AL.com’s SEC football players of the week for Week 1

Week 1 of the 2024 SEC football schedule had a little bit of everything.

Nine SEC teams scored at least 50 points in Week 1, with three (Ole Miss, Auburn and Arkansas) eclipsing 70. The league went 13-3 overall, with an average winning score of 47-5.

However, the three losses were notable. Florida was routed by Miami, Texas A&M lost by double digits at home to Notre Dame and LSU went down to USC in a close game in Las Vegas.

So how do the teams in the SEC stack up after one week of action? Here’s the Week 2 edition of AL.com’s SEC football power rankings for 2024 (all times Central and all games Saturday unless noted):

16. Florida (0-1)

Last week’s ranking: 12

Last week’s game: Lost to Miami, 41-17

This week’s game: vs. Samford, 6 p.m., ESPN+/SECN+

The Gators looked utterly hopeless in their 2024 debut, getting picked apart by Cam Ward and the Hurricanes in The Swamp. Florida has now lost six straight games, and is 2-10 vs. ranked teams under Billy Napier. Quarterback Graham Mertz also suffered a concussion, with freshman D.J. Lagway finishing up behind center on Saturday. The Gators face an FCS opponent this week in search of a much-needed win.

15. South Carolina (1-0)

Last week’s ranking: 13

Last week’s game: Beat Old Dominion, 23-19

This week’s game: at Kentucky, 2:30 p.m., ABC

The Gamecocks made a narrow escape against a mid-level Sun Belt Conference team on Saturday, taking advantage of two fumbles inside the 10 and scoring the go-ahead touchdown with 6:11 remaining. The defense was mostly good for South Carolina, but the offense was inept, with LaNorris Sellers shaky in his first start at quarterback. Shane Beamer’s team jumps right into the SEC schedule with a trip to Kentucky this week, so it’s ready or not time for the Gamecocks.

14. Vanderbilt (1-0)

Last week’s ranking: 16

Last week’s game: Beat Virginia Tech in overtime, 34-27

This week’s game: vs. Alcorn State, 6:30 p.m., ESPNU

Anyone doubting what a difference a dynamic quarterback can make need look no further than the Commodores, who added New Mexico State transfer Diego Pavia to a listless team and suddenly became both entertaining and (at least for one week) formidable. Vandy blew a 17-0 lead, but Pavia put the team on his shoulders just as he did in his previous stop in Las Cruces, leading a tying touchdown drive in regulation and scoring the winning points in overtime. The Commodores — who snapped a 10-game losing streak with Saturday’s win — face FCS opponent Alcorn State this weekend and then travel to Georgia State, so a 3-0 start for the first time since 2017 doesn’t seem out of the question.

13. Arkansas (1-0)

Last week’s ranking: 15

Last week’s game: Beat Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 70-0

This week’s game: at Oklahoma State, 11 a.m., ABC

New coordinator/old coach Bobby Petrino got the Razorbacks offense clicking for at least one night, albeit against a totally overmatched opponent. Arkansas scored touchdowns on all seven of its first-half possessions, and got a solid debut performance from transfer quarterback Taylen Green. The defense allowed Pine Bluff to cross midfield only twice. The schedule ramps up in a hurry this week with a trip to Stillwater, so we’ll see if the improvements for Sam Pittman’s team are real.

12. Mississippi State (1-0)

Last week’s ranking: 14

Last week’s game: Beat Eastern Kentucky, 56-7

This week’s game: at Arizona State, 9:30 p.m., ESPN

New coach Jeff Lebby made football fun again in Starkville in his first game with the Bulldogs, pouring it on against an FCS team and scoring touchdowns on offense, defense and special teams. Baylor quarterback transfer Blake Shapen had a solid debut as well, completing 15 of 20 passes and accounting for four touchdowns. State also has a significant road trip into Big 12 country this weekend and needs to bank some wins before the SEC schedule begins in Week 4.

 

11. Kentucky (1-0)

Last week’s ranking: 11

Last week’s game: Beat Southern Miss, 31-0

This week’s game: vs. South Carolina, 2:30 p.m., ABC

Lightning caused the Wildcats’ opener to start more than two hours late and end in the middle of the third quarter, but Kentucky dominated when football was actually played. Brock Vandagriff (yet another quarterback transfer, this one from Georgia) threw three touchdown passes and the Wildcats recorded their first shutout of an FBS opponent since 2009. It was the just the second shutout period in 11 years under Mark Stoops, the other coming in 2022 over Youngstown State. Kentucky begins SEC play this weekend with a home game vs. South Carolina, a primer for a visit the following week from the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs.

10. Texas A&M (0-1)

Last week’s ranking: 8

Last week’s game: Lost to Notre Dame, 23-13

This week’s game: vs. McNeese, 11:45 a.m., SEC Network

The Aggies once again wilted on the big stage, albeit against a very good Fighting Irish team that should be in the thick of the College Football Playoff race all season. Nevertheless, Texas A&M is now 1-10 when they are one of the two teams featured on ESPN’s College GameDay. Notre Dame’s defensive front pushed the Aggies’ offensive line around, and quarterback Conner Weigman was never comfortable all day. A home game against an FCS opponent this weekend is a good palate-cleanser before a trip to Florida in Week 3.

9. Auburn (1-0)

Last week’s ranking: 10

Last week’s game: Beat Alabama A&M, 73-3

This week’s game: vs. California, 2:30 p.m., ESPN2

Though the competition was admittedly not great, it was difficult to not be impressed with what the Tigers did on Saturday night. Despite playing with 10-minute quarters in the second half, Hugh Freeze’s team surpassed the 70-point mark for the first time in 21 years and just the third time since World War II. Quarterback Payton Thorne looked like a new man with a cadre of dynamic first-year receivers — including Penn State transfer KeAndre Lambert-Smith and freshmen Cam Coleman and Perry Thompson — at his disposal. The Tigers host new ACC entry California this weekend, and seem likely to roll into their Sept. 28 game vs. Oklahoma at 4-0.

8. Oklahoma (1-0)

Last week’s ranking: 9

Last week’s game: Beat Temple, 51-3

This week’s game: vs. Houston, 6:45 p.m., SEC Network

The Sooners’ first game as an SEC program was a laugher, as they forced six turnovers and held the hapless Owls to 197 yards of total offense. Quarterback Jackson Arnold threw four touchdown passes, three of them to Purdue transfer Deion Burks. Oklahoma was already banged up, however, and lost receiver Jalil Farooq and center Branson Hickman to injury during the game. The Sooners now host a Houston team that had a rough transition to the Big 12 last year, so another decisive win seems more than likely.

7. LSU (0-1)

Last week’s ranking: 6

Last week’s game: Lost to USC in Las Vegas, 27-20

This week’s game: vs. Nicholls, 6:30 p.m., ESPN+/SECN+

Something about high-profile openers does not suit the Tigers or Brian Kelly well, as the loss to the Trojans on Sunday night was their fourth straight overall and third in a row under Kelly. LSU lost to UCLA (under Ed Orgeron) in 2021, then to Florida State in both 2022 and 2023. New quarterback Garrett Nussmeier and the offense were mostly solid, but the defense wilted late in allowing two touchdowns in the final 5:44. The Tigers get a breather against an FCS opponent before beginning SEC play at South Carolina in two weeks.

6. Tennessee (1-0)

Last week’s ranking: 7

Last week’s game: Beat Chattanooga, 69-3

This week’s game: vs. North Carolina State (Charlotte), 6:30 p.m., ABC

The Nico Iamaleava era is upon us, as the gifted redshirt freshman threw for 314 yards and three touchdowns — all in the first half — and the Vols crushed an in-state FCS opponent (albeit one ranked in the Top 10 in its subdivision). The defense did its part as well, not allowing the Mocs past midfield. Tennessee gets a tasty neutral-site matchup against an interesting regional non-conference rival (N.C. State) in Charlotte this weekend, an excellent opportunity for the SEC to bank a Power 4 victory.

5. Missouri (1-0)

Last week’s ranking: 5

Last week’s game: Beat Murray State, 51-0

This week’s game: vs. Buffalo, 6 p.m., ESPN+/SECN+

It wasn’t much of a Thursday night test for the Tigers, who were able to pull their starters less than three quarters into a rout of — say it together — an overmatched FCS opponent. Brady Cook and Luther Burden looked to be in mid-season form, and running back transfers Nate Noel (Appalachian State) and Marcus Carroll (Georgia State) appeared SEC-ready. Missouri stays at home the next three weeks vs. Buffalo, Boston College and Vanderbilt, so a 4-0 start seems a virtual certainty for Eli Drinkwitz’s team.

4. Ole Miss (1-0)

Last week’s ranking: 4

Last week’s game: Beat Furman, 76-0

This week’s game: vs. Middle Tennessee, 3:15 p.m., SEC Network

The Rebels played a near-perfect game against (get this) an FCS opponent, scoring on eight consecutive first-half drives to build a 52-0 halftime lead. Jaxson Dart was especially sharp, completing 22 of 27 passes and accounting for five touchdowns. Ole Miss outgained Furman by exactly 600 yards — 772 to 172. Next up is a Middle Tennessee team now coached by former Vanderbilt head man Derek Mason, but the result is likely to be similar.

3. Alabama (1-0)

Last week’s ranking: 3

Last week’s game: vs. Western Kentucky, 63-0

This week’s game: vs. South Florida, 6 p.m., ESPN

The Kalen DeBoer era got off to a rip-roaring, fire-breathing start, as the Crimson Tide not only blanked a usually dangerous Hilltoppers team, but thoroughly embarrassed them. The Jalen Milroe-led offense rolled up 600 yards (including 334 rushing) and scored on plays of 39, 55, 84 and 85 yards. Freshman receiver Ryan Williams scored both times he touched the ball. The defense also did its part, including a pair of interceptions from Michigan transfer Keon Sabb. A South Florida team the Crimson Tide struggled with visits Tuscaloosa this weekend, which should make for an interesting year-to-year comparison.

2. Texas (1-0)

Last week’s ranking: 2

Last week’s game: Beat Colorado State, 52-0

This week’s game: at Michigan, 11 a.m., Fox

The Longhorns took care of business and gave no one reason to believe they don’t deserve their high ranking (Is Texas back? Time will tell). Quinn Ewers had a nice day before giving way to highly anticipated redshirt freshman Arch Manning, who both threw for and ran for a touchdown in garbage time. Texas now heads to Ann Arbor to face off with the defending national champions, who aren’t what they were a year ago, but remain formidable.

1. Georgia (1-0)

Last week’s ranking: 1

Last week’s game: Beat Clemson, 34-3

This week’s game: vs. Tennessee Tech, 1 p.m., ESPN+/SECN+

Kirby Smart’s team made a statement and, in the process, might have dealt a death blow to the Dabo Swinney era at Clemson. The Bulldogs outmatched the Tigers in every way imaginable, playing with their food just long enough to make it all the more excruciating when they finally mashed down on the pedal (to mix zoological and automotive metaphors). Georgia shouldn’t be tested all that much the next two weeks vs. Tennessee Tech and Kentucky, then gets an open date before the Sept. 28 showdown in Tuscaloosa with Alabama.