SEC Power Ranking: Florida and Mississippi State rise, Arkansas plunges

Florida's impressive win in College Station has the Gators moving up the SEC power rankings. Arkansas' shocking loss to Louisiana-Monroe has the Razorbacks plunging.

By Larry Hartstein

Sep 10, 2012 at 11:24 am ET • 3 min read

Coach John L. Smith's Razorbacks plunged from 4th to 10th in the SEC Power Rankings. (Getty Images)

Here's CBSSports.com Rapid Reports SEC power ranking:

1. Alabama (2-0): Through two games, AJ McCarron has completed 62.5 percent of his throws for six TDs and no INTs. The defense forced four turnovers in Saturday’s 35-0 win over Western Kentucky. Last week’s power ranking: 1. Next up: at Arkansas, Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (CBS).

2. LSU (2-0): The Tigers steamrolled Washington for 242 rushing yards in a 41-3 massacre. They’re averaging 279 on the ground. Alfred Blue, Kenny Hilliard, Spencer Ware and Michael Ford form the deepest backfield committee around. Last week’s power ranking: 2. Next up: Idaho, Saturday, 8 p.m. ET (PPV).

3. Georgia (2-0, 1-0 SEC): The Bulldogs made a statement in scoring the last 24 points of their 41-20 win at Mizzou. The statement was: Jarvis Jones cannot be blocked one-on-one, and Aaron Murray loves throwing to 6-5 senior Marlon Brown (8 catches, 106 yards, 2 TDs). Last week’s power ranking: 3. Next up: Florida Atlantic, Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET (CSS).

4. South Carolina (2-0, 1-0 SEC): Backup QB Dylan Thompson threw for 330 yards and three touchdowns while Connor Shaw rested his bruised throwing shoulder. So unless Shaw is 100 percent, coach Steve Spurrier should have no qualms about sticking with Thompson. Last week’s power ranking: 5. Next up: UAB, Saturday, 7 p.m. ET (FSN).

5. Florida (2-0, 1-0 SEC): The Gators found their formula at College Station: dominant defense, power running by Mike Gillislee (4 TDs this season) and timely plays from QB Jeff Driskel. Last week’s power ranking: 7. Next up: at Tennessee, Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN).

6. Tennessee (2-0): Tyler Bray isn’t going to go 18 for 20 against the Gators like he did against Georgia State, but right now he and wideouts Justin Hunter and Cordarrelle Patterson have the best chemistry in the SEC. Last week’s power ranking: 6. Next up: Florida, Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN).

7. Mississippi State (2-0, 1-0 SEC): Having finaly knocked off an SEC West team besides Ole Miss, Dan Mullen’s team should roll to 5-0 before hosting Tennessee. The Bulldogs forced five turnovers against Auburn and did not allow an offensive TD. Last week’s power ranking: 9. Next up: at Troy, Saturday, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN3.com).

8. Missouri (1-1, 0-1 SEC): The Tigers must regroup after blowing a second-half lead in their frenzied SEC debut. But without senior tackle Elvis Fisher, who could miss a month with an MCL injury, the offense isn’t the same. Last week’s power ranking: 8. Next up: at Arizona State, Saturday, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN2).

9. Texas A&M (0-1, 0-1 SEC): Kevin Sumlin is searching for answers after his up-tempo offense got blanked in the second half against Florida, punting six times. The Aggies need more production out of the running game: Christine Michael was held to 33 yards on 13 carries. Last week’s power ranking: 10. Next up: at SMU, Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (FSN).

10. Arkansas (1-1): The Razorbacks took a historic fall from No. 8 to unranked in the AP poll, and they fall six spots here. QB Tyler Wilson suffered a head injury in the shocking OT loss to ULM and is day-to-day. Last week’s power ranking: 4. Next up: vs. Alabama, Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (CBS).

11. Auburn (0-2, 0-1 SEC): Sophomore Kiehl Frazier threw three INTs and lost two fumbles in the humiliating loss in Starkville. Now the Tigers entertain the nation’s darlings, the Warhawks, who upset Arkansas. With LSU looming, Gene Chizik must get a convincing win. Last week’s power ranking: 10. Next up: Louisiana-Monroe, Saturday, 12:21 p.m. ET (SEC Network).

12. Ole Miss (2-0): Coach Hugh Freeze picked the right QB in Bo Wallace, who threw for three TDs and ran for another in the 28-10 win over UTEP. The Rebels already have matched last year’s win total. Last week’s power ranking: 14. Next up: Texas, Saturday, 9:15 p.m. ET (ESPN).

13. Kentucky (1-1): Max Smith has completed 73 percent of his throws for 634 yards, with six TDs and no INTs. Six-foot-four senior Aaron Boyd already has 14 catches. Last week’s power ranking: 14. Next up: Western Kentucky, Saturday, 7 p.m. ET (ESPNU).

14. Vanderbilt (0-2, 0-1 SEC): It’s been a surprisingly bad start for the Commodores, who had high hopes coming off a bowl appearance. Vanderbilt averaged 3.0 yards a carry in the loss to Northwestern. Last week’s power ranking: 12. Next up: Presbyterian, 12:30 p.m. ET (CSS).

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