole miss, Georgia and Alabama if we just going by beating up on cupcakes, now were these teams are at week 10 💯

[@uni4rm]

OU is a cupcake team now? They have a top 5 D in the SEC

[@PrenticeJones-fh2ew]

Auburn shouldn't be 15. Watch them get the turnovers slightly fixed this week, and you guys aren't going to know what to do.

[@mike635machine]

Wait, “the computers” say Alabama is “3.5 points” better than Tennessee but Georgia is 1.5 points better? Georgia is literally a 2-point favorite over Alabama in Tuscaloosa right now. “The computers”? What a moron

[@Blueeyepirate]

That’s fair being outside of Bama and ga, and Texas til we beat one of them.. lucky for us we get bama at home so be rdy to change these rankings

[@mikeb550]

Rocket is fine when he got hurt there was no point in putting him back in the game against Akron,

[@TelvinJones-ho7iq]

The fact u don't have Miami is upseting

[@gsmith8403]

If we base it off resume then the VOLS should be #1. Doesn't mean it can't change next week due to the uga vs bammy game. If uga wins they should be #1 then but bammy ain't played a ranked opponent yet. Not saying bammy ain't good but logically they haven't played a ranked opponent yet so you should have them atleast 5th. 1 TENNESSEE 2 Uga 3 Texas 4 missouri 5 Bammy 6 ole piss

[@jeffroy1463]

It really doesn't matter where these teams are ranked 1-5 it's all gonna come out in the wash ROLL TIDE 🐘

[@jeffroy1463]

ROLL TIDE 🐘🐘

[@foster7517]

Tn has 2 ranked wins nobody else has that bama doesn't have 1 ranked wib

[@NathanMarks-mi7zx]

Arkansas will be little entertaining when Orange Wave rolls into town! That D will overwhelm them. They do not give up much! Watched AR/AU game- that AR D is porous and gives up alot of yardage.

[@DennisCoffman-dd8ok]

Who cares? Until it gets towards the end of the year, it really doesn't matter right now. Texas has yet to play Georgia. Bama and Georgia will probably jump to #1 after they play. Eventually it gets worked out after teams are done with the season. The only time it matters is at the end of the season. Period.

[@ShawnTar]

Arkansas #11?? Lol.. maybe 6 to 8... not 11 geez. 3-1 1-0.... only lose was 2 ot lose to top 20 team. One of the best rushing team in the country.....

[@jeffmercer9655]

Can I have lived in Tennessee my whole life and I'm a Tennessee fan no we should not be the number one

[@gaoneal02]

*Big 12, SEC, ACC & Big 10 are your only 4 viable power conferences right now. *Big 12 has 16 teams *Big 10 has 18 teams *ACC has 16 teams *SEC has 16 teams *Each conference plays only teams from its own conference and no more blowout September games against D2 teams and easy warm-up type games. *At the end of the regular season schedule, the top 2 teams in each conference play each other in the first-round playoff game as follows: Big 12 #1 vs Big 12 #2, Big 10 #1 vs Big 10 #2, ACC #1 vs ACC #2, SEC #1 vs SEC #2. The winners will be Conference Champions and ranked #1 - #4 by CFP Committee according to existing guidelines. *Semi Final Playoff #1 vs #4 *Semi Final Playoff #2 vs #3 *The losers will be ranked #3 & #4 by CFP Committee according to existing guidelines. * The winners will be ranked #1 & #2 by CFP Committee according to existing guidelines. *The CFP Super-Duper Bowl #1 vs #2, the winner is National Champions. *The Notre Dame dilemma of being an Independent solution, should they continue to want to stay Independent. UND should agree to play 3 games from each of the power conferences -1 to continue with their commitment to play Navy every year. Notre Dame would have to be ranked over one of the conference teams that is a #2.

[@DennisCoffman-dd8ok]

Notre Dame is already out of the equation. Losing to a team with a lot less talent already disqualifies them. I don't care if they win the rest of their games. Not in a conference and the majority of their games are against crap teams.

[@Scooterwithaplan]

Tennessee isn't number 1 until they beat Georgia

[@Servingemanualcouragously]

UGA isn't impressive.

[@uni4rm]

TN wont be #1 until the only opponent on their schedule is Vandy

[@Scooterwithaplan]

UGA not looking as good but Tennessee hasn't beat them in a while and they need to that to prove they have the legit claim to the top spot.

[@Scooterwithaplan]

@@uni4rm you may be right 😂

[@Ryan-mx2kr]

Why is Georgia ahead of Tennessee and Bama? It really makes you look like homers guys. Showing favoritism aint gonna grow this channel. Fix this

[@quentincook4104]

SC is better than A&M and Oklahoma

[@JoshuaBurnes-o8l]

No they not ole Miss is better

[@rhrh2025]

We'll see...

[@JoshuaBurnes-o8l]

@@quentincook4104 Ole Miss better than both of those teams

[@spencerwarren9219]

No sorry they aren't they have a good defemce but not as good as sooners. Maybe aggies but they got a better offence e

[@milhaudmeto123450]

No

[@bobbysmith3196]

The Top 5 Teams… (As Y’all Have Them) are Gonna Settle this Thing Fellas 😊👍 Amongst themselves ✅ They are All Good Enough that what We Fans End Up With Might Not Actually Be THE BEST TEAM 🤷‍♂️ The Best Team could take a Loss against a couple of the Others… That’s How Close They Are!!! Let’s Get the Hat Out and Draw Names 🤣🤣🤣 Course SCAR is Right There with Them 😊🤷‍♂️👍 Spurs Up☝️ Go Gamecocks!!! 🏈🏆✅

[@kriscobb-xi1wq]

Makes sense of my Aggies they are a work in Progress Still a bowl team at 8-4 or 9-3

[@MrT8terhead]

Tn should not be 1

[@MrT8terhead]

Offense has to step up

[@birdlebowski8545]

ESPN also believes men can have babies, so.....

[@SamuelSmith802]

show some damn respect. if my Vanderbilt Commodores did not get screwed, we are undefeated and a legitimate national championship contender. you are not ready for the commodores in the playoffs.

[@theneonfalcon3650]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@bobbysmith3196]

How bout em Gamecocks!!! A Zebra away from being… 4-0 😊🙄✅ Instead they got a… 🫏🤥🐕🐂💩 Those Zebra’s helped The Wrong Team!!!🤔 SCAR already has a Great Defense and their Offense is coming right along so they will win more games in the playoffs than lsu and BK Will!!! The SEC would have been smarter to have helped the Team that would have made them More 💰 in said Playoffs🙄🙈🤔 Spurs Up☝️ Go Gamecocks!!! 🏈🏆✅

[@cordercorder8785]

LSU would bring more money for tv than USCjr.

[@theneonfalcon3650]

Bro….are you guys getting calls from Michigan again or something? South Carolina is literally going to church on Sundays to thank the LORD for that schedule this year. Praying for a Jiffy Lube Presents, the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Chuck E. Cheese Bowl on ESPN 4 on January 8th and 1:14am.