AL.com’s SEC Football Power Rankings for Week 10 of 2026 season

It was something of a quiet week in the SEC, with six teams having open dates and no upsets among the five games that were played.Things will change quickly in Week 10, however. Not only are there no more bye weeks, but there are three SEC matchups that are outright College Football Playoff elimination games — plus two more that could be. November figures to be a wild time in the SEC once again. By this time next month, we’ll have a solid idea of which teams in the conference will get a chance to play for the national championship. So how do the teams in the SEC stack up as we head into the final month of the regular season? Here’s the Week 10 edition of AL.com’s SEC football power rankings for 2026 (all times Central and all games Saturday):Vanderbilt Commodores mascot "Mr. C" rides in the Star Walk prior to a game between the Vanderbilt Commodores and Arkansas Razorbacks, October 17, 2026, at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Matthew Maxey/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Icon Sportswire via Getty Images16. Vanderbilt (3-5, 0-5)Last week’s ranking: 16Last week’s game: Open dateThis week’s game: at Mississippi State, 3:15 p.m., SEC NetworkComing off their bye week, the Commodores have what is probably their last best shot at an SEC win this week against a wounded Mississippi State team that had to play Texas. Vanderbilt finishes up with Alabama, Florida and Tennessee, so 5-7 might be the best case scenario. KJ Jackson #7 hands off the ball to Cam Settles #27 of the Arkansas Razorbacks in the first half of a game against the Missouri Tigers at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on October 31, 2026 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)Getty Images15. Arkansas (3-5, 1-4)Last week’s ranking: 15Last week’s game: Lost to Missouri, 34-10This week’s game: at Auburn, 11:45 a.m., SEC NetworkThe Razorbacks’ winning streak ended at one after Missouri pulled away in the second half on Saturday. Arkansas has a decent shot at a second SEC win this week against reeling Auburn, however. After that, it gets tougher with South Carolina, Texas and LSU on the docket. Texas A&M cornerback Dezz Ricks (2) celebrates after his interception against Alabama during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)AP Photo/Vasha Hunt14. Texas A&M (4-4, 1-4)Last week’s ranking: 14Last week’s game: Open dateThis week’s game: at South Carolina, 2 p.m. The Aggies can still salvage bowl-eligibility coming out of their bye week, but would need to take down perhaps the hottest team in the SEC on the road to secure any positive momentum. Texas A&M finishes up with Tennessee, Oklahoma and Texas, three of the five best defenses in the league. Mississippi State running back Fluff Bothwell (24) is upended by Texas defensive back Derek Williams Jr. (2) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)AP Photo/Eric Gay13. Mississippi State (4-4, 2-4)Last week’s ranking: 13Last week’s game: Lost to Texas, 31-3This week’s game: vs. Vanderbilt, 3:15 p.m., SEC NetworkThings seem pretty hopeless in Starkville now, with injuries to key personnel (including quarterback Kamario Taylor) having led to four consecutive losses. The season — and Jeff Lebby’s job — is still redeemable, with home games vs. Vanderbilt, Auburn and FCS opponent Tennessee Tech the next three weeks. Head coach Brent Venables of the Oklahoma Sooners lectures defensive back Trystan Haynes #14 after giving up a 38-yard catch at the one-yard line by the South Carolina Gamecocks in the second quarter at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on October 31, 2026 in Norman, Oklahoma. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)Getty Images12. Oklahoma (4-4, 2-3)Last week’s ranking: 12Last week’s game: Lost to South Carolina, 42-25This week’s game: at Florida, 6:45 p.m., SEC NetworkEven the Sooners’ mighty defense was no match for the South Carolina buzzsaw, which posted the most points OU has allowed since it joined the SEC. John Mateer played a clean game for once, which is encouraging heading into what might be a winnable game against Florida. Oklahoma finishes up with Ole Miss, Texas A&M and Missouri, so everything from 4-8 to 7-5 is probably on the table in terms of final record. The low end of that range might cost Brent Venables his job. OXFORD, MS - OCTOBER 31 - Auburn Defensive Back AnQuon Fegans (3) during the game between the Auburn Tigers and the #12 Ole Miss Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, MS on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. Photo by Zach Bland/Auburn TIgersZach Bland/Auburn TIgers11. Auburn (4-4, 2-4)Last week’s ranking: 11Last week’s game: Lost to Ole Miss, 45-15This week’s game: vs. Arkansas, 11:45 a.m., SEC NetworkThe Tigers’ defensive collapse continued against Ole Miss, who scored the most decisive SEC victory over Auburn by any opponent in four years. Everyone knew October was going to be brutal for Alex Golesh’s team, which went 1-3 after a 3-1 start. The schedule eases up somewhat in the next three weeks, with games against Arkansas, Mississippi State and Samford all winnable. Secure bowl-eligibility in that stretch and the Tigers can play loose in the Iron Bowl in Tuscaloosa on Nov. 28. Florida head coach Jon Sumrall reacts during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Georgia, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)AP Photo/Colin Hubbard10. Florida (5-3, 3-3)Last week’s ranking: 9Last week’s game: Lost to Georgia, 27-8This week’s game: vs. Oklahoma, 6:45 p.m., SEC NetworkGeorgia served notice that the Cocktail Party still belongs to the Bulldogs, who haven’t lost to the Gators since the COVID season (and haven’t done so in a non-COVID year since Kirby Smart’s first season). There are probably better days ahead for Jon Sumrall’s team, but what seemed like legitimate playoff hopes a month ago are now gone after a 1-3 October. Quarterback LaNorris Sellers #16 of the South Carolina Gamecocks takes off running against defensive back Peyton Bowen #22 of the Oklahoma Sooners in the second quarter at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on October 31, 2026 in Norman, Oklahoma. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)Getty Images9. South Carolina (5-3, 3-3)Last week’s ranking: 10Last week’s game: Beat Oklahoma, 42-25This week’s game: vs. Texas A&M, 2 p.m., ESPN The Gamecocks are nationally ranked after their third straight victory, something that seemed like an impossibility following the Oct. 10 overtime loss to Kentucky that had fans calling for Shane Beamer’s head. With a final month slate of Texas A&M, Arkansas, Georgia and Clemson, South Carolina now could reasonably finish 9-3 and have a decent playoff argument come early December.Jamal Roberts #20 of the Missouri Tigers runs the ball in the first half of a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on October 31, 2026 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)Getty Images8. Missouri (6-2, 3-2)Last week’s ranking: 8Last week’s game: Beat Arkansas, 34-10This week’s game: vs. Texas, 11 a.m., ESPNThe Tigers allowed the Razorbacks to stick around for a while before pulling away after halftime, thus keeping their playoff hopes alive. Ahmad Hardy also returned for a pair of first-half carries, and it will be worth watching if his workload ramps up this week. Missouri had already begun to fall apart by this point last year, and will have to navigate three straight Top 10 teams — Texas, Georgia and Kentucky — if they want to stay in the race this year. Tennessee running back DeSean Bishop (18) celebrates a touchdown with tight end Luca Wolf (87) during the second half an NCAA college football game against Alabama, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)AP Photo/Wade Payne7. Tennessee (6-2, 3-2)Last week’s ranking: 7Last week’s game: Open dateThis week’s game: vs. Kentucky, 5:15 p.m., ESPNThe banged up Volunteers got a much-needed break last week, and now head toward what is the highest-stakes “Beer Barrel” game in years — maybe ever. We’ll see what Tennessee does at quarterback going forward, but it will be the running game and defense that will decide whether or not Josh Heupel’s team remains a playoff contender. With Texas A&M and Vanderbilt still on the schedule, a 2-2 finish seems like the floor. But obviously, the Vols have much bigger goals than that. Mississippi running back Shekai Mills-Knight (33) celebrates his one-yard touchdown run against Auburn during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis6. Ole Miss (6-2, 4-2)Last week’s ranking: 6Last week’s game: Beat Auburn, 45-15This week’s game: vs. Arkansas, 11:45 a.m., SEC Network The defense still can’t entirely be trusted, but any team with Trinidad Chambliss at quarterback has a shot to win no matter who it’s playing. If the Rebels can somehow take down Georgia on Saturday night, they’d probably cruise into the playoff. It’s unlikely any of their last three opponents — Oklahoma, Wofford and Mississippi State — will be able to score enough points to beat this team. Texas wide receiver Cam Coleman (8) runs for a first down after a catch against Mississippi State during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)AP Photo/Eric Gay5. Texas (6-2, 3-2)Last week’s ranking: 5Last week’s game: Beat Mississippi State, 31-3This week’s game: at Missouri, 11 a.m., ESPNThey remain wildly inconsistent, but the Longhorns appear to be playing their best football of the season heading into November (the fourth quarter against Ohio State in Week 2 notwithstanding). Cam Coleman and Hollywood Smothers were back vs. Mississippi State, and Colin Simmons could return this week. The next two weeks are the key to Texas’ season, road games at Missouri and LSU. The Longhorns are 3-0 vs. ranked teams this season; get to 5-0 and they’d seem like a lock for the playoff. Alabama defensive lineman Devan Thompkins (1) celebrates with Alabama defensive lineman Fatutoa Henry (14) after Henry's sack against Texas A&M during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)AP Photo/Vasha Hunt4. Alabama (6-2, 4-2)Last week’s ranking: 4Last week’s game: Open dateThis week’s game: at LSU, 2:30 p.m., ABCLike all the other 2-loss SEC teams (except maybe Texas), Alabama appears to be on the playoff bubble as we head into November. But obviously, the Crimson Tide can play its way into the mix by beating LSU in Baton Rouge on Saturday. If several banged up offensive players — including Ryan Coleman-Williams and Racin Delgatty — are good to go, that would be a big help. Should Kalen DeBoer’s team win at LSU, there’s no one left on the schedule that is a serious threat.LSU running back Dilin Jones (13) carries the ball against Auburn during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)AP Photo/Butch Dill3. LSU (6-2, 3-2)Last week’s ranking: 3Last week’s game: Open dateThis week’s game: vs. Alabama, 2:30 p.m., ABCLane Kiffin’s team was written off after its second loss, but the fact remains that the Tigers have been as dominant as any team in the SEC when they’ve been at their best. LSU is a slight favorite over Alabama in Baton Rouge on Saturday, which stands to reason but also goes against Kiffin’s history of his teams coming up small against top competition. He has a chance to change that narrative the next three weeks against the Crimson Tide, Texas and Tennessee. Kentucky quarterback Kenny Minchey (3) looks to pass during the first half of an NCCA college football game against LSU, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo/Tanner Pearson)AP Photo/Tanner Pearson2. Kentucky (7-1, 5-1)Last week’s ranking: 2Last week’s game: Open dateThis week’s game: at Tennessee, 5:15 p.m., ESPNThe Wildcats probably aren’t the second-best team in the SEC from a true talent standpoint, but thus far they’ve avoided the second (or third) loss that would knock them out of the playoff mix. Games with Tennessee, Florida and Missouri the next three weeks will show if Kentucky’s for real. This would have been crazy to say in mid-September, but even a 9-3 finish would probably be a disappointment. Georgia linebacker Chris Cole (9) scores a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Florida, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)AP Photo/Colin Hubbard1. Georgia (7-1, 5-1)Last week’s ranking: 1Last week’s game: Beat Florida, 27-8This week’s game: at Ole Miss, 6:30 p.m., ABCThat the Bulldogs are 7-1 and ranked No. 2 nationally is no surprise, but after the way they dismantled Florida, it remains inconceivable that they actually lost to Auburn two weeks ago. The game against the Tigers was the classic trap game it seems, but there won’t be any of those the next three weeks. Ole Miss, Missouri and South Carolina are all quality teams, and Georgia has to face two of them on the road. Kirby Smart’s team could probably lose once more and still make the playoff, but it’s probably best not to risk that.