SEC Power Rankings - Week 7
POWER RANKINGS
Six weeks into the 2026 season, the SEC picture is starting to shift. Georgia moves to the top after knocking off Alabama in Tuscaloosa, while Texas falls after a crushing Red River loss to Oklahoma. Kentucky and Missouri continue to emerge as legitimate contenders, Alabama remains firmly in the mix, and LSU and Texas A&M are heading in the wrong direction. With the conference race tightening and several teams beginning to separate themselves, here’s how we rank all 16 SEC teams ahead of Week 7.
Dawgs Take Control
Top dog. Literally.
Georgia walked into Tuscaloosa and came away with a 20–17 win over Alabama, moving to 6–0 overall and 4–0 in SEC play. It wasn’t flashy, but it was exactly the kind of game Kirby Smart’s teams have become so good at winning. Gunner Stockton threw for 249 yards, Dwight Phillips Jr. ran for 120, and the Bulldogs made just enough plays defensively to leave Bryant-Denny with their biggest win of the season.
For Alabama, it’s hardly a season-ending loss. The Tide are still 5–1 and very much in the SEC race, but Georgia now owns the clearest path to Atlanta and has earned the top spot in our rankings.
With Texas stumbling, there’s no debate this week.
Georgia is the team to beat in the SEC.
Red River Reality Check
Throw out the records, indeed.
Oklahoma entered Dallas looking like a team searching for answers. They left with a 27–24 win over No. 1 Texas, courtesy of a 47-yard Tate Sandell field goal as time expired. The Sooners scored 17 points in the fourth quarter and forced two late Arch Manning interceptions to completely flip a game Texas had controlled for most of the afternoon.
For Texas, it’s a brutal reminder that the offense still hasn’t found the consistency we’ve been waiting on. The Horns are still talented enough to beat anyone, but the margin for error is gone. A home game with Florida suddenly feels a lot more like a must win than it did a week ago.
Oklahoma, meanwhile, finally has something to build on.
Red River got weird. Red River usually does.
Kentucky Keeps Climbing
Maybe it’s time to stop calling this an upset.
Kentucky knocked off LSU 35–34 in overtime, winning its fourth straight game and improving to 5–1. Kenny Minchey delivered the biggest moment of the night, converting the game-winning two-point conversion in overtime after Will Stein went for the win yet again instead of extending the game.
And Kentucky isn’t alone among the SEC’s early-season risers. Missouri absolutely smothered Texas A&M 27–6, holding the Aggies to 216 total yards while Jamal Roberts exploded for 222 rushing yards. Missouri is now 5–1 and looks nothing like a middle-of-the-pack team.
Meanwhile, LSU and A&M are heading in the wrong direction. LSU has dropped to 4–2 and 1–2 in SEC play, while the Aggies are already 3–3 and 1–3 in the SEC.
Kentucky and Missouri are forcing their way into the conversation.
