It is hard to believe that we are already in week 4 of college football season, but that’s where we are at. One question that I have been pondering since Saturday: Let’s say that we have undefeated Alabama, Oregon and Clemson at regular season’s end, who goes to the National Championship? You have to assume Bama based on its own and the SEC’s success in the BCS Title games and quality wins over A&M, LSU, Ole Miss and an SEC East opponent in the title game would be in. Choosing between Oregon and Clemson would be much tougher though. Oregon would have good wins against Washington, UCLA and Stanford and UCLA again in the PAC-!2 Title game. Clemson would have bookend wins against the likely SEC East champion with wins against UGA and S. Carolina and will have beaten FSU, Georgia Tech and GT/Miami in the ACC championship game. While the PAC-12 is stronger than the ACC, those wins against two top-tier SEC teams would be hard to ignore in Clemson’s case. Personally, I think Oregon is a little bit better than Clemson, but I think either could give the Tide fits with their no-huddle attacks and dual-threat quarterbacks and both have better defenses than A&M.

Anyway onto some SEC power rankings.

1. Alabama

Last Week: 49-42 Win over JFF 

This week: 9/21 vs. Colorado State

The Tide went out and took their lumps, but found a way to survive the onslaught of Johnny Manziel. The Tide defense looks vulnerable against up-tempo attacks and ridiculously good quarterbacks, but the Tide offense clicked against a sub-par A&M defense and put up points at a quick rate following a sluggish first quarter. TJ Yeldon is right with Todd Gurley as the best running back in the SEC if he can cut back on his untimely fumbles. Next up is a relaxing game against Colorado State.

2. LSU

Last Week: 45-13 Win over Kent State

This Week: 9/21 vs. Auburn

The Bayou Bengals easily dispatched of Kent State. They kick up SEC play this week against Gus Malzahn’s Auburn Tigers, a game that LSU should win by at least a couple of touchdowns. Zach Mettenberger continues to look potent as a passer and his play this year has added a dimension that LSU has lacked in recent years. This week will serve as a nice little ramp up to next week’s huge game at UGA.

3. Georgia

Last Week: Bye

This Week: 9/21 vs. North Texas

The Bulldogs return to action this week to play what should be a blowout of North Texas. The Bulldogs should enjoy this relaxing game as LSU comes to town next week in what should be a great game.

4. Texas A&M

Last Week: Lost 49-42 to Alabama

This Week: 9/21 vs. SMU

Johnny Manziel put on a Heisman worthy performance for the second straight year against the most talented defense in college football. Say what you will about his off-field antics, but he is one hell of a football player and is a wizard at extending plays and making unbelievable passes. Unfortunately football is a team sport and A&M’s defense is a sieve. The offense should carry A&M for most of the season, but that’s the difference between good teams and great teams, great teams find ways to dig deep for the win. Next up is a date with former Texas power SMU.

5. South Carolina

Last Week: Won 35-25 over Vanderbilt

This Week: Bye

The Gamecocks worked themselves to a solid win over a pesky Vandy team. While they did not look glorious in victory, the fact is a win is a win. The offense did rack up over 500 yards and they were balanced in doing so. They get a bye week before taking on an intriguing UCF team next week.

6. Florida

Last Week: Bye

This week: 9/21 vs. Tennessee

Gator fans got a break from watching their anemic offense this past week. The annual date with Tennessee awaits. The Gator offense will probably not rack up the points and yardage it did last year against the Vols, but if they resist the urge to turn the ball over they should score more than they did against Miami. Luckily, the Gator defense looks as strong as any in the nation and they should be able to keep a struggling Volunteer offense at bay to score a win this week.

7. Ole Miss

Last Week: Won 44-23 over Texas

This Week:Bye

The Rebel Black Bears plowed through Texas and they look like a team that will at least cause some fits for the top-tier SEC West teams. They get a week to take a break from continuing Hugh Freeze’s ascent as the hottest coach in NCAAF. They will need it as their next game is a home date with the Crimson Tide.

8. Auburn

Last Week: Won 24-20 over Mississippi State

This Week: 9/21 at LSU

Gus Malzahn continued his nice SEC head coaching debut with a win over Miss. State. Next up is a date with one of the SEC big boys in LSU. Unfortunately, the Tigers are probably a year or two away from competing against the SEC West’s other Tigers, but kudos to Malzahn for getting them to 3-0 in games that they might have lost last year.

9. Vanderbilt 

Last Week: Lost 35-25 to South Carolina

This Week: 9/21 at UMASS

The Commodores defense got thrashed by South Carolina and their offense is completely one-dimensional. They struggle to score against quality competition on plays that do not involve Jordan Matthews. Now they face a daunting road trip to UMASS. Nice to see Vandy take a stand though by kicking WR Chris Boyd off the team. Overall I think they have handled a potential PR nightmare pretty well.

10. Miss State

Last Week: Won 51-7 over Alcorn State

This Week: 9/14 at Auburn

The Bulldogs lost to Auburn. Dan Mullen’s program has stagnated and they appear on the downswing of a tenure that only featured a slight upswing. Welcome to reality Bulldog fans, you’re a bottom-tier SEC program that has stagnated with a formerly hot coaching candidate who will probably be back in an offensive coordinator position soon.

11. Tennessee

Last Week: Let’s not talk about it

This Week: 9/21 at The Swamp

Last week went about like it was supposed to, it was literally the worst match-up for the Vols.

Next up is the traditional SEC opener versus the Gators. In real news, the Vols may be breaking in a new quarterback as soon as this week. Any QB would struggle against a front 7 as deep and talented as the Gators’, much less a freshman or Justin Worley. While the Vols’ qb situation is not ideal, the fact is, if the Vols’ coaches don’t see Worley as the best option through next year it would probably behoove them to let a new guy with 4 years of eligibility left to take his lumps this season. The Vols defense WILL look better this year against the Gators this year than they did last year, unfortunately I just don’t see the Vols putting up more than 10 points this week, and that probably won’t be enough.

12. Missouri

Last Week: Bye

This Week: at IU

Mizzou travels to play the Hoosiers in a game that is a slight step up in competition from Toledo. That said, I really don’t think the Tigers have enough depth or the size/strength on both lines to survive once SEC play begins.

13. Arkansas

Last Week: Won 24-3

This Week: 9/21 at Rutgers

The Razorbacks scored their third win versus a terrible team against Southern Miss. Now they face a step up in competition going on the road to Rutgers. They may even win again, but honest to God I do not see an SEC game that Arky has a shot in besides Miss State. Enjoy this week Razorback followers, the rest of the season will be ugly.

14. Kentucky

Last Week: Lost 27-13 to Louisville

This Week: Bye

Kudos to the Wildcats for holding Louisville to 27 points and showing the rest of the nation that the Charlie Strong’s team has no business being close to a national title game. Mark Stoops is an upgrade as a coach, but BBN is still in for an ugly ride this year and next.

Questions? Thoughts? don’t hesitate to leave a comment or holler at me on Twitter.