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Sep 13, 2025; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed (10) looks to make a pass during the first half against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael Caterina-Imagn Images Michael Caterina-Imagn Images

SEC Power Rankings: Notre Dame Upset Propels Texas A&M to League's Elite

Originally posted on Texas A&M Aggies on SI
By Jon Alfano | Last updated Sep 15, 2025 8:02 PM ET

For the first time in what feels like forever, the Texas A&M Aggies look like a legitimate SEC and national title threat.

Mike Elko and co. silenced the doubters on Saturday night, going on the road and beating Notre Dame in a thrilling matchup. Many were cautiously optimistic about the Aggies heading into the season, but after a statement victory, it's clear they are for real, until proven otherwise at least.

The question is, how far did they rise in our SEC power rankings? Let's dive in.

1. Georgia Bulldogs (3-0 Overall, 1-0 SEC)

Last Week: 2
Result: 44-41 win over Tennessee (Overtime)

The more things change, the more they stay the same. The Bulldogs were on the ropes for much of Saturday's game against Tennessee, but weathered the storm for a gutsy overtime win on the road against another SEC contender. In other words, Kirby Smart and co. showed why they've been the class of the SEC and college football as a whole over the past half-decade or so.

2. LSU Tigers (3-0, 1-0)

Last Week: 1
Result: 20-10 win over Florida

The Tigers' much-hyped offense has been surprisingly quiet through three games, but their defense has been superb, and picked off Florida quarterback DJ Lagway five times and returned one of them for a pick-six. Unfortunately, the win over Clemson looks less and less impressive each week, but LSU hasn't given fans much of any reason to sound the alarm yet.

3. Texas A&M Aggies (3-0, 0-0)

Last Week: 10
Result: 41-40 win over Notre Dame

Now that's how to change a narrative. After years of 8-4 purgatory and struggling on the road, the Aggies went up to South Bend and beat last year's runner-up in an instant classic. This offense, led by quarterback Marcel Reed and new receivers Mario Craver and KC Concepcion, looks like it could genuinely be one of the best in the country.

4. Oklahoma Sooners (3-0, 0-0)

Last Week: 4
Result: 42-3 win over Temple

Odd to see an SEC team go on the road to face Temple of all teams, but the Sooners took care of business and left no doubt whatsoever. John Mateer still looks like a Heisman contender heading into SEC play.

5. Tennessee Volunteers (2-1, 0-1)

Last Week: 5
Result: 44-41 loss to Georgia (Overtime)

You just have to feel bad for Josh Heupel and the Volunteers. They had the Bulldogs right where they wanted them after losing the past eight games in the series, only to let the win slip through their fingers in agonizing fashion. They should be fine going forward, but it's hard to think about what could've been.

6. Texas Longhorns (2-1, 0-0)

Last Week: 3
Result: 27-10 win over UTEP

It's officially time to worry about Arch Manning. The quarterback who had nearly unprecedented hype in the preseason looked awful against UTEP of all teams, completing less than half of his passes for just barely over 100 yards. The offense as a whole looks broken right now, and the Longhorns are running out of time to fix it before conference play.

7. Alabama Crimson Tide (2-1, 0-0)

Last Week: 11
Result: 38-14 win over Wisconsin

Keep in mind that these power rankings aren't just a reflection of each week's results, but also a reflection of our own updated views, which is especially important in the jumbled mess that is the 7-11 range. The Crimson Tide were definitely too low last week, and they proved it with a beatdown of Wisconsin. They took a 28-0 lead in the third quarter and just cruised from there.

8. Ole Miss Rebels (3-0, 2-0)

Last Week: 7
Result: 41-35 win over Arkansas

The Rebels got into another dog fight - or maybe hog fight in this case - with a lower-tier SEC teamon Saturday, but held on for a hard-fought win. They're the only team in the SEC with two conference wins already, and that's nothing to scoff at.

9. Vanderbilt Commodores (3-0, 1-0)

Last Week: 12
Result: 31-7 win over South Carolina

How about Vanderbilt? The team that's usually overlooked in the SEC went on the road and beat the former No. 11 team in the country decisively. Even though LaNorris Sellers didn't finish the game, the Commodores showed once again that they are very much a team to look out for.

10. Missouri Tigers (3-0, 0-0)

Last Week: 8
Result: 52-10 win over Louisiana

The Tigers took care of business against a far inferior opponent on Saturday, and only dropped due to other teams around them having more impressive showings.

11. Auburn Tigers (3-0, 0-0)

Last Week: 9
Result: 31-15 win over South Alabama

On the other hand, Auburn didn't exactly look great against its Group of Five opponent. The Tigers' rushing attack still looks good, but Jackson Arnold clearly needs to improve as a passer.

12. Mississippi State Bulldogs (3-0, 0-0)

Last Week: 13
Result: 63-0 win over Alcorn State

The Bulldogs kept the momentum going after an upset win over Arizona State in Week 2, but it's going to take conference wins to truly break out of the lower tiers.

13. South Carolina Gamecocks (2-1, 0-1)

Last Week: 6
Result: 31-7 loss to Vanderbilt

The Gamecocks' offense struggled in the first two games, but the Commodores came in and exposed every flaw with this team. Now, they just have to hope that Sellers can come back soon and the offense can figure out whatever is holding it back.

14. Arkansas Razorbacks (2-1, 0-1)

Last Week: 15
Result: 41-35 loss to Ole Miss

Arkansas fought hard against a better Ole Miss team, and that deserves some credit. However, this Razorbacks team clearly has a ceiling this year.

15. Florida Gators (1-2, 0-1)

Last Week: 14
Result: 20-10 loss to LSU

On paper, a 10-point loss on the road against the No. 3 team in the country doesn't sound that bad, but it's the way the Gators lost that's really damning. Throwing five interceptions is unacceptable for any quarterback against any opponent, and considering that the Gators still out-gained the Tigers on the night, Lagway nearly single-handedly cost his team the game. With a road matchup against Miami next up on a brutal schedule, Billy Napier might not last much longer in Gainesville.