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SEC Football Power Rankings, Week 10: Can LSU break the Tide?

By Ryan Van Dever

Tigers quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) runs the ball as LSU Tigers take on the the Army Black Knights in Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, October. 21, 2023.
Tigers quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) runs the ball as LSU Tigers take on the the Army Black Knights in Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, October. 21, 2023. /
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Vanderbilt has been reeling all season long, as this past week was no different. Another week, another blowout loss.
Oct 28, 2023; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores defensive back Marlen Sewell (7) and quarterback Walter Taylor (2) talk as they walk off the field after the game against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports /

14. Vanderbilt Commodores (2-7, 0-5)

Vanderbilt made the journey to Oxford, Mississippi, to face an Ole Miss team that has been performing exceptionally well recently. The game unfolded exactly as expected, with a score of 33-7, leaving no doubt about the outcome. Their next challenge awaits them at home, where they will go head-to-head with a resurgent Auburn team that boasts an impressive offense and an unyielding defense. The rebuild for Vandy and fans alike is going to be a long and arduous process, with the scoreboard reflecting the pain along the way.

13. Arkansas Razorbacks (2-6, 0-5)

After a long stretch of work, Arkansas was finally granted a much-needed week off. It came at a good time, especially after firing their offensive coordinator last week. Will that truly make a difference? Highly unlikely. There are limited opportunities for changes to be made at this stage in the season.

The Razorbacks face a daunting challenge as they embark on a grueling road trip to Gainesville to face a wounded Florida team that I’m sure will be out for blood. In Fayetteville, the sound of counting buyout dollars fills the air, signaling the impending end for Sam Pittman.

12. South Carolina Gamecocks (2-6, 1-5)

The Gamecocks’ downfall continued as they yielded three touchdowns in the second quarter, extending their losing streak to four games, with three losses being by at least two scores. The stakes are high for South Carolina as they aim to secure a bowl-eligible spot, and their first challenge comes this week against the other Gamecocks. In what you could unquestionably deem the Gamecock Bowl this week in Columbia, don’t underestimate Jacksonville State’s potential to keep this matchup tightly contested. The Gamecocks are 7-2 and are still basking in the glory of their decisive victory against FIU, where they won by a score of 41-16.

11. Mississippi State Bulldogs (4-4, 1-4)

On Saturday, Mississippi State made the trip to Jordan-Hare Stadium to play Auburn, a team that defied expectations by even existing at this stage in the season. It was a rarity to see them at any game they played in, as they hardly showed up. Despite not being a threat to win, the Bulldogs added some intrigue to the game in the second half. The Bulldogs have their sights set on becoming bowl-eligible in the upcoming weeks as they get ready to welcome the Kentucky Wildcats, who are ambitious to reclaim their momentum.

10. Auburn Tigers (4-4, 1-4)

The Tigers, who had been struggling under first-year coach Hugh Freeze, finally found their rhythm on Saturday versus Mississippi State. It seems they reached a final decision on the quarterback, favoring Payton Thorne, who took the majority of snaps during the uncertain game. In their quest for bowl eligibility, the Tigers witnessed Thorne’s finest performance of the season in a triumphant victory over Mississippi State, leaving them eager to see him surpass that feat in Nashville this week.

Nonetheless, Auburn’s performance merely showed that it was not the bottom-ranked team in the SEC West. By facing off against Vanderbilt and Arkansas and hosting New Mexico State, the team could address any lingering concerns before the highly anticipated Iron Bowl on Nov. 25.

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