Georgia still runs the show in the latest SEC football power rankings

Georgia's trip to Texas was billed to be one of the games of the year. Instead, we just had Georgia remind everyone who still runs this conference and belittle the Longhorns in their own house. So of course, I need to make some changes to my SEC power rankings, particularly at the top.

SEC Power Rankings after Week 8

Here's how I power rank the SEC after eight weeks of action...

1. Georgia Bulldogs (up from 2)

Right when we all start doubting Georgia, they remind us why they've been the SEC's best program over the past three years. Their offense remains questionable, but the Bulldog defense returned to elite form in Austin.

2. Texas Longhorns (down from 1)

Welcome to the SEC, Longhorns. It's apparent we crowned you prematurely, as you are indeed mortal and not equipped to dominate this league in year one. But you're still firmly in the conversation as one of the nation's top teams.

3. LSU Tigers

LSU easily could've had a letdown at Arkansas. Instead, they smoked the Hogs like a contending team should. They're a legit threat in this league.

4. Texas A&M Aggies

It wasn't as dominant as they would've liked, but the Aggies still handled business this weekend in Starkville. They just keep rolling along. This week's matchup with LSU will be incredible.

5. Tennessee Volunteers

The Vols played a slugfest with Alabama, but they prevailed behind their dominant defense. If they can somehow just get their offense back to being solid, they'll again be viewed as a real threat.

6. Missouri Tigers (up from 7)

Do I believe in Mizzou much after needing to mount a last-second comeback at home against Auburn, just two weeks after getting destroyed by Texas A&M? Not at all. But I can't believe in them any less than these other underachieving SEC teams.

7. Alabama Crimson Tide (down from 6)

Uh oh. This isn't your slightly older brother's Alabama anymore. The Tide have two losses before Halloween, they've looked wildly unimpressive for the past 10 quarters of play, and program culture is being called into question. Their rein of terror over CFB is on its last leg.

8. Vanderbilt Commodores

For a minute there it looked like the old Vandy was about to show up again. But fortunately for our beloved 'Dores, they avoided disaster against Ball State and are now ranked! Now go ruin Texas' season!

9. Ole Miss Rebels (up from 10)

While the loss to Kentucky has only aged worse and Rebel fans are in total meltdown mode, the season isn't dead yet in Oxford. Let's see if the bye week corrected anything here (I sure hope not!).

10. South Carolina Gamecocks (up from 12)

This has to be the most impossible team to figure out in the SEC and perhaps in the entire sport. They've lost three games, but their domination of the likes of Kentucky and Oklahoma shows they're clearly out of the basement. And yet I don't know if they'll make a bowl! South Carolina football, everyone.

11. Arkansas Razorbacks (down from 8)

Ok, losing by 24 at home to LSU is a lot closer to what we expected out of this team before the season. Arkansas is still clearly improved and should reach a bowl game, but that was an ugly showing off a bye.

12. Florida Gators (up from 14)

Florida dismantled Kentucky and has officially reached "perfectly average" status. The problem is 1. That's not their standard, especially in year three of a coach and 2. Their next four games after this coming bye week are Georgia, Texas, LSU, and Ole Miss. And they have to win at least one to have a shot at a bowl. Good luck, Gators.

13. Mississippi State Bulldogs (up from 15)

Maybe this has been a total mirage, and I'm allowing my own fandom to prop up a 1-6 team. But Mississippi State is legitimately playing better football than at least three other SEC teams right now despite still owning the league's worst record. So for the purpose of a power ranking, I'm moving them up.

14. Oklahoma Sooners (down from 11)

We're nearing DEFCON 1 in Norman. This season has completely fallen to pieces for the Sooners, and I don't think firing the OC and going back to Jackson Arnold is changing anything.

15. Kentucky Wildcats (down from 13)

It's rare in this sport for coaching tenures, even wildly successful ones, to end smoothly. Mark Stoops is the best coach Kentucky's ever had. He's also completely lost this program. This team is bad, and I'm not sure how much longer Stoops will be leading them.

16. Auburn Tigers

It's actually hilarious and impressive at this point how many ways Auburn can find to lose a football game. Auburn is awful, and no game left of their schedule is a guaranteed win. No, not even ULM.