Rivalry week was entertaining, championship weekend is in the books and we have an SEC football team in the playoff. How do the final power rankings look?
Here at headquarters between the hedges, behind rocky top and on the plains, the Ol’ Ball Coach is convinced the apocalypse has begun. He suggested we dig a series of connecting tunnels underneath each stadium in the SEC and wait out the war to end all wars.
After explaining to coach — and handing him a mint julep — why this would never work, I asked him why he thought we were close to the apocalypse. His answer? Alabama isn’t in the playoff. My reply, “Alabama not making the playoff isn’t the end of the world.”
And, it isn’t the end of the world.
This is, however, the first time Alabama will not be in the College Football Playoff. Not only that, this is the first year that neither Alabama nor Clemson is the No. 1 seed in the playoff.
We do have an SEC team as the No. 1 seed in the playoff this season: LSU. The Tigers’ turnaround is one of the best stories in the entire country. Pass game coordinator Joe Brady in concert with offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger have opened the offense, and it’s been full throttle all season. These definitely aren’t your granddad’s Tigers.
LSU isn’t the only great story in the SEC this season. Dan Mullen continue’s Florida’s resurgence with a quarterback who hadn’t started a game since his freshman year — in high school. The Kentucky Wildcats are playing in a bowl game with a wide receiver at quarterback. The Georgia Boa Constrictors smothered opponents on their way to another SEC Championship game appearance.
With that being said, let’s get to the final SEC power rankings of 2019.