SEC Power Rankings Week 11: Texas A&M Rises, Auburn and LSU Fall

Nov 8, 2014; Starkville, MS, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Dak Prescott (15) passing against the UT Martin Skyhawks during the third quarter at Davis Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

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Mississippi State Bulldogs 9-0 (5-0)

Last week: Defeated UT-Martin Skyhawks 45-16
Last rank: 1

Here comes the final stretch of the season for the Mississippi State Bulldogs. It’s been a great run, and beating UT-Martin was a nice break for this team after fighting through a brutal SEC West schedule all season. But the work for Dan Mullen’s team is not over by a long shot, and the rest of this month will determine if these guys have been contenders or pretenders.

Dak Prescott was hobbling earlier this year but should be healthy now. Josh Robinson is also a great playmaker at running back for these guys, and the defense has been good enough for the team to keep winning. Mullen’s spread offense has worked as well this season as it ever worked at Florida, and that can’t be ignored. But it is seriously going to be put to the test now.

Sure, Vanderbilt is on the schedule this months, but so are Alabama and Ole Miss, the two toughest defensive teams in the conference. And both still have an SEC West title to play for, although it’s a long shot for Ole Miss. We will find out everything we want to know about this team over the next three weeks with those two games. But for now, they still belong at the top of the SEC Power Rankings.