SEC Power Rankings: Georgia, Kentucky, Florida occupy top three spots

The SEC continues to look completely different from what many expected with their preseason predictions.

Week 8 brought its annual round of shakeups across the conference. After climbing to No. 2 in last week's power rankings, Ole Miss suffered its second loss of the season, falling 34-27 to Texas. The Longhorns responded strongly after their loss to Florida, putting themselves back in the conversation for the SEC's top teams.

Tennessee also came crashing back down after its statement win over Alabama, losing to South Carolina, 27-24. Meanwhile, LSU continued its recent surge with a dominant 38-17 victory over Auburn, while Alabama bounced back with a win over Texas A&M.

Through all the chaos, Kentucky continues to quietly put together one of the conference's best seasons. The Wildcats improved to 7-1 overall and 5-1 in SEC play with a 34-17 victory over Vanderbilt.

Georgia and Florida were both idle, setting the stage for a major rivalry matchup that could further reshape the conference hierarchy.

Eight weeks into the 2026 campaign, the SEC still lacks a clear-cut national championship favorite. With contenders trying to separate themselves and others fighting to remain in the College Football Playoff picture, here's where all 16 teams stand in the latest Gators Wire SEC power rankings.

1. Georgia Bulldogs

• Record: 6-1 (4-1 SEC)
• Result: BYE
• Up Next: Florida Gators

Georgia holds on to the top spot after its bye week. The Bulldogs had an extra week to regroup after suffering their first loss of the season against Auburn and now face another major test against Florida. With both teams firmly in the SEC race, the latest edition of the rivalry could jolt one into contention and leave the other on an upward climb.

2. Kentucky Wildcats

• Record: 7-1 (5-1 SEC)
• Result: 34-17 victory over Vanderbilt Commodores
• Up Next: BYE

Kentucky continues to prove itself as one of the SEC's best teams. The Wildcats handled Vanderbilt to improve to 7-1 overall and 5-1 in conference play — the best record in the SEC. Kentucky moves up another spot this week and enters its bye in firm control of a trip to the SEC Championship Game.

3. Florida Gators

• 2025Record: 5-2 (3-2 SEC)
• Result: BYE
• Up Next: Georgia Bulldogs

Florida moves up one spot despite being idle in Week 8, benefiting from Ole Miss' loss to Texas. The Gators enter the bye week after a much-needed win over the Longhorns and now turn their attention to Georgia. A win over the top-ranked team in these power rankings would completely change Florida's season outlook and right the wrongs of their two early-season losses.

4. LSU

• Record: 6-2 (3-2 SEC)
• Result: 38-17 victory over Auburn Tigers
• Up Next: BYE

LSU is building momentum, rising to No. 4. One week after shutting out Mississippi State, the Tigers followed it with a convincing 38-17 victory over Auburn. Back-to-back dominant performances move LSU up two spots and into the top four as the Tigers head into their bye week.

5. Alabama Crimson Tide

• 2025Record: 6-2 (4-2 SEC)
• Result: 31-20 victory over Texas A&M Aggies
• Up Next: BYE

Alabama climbs to No. 5 in our SEC power rankings. Alabama responded to its loss against Tennessee with a victory over Texas A&M. The Crimson Tide still has work to do after suffering two conference losses, but getting back in the win column keeps it within striking distance in the SEC race.

6. Texas Longhorns

• Record: 5-2 (2-2 SEC)
• Result: 34-27 victory over Ole Miss Rebels
• Up Next: Mississippi State Bulldogs

Texas surges back into the top 10 to No. 6. After falling to Florida the previous week, the Longhorns responded by taking down the No. 2 team in last week's rankings. Texas makes the biggest jump of the week, climbing five spots and putting itself back into the SEC conversation.

7. Ole Miss Rebels

• 2025Record: 5-2 (3-2 SEC)
• Result: 34-27 loss to Texas Longhorns
• Up Next: Auburn Tigers

Ole Miss takes the biggest stumble of the week, sliding down to No. 7 after falling to Texas. The Rebels were sitting second after dominating Missouri, but their second loss of the season raises questions about their place among the SEC's elite. Ole Miss now faces an Auburn team looking to rebound from its own loss.

8. Missouri Tigers

• Record: 5-2 (2-2 SEC)
• Result: BYE
• Up Next: Arkansas Razorbacks

Missouri stays put at No. 8 following its bye. The Tigers entered the week looking to regroup from a 31-3 loss to Ole Miss and will have an opportunity to get back on track against Arkansas. Missouri needs to start stacking SEC wins to climb back up the rankings.

9. Tennessee Volunteers

• Record: 5-2 (2-2 SEC)
• Result: 27-24 loss to South Carolina Gamecocks
• Up Next: BYE

Tennessee fell from the top five to No. 9. Just one week after earning a statement win over Alabama, Tennessee crashed back down, losing 27-24 to South Carolina. The Volunteers had an opportunity to build on their biggest win of the season but instead suffered their second loss.

10. Oklahoma Sooners

• Record: 4-3 (2-2 SEC)
• Result: 23-15 victory over Mississippi State Bulldogs
• Up Next: South Carolina Gamecocks

Oklahoma earned a much-needed 23-15 win over Mississippi State. The Sooners move back above .500 and climb two spots after snapping their recent skid. Next, South Carolina rides the momentum of an upset win over Tennessee.

11. Mississippi State Bulldogs

• Record: 4-3 (2-3 SEC)
• Result: 23-15 loss to Oklahoma Sooners
• Up Next: Texas Longhorns

Mississippi State keeps moving in the wrong direction, falling to No. 11 in our SEC power rankings. After being shut out by LSU the previous week, the Bulldogs followed with a 23-15 loss to Oklahoma. Consecutive conference losses sent Mississippi State down another two spots, and a Texas team coming off a tough win awaits.

12. South Carolina Gamecocks

• Record: 4-3 (2-3 SEC)
• Result: 27-24 victory over Tennessee Volunteers
• Up Next: Oklahoma Sooners

South Carolina rises to No. 12 in our SEC power rankings. South Carolina pulled off one of the week's biggest upsets, knocking off Tennessee, 27-24. The Gamecocks have struggled to find consistency this season, but beating a Tennessee team fresh off a victory over Alabama is easily their most impressive result. South Carolina will now face an Oklahoma team in a similar position.

13. Auburn Tigers

• Record: 4-3 (2-3 SEC)
• Result: 38-17 loss to LSU Tigers
• Up Next: Ole Miss Rebels

Auburn could not capitalize on the momentum from its upset of Georgia. The Tigers followed their biggest win of the season with a 38-17 loss to LSU, dropping them three spots in this week's rankings. Auburn gets another chance to prove itself against an Ole Miss team that is also looking to bounce back.

14. Texas A&M Aggies

• 2025Record: 4-4 (1-4 SEC)
• Result: 31-20 loss to Alabama Crimson Tide
• Up Next: BYE

Texas A&M remains at No. 14 after falling to Alabama, 31-20. The Aggies have now dropped four of their five conference games and have struggled to gain traction against SEC competition. The upcoming bye comes at a critical point in the season, with little time to salvage their season.

15. Arkansas Razorbacks

• Record: 3-4 (1-3 SEC)
• Result: BYE
• Up Next: Missouri Tigers

Arkansas remains at No. 15 after spending Week 8 on a bye. The Razorbacks entered the break with momentum after beating Vanderbilt but still have plenty of work ahead. A win over Missouri would give Arkansas consecutive SEC wins and a chance to start climbing the rankings.

16. Vanderbilt Commodores

• Record: 3-5 (0-5 SEC)
• Result: 34-17 loss to Kentucky Wildcats
• Up Next: BYE

Vanderbilt remains at the bottom after another conference loss, this time falling to Kentucky, 34-17. The Commodores remain the conference's only team without a league victory. With four games remaining, Vanderbilt needs a few positive performances to build on for next season.

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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: SEC Power Rankings: Georgia, Kentucky, Florida occupy top three spots