SEC Power Rankings after Week 2: Texas is still strong, bottom-half teams struggling

We're just two weeks into the 2024 college football season (well technically three, but not for the SEC), and there already appears to be a clear dividing line developing in the SEC between the league's very top teams and the rest of the conference.

How have the power rankings changed after Week 2 of the season?

SEC Football Power Rankings after Week 2

1. Georgia Bulldogs

Nothing to say here. Georgia is on top until further notice.

2. Texas Longhorns

The Longhorns annihilated Michigan in the Big House. They look like they're still "back". That meeting with Georgia in October will be awesome.

3. Ole Miss Rebels

The Rebels have done exactly what a team that expects to contend for the SEC crown is supposed to against bad competition.

4. Tennessee Volunteers (up from 5)

NC State kept it close with the Vols for about 26.5 minutes. And then Tennessee did what Josh Heupel's Tennessee does on the way to a 51-10 blowout. This team is a problem.

5. Alabama Crimson Tide (down from 4)

The final score of 42-16 isn't at all indicative of how the Tide played vs USF. There are some questions with this team, but I'll give it some time before changing my opinions on Bama too much.

6. Missouri Tigers

Two games, two shutouts for the Tigers. They've cruised through these first couple of games, as they should. Week 3's matchup with Boston College looks much more interesting than it did before the year.

7. Oklahoma Sooners

I'll be honest, I've got Oklahoma here by default because they're 2-0, and I'm not confident anyone behind them is actually better. But a 16-12 win over Houston is not ideal.

8. LSU Tigers (up from 9)

LSU pulled away against Nicholls, but they were in a battle for more than a half. That's not a great sign for this team's hopes of returning to playoff contention.

9. Texas A&M Aggies (up from 10)

A&M did what they should to McNeese, and they move up slightly just because of another team being dropped. But that loss to Notre Dame certainly looks worse now.

10. Arkansas Razorbacks (up from 14)

Despite the fact that they totally choked the game away at Oklahoma State, the Hogs are clearly improved. This may end up being a solid team.

11. Auburn Tigers (down from 8)

They may have receivers now, but they still have Payton Thorne at QB. Cal will be better than many expect, but that doesn't make that any less of a bad loss for Hugh Freeze.

12. Vanderbilt Commodores

The 'Dores are 2-0! Alcorn State isn't exactly a challenge, but this still is a clearly improved team who might ruin some seasons in SEC play.

13. South Carolina Gamecocks (up from 16)

After how they played in Week 1, South Carolina dominating Kentucky in Lexington was not on the bingo card. I'm still not particularly high on this team, but they clearly aren't the league's worst.

14. Mississippi State Bulldogs (down from 13)

I've got real concerns about the Bulldogs after their defeat to Arizona State. But the fact they were at least in the game late with ASU on the road keeps them ahead of some others for now.

15. Florida Gators

Can DJ Lagway save the Gators and Billy Napier's job? We won't know because apparently Napier intends on going back to Graham Mertz. But maybe something changes after handling Samford like a SEC team should.

16. Kentucky Wildcats (down from 11)

When you lose at home 31-6 to a team that's almost certainly not good, you fall to the bottom of the rankings. I've been an avid Mark Stoops defender, but his tenure is clearly fading in Lexington.