Individuals I see, weary of me
Exhibiting my good aspect
I can see how folks look down
I’m on the surface
Right here’s the place the story ends
Oh, right here’s the place the story ends
— The Sundays, 1990
Oh Brian Kelly … sigh. I sat just a few ft from you that evening in Clemson, after you lastly obtained LSU that win in a season opener, and thought you had lastly gotten it proper. This could possibly be a nationwide championship staff. The man who received all over the place else — Grand Valley State to Notre Dame — was lastly going to do it at LSU.
So perhaps I’m unsuitable now — together with so many different folks — that it’s over. That it’s not working in Baton Rouge, {that a} coach who appeared like an odd match from the start has misplaced the fan base, and it’s higher for each side to simply transfer on.
Perhaps that’s unsuitable. Nevertheless it doesn’t really feel that means.
The canine days are over
The canine days are executed
Can’t you hear the horses
‘Trigger right here they arrive
— Florence and the Machine, 2010
Clark Lea, it’s time to apologize profusely to you. I used to be one of many individuals who laughed, perhaps cringed a bit of, when Lea stood up at media days — greater than as soon as — and proclaimed the objective was for Vanderbilt to win the nationwide title. It appeared ridiculous.
Nicely, who’s laughing now, as Ava Max additionally sang. (We didn’t quote that track as a result of we’re outdated and had by no means heard it. Age has not include the knowledge to dispense with all of your prior pondering and consider in Vanderbilt.)
The stretch run within the SEC has arrived, and the vibes vary from nice to horrible and many in between. Listed below are this week’s rankings, which aren’t a pure rating of how good every staff is, somewhat a rating of the general really feel across the groups, packages and fan bases, the hopes, the goals, the frustration, the despair … the vibes.
1. Vanderbilt (7-1, 3-1)
Consequence: Received vs. Missouri, 17-10Last week: 1This week: at Texas
The Commodores have spent a lot of the previous two seasons atop these rankings, and it’s all the time been relative to program historical past and expectations. It nonetheless is, largely. Nevertheless it’s beginning to converge with precise efficiency. And it’s not simply the Diego Pavia present; this can be a superb staff.
2. Ole Miss (7-1, 4-1)
Consequence: Received at Oklahoma, 34-26Last week: 6This week: South Carolina
You would possibly as nicely stamp the Rebels’ playoff ticket now, given the remaining schedule of South Carolina, The Citadel, Florida and Mississippi State. And whereas the troubles about Lane Kiffin and the Florida job stay actual, the longer the Rebels play, the much less probably that seems.
TOOOOO clean 😮💨#HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/1kS3xKUt1L
— Ole Miss Soccer (@OleMissFB) October 25, 2025
3. Texas A&M (8-0, 5-0)
Consequence: Received at LSU, 49-25Last week: 3This week: Bye
Would possibly as nicely get the Aggies’ playoff spot prepared, too. Even when they lose their hardest two video games — at Missouri and at Texas — they need to maintain enterprise in opposition to South Carolina and Samford, and the resume can be too good to depart out. After all, if Mike Elko’s staff retains enjoying the best way it’s, 10-2 is simply too low a prediction.
4. Alabama (7-1, 5-0)
Consequence: Received at South Carolina, 29-22Last week: 2This week: Bye
We have been all set to level out how Kalen DeBoer is significantly better in opposition to ranked than unranked groups. Nicely, I assume I simply did. However very similar to Ole Miss surviving Washington State a few weeks in the past, Alabama pulling it out at South Carolina looks like a turning-point occasion.
GERMIE BERNARD PUTS THE TIDE ON TOP WITH A 25-YARD TOUCHDOWN 🔥 pic.twitter.com/hcAgIp1rZW
— ESPN (@espn) October 25, 2025
5. Georgia (6-1, 4-1)
Consequence: ByeLast week: 5This week: vs. Florida
Georgia’s resume obtained assist Saturday, the win over Ole Miss trying even higher, in addition to the loss to Alabama. Nevertheless it nonetheless feels just like the Dawgs’ fortunes are extra tied to how they play: Does the offense stick with it? Does the protection get higher? Kirby Sensible’s staff is sweet sufficient to run the desk, flawed sufficient to lose any of the remaining video games, apart from Charlotte.
6. Missouri (6-2, 2-2)
Consequence: Misplaced at Vanderbilt, 17-10Last week: 4This week: Bye
The vibes are conflicted: Unhappy for quarterback Beau Pribula, who left mid-game with an damage. Hopeful with what backup Matt Zollers confirmed. Annoyed at not having the ability to win and keep within the forefront of the SEC and playoff race, however completely happy Missouri performed nicely sufficient to win regardless of being right down to a freshman QB who started the season third string.
(And sure, frightened about holding onto Eli Drinkwitz.)
7. Tennessee (6-2, 3-2)
Consequence: Received at Kentucky, 56-34Last week: 8This week: Oklahoma
Disclaimer: This week and the journey to Florida are not at all shoo-ins. But when the Vols do get by way of, they host Vanderbilt the ultimate week in what could possibly be a Playoff play-in recreation.
Matthew Caldwell (proper) led Texas to victory in time beyond regulation after quarterback Arch Manning left with an obvious damage. Justin Ford / Getty Pictures
8. Texas (6-2, 4-1)
Consequence: Received at Mississippi State, 45-38 (OT)Final week: 10This week: Vanderbilt
As ESPN’s David Hale identified, the Longhorns have now gone to time beyond regulation in consecutive weeks in opposition to two groups which can be a mixed 1-24 within the SEC over the previous two years. The attention take a look at is horrible. And but … it’s Texas, and it’s nonetheless clinging to rivalry, and as difficult as the ultimate video games are — Vanderbilt, at Georgia, Arkansas, Texas A&M — would anyone be shocked if it finds a method to slip by way of?
The vibes are rising right here as a result of we will’t inform if that is the mediocre staff it seems to be, or making ready to be the last word roller-coaster story of the 2025 season.
9. Oklahoma (6-2, 2-2)
Consequence: Misplaced vs. Ole Miss, 34-26Last week: 10This week: at Tennessee
The nice vibes from the Michigan win have been a very long time in the past. So was John Mateer’s Heisman marketing campaign. The playoff hopes are technically nonetheless there, however realistically, it feels just like the Sooners are gripping the handles of the season and making an attempt to hold on. They might win any of the ultimate 4 video games — at Tennessee, at Alabama, dwelling in opposition to Missouri and LSU — however what offers off the boldness they may do higher than 2-2?
10. Mississippi State (4-4, 0-4)
Consequence: Misplaced vs. Texas, 45-38 (OT)Final week: 9This week: at Arkansas
Can the vibes be annoyed to the purpose of despair, and hopeful on the identical time? Sure they will! 4 straight losses, an SEC shedding streak that now stretches to 16 video games, and Saturday’s epic collapse. On second thought, perhaps it’s extra annoyed than hopeful. Nonetheless, this staff has been aggressive in these video games. All however one loss has been shut. The Bulldogs have simply misplaced them in agonizing style. Painful losses suck, however it’s a must to play nicely sufficient to have painful losses.
11. Florida (3-4, 2-2)
Consequence: ByeLast week: 15This week: Georgia
On the one hand, the vibes immediately improved due to the optimism a training search brings. Particularly with Florida apparently prepared to focus on huge names. Then again, Kiffin is the fan base’s prime goal, and it seems to be like he will probably be unavailable till at the least nicely into December. So perhaps flip to Drinkwitz, assuming he doesn’t run the desk and in addition make the Playoff? Or perhaps skip forward to Florida alumus Jedd Fisch? Nicely, no matter, this material is far more enjoyable than earlier than.
12. Auburn (4-4, 1-4)
Consequence: Received at Arkansas, 33-24Last week: 15This week: Kentucky
That needed to be a win, or … nicely, it was a win. And this week the Tigers will probably be favored, and so they nonetheless have Mercer, so it doesn’t matter what occurs at Vanderbilt or the Iron Bowl, they appear headed for a bowl. Progress? Additionally, former Arkansas State coach Hugh Freeze is now 3-0 in Fayetteville because the 2022 season, when he received there as Liberty’s coach, and Arkansas is in search of a coach and … nah.
What. A. Play. @RayshawnPleasa1 🔥
📺: @SECNetwork pic.twitter.com/onY1zAc6ne
— Auburn Soccer (@AuburnFootball) October 25, 2025
13. Arkansas (2-6, 0-4)
Consequence: Misplaced vs. Auburn, 33-24Last week: 11This week: Mississippi State
And with that, can we shut the door on the Bobby Petrino candidacy? Nicely, no, we can’t, even at 0-3 below Petrino, as a result of there are 4 video games left, and there are such a lot of actual and potential openings that Arkansas shouldn’t be assured of getting anybody higher. (Except your definition of somebody higher is anybody with a pulse who shouldn’t be named Bobby Petrino, and holding to that definition wouldn’t put you on an island.)
14. South Carolina (3-5, 1-5)
Consequence: Misplaced vs. Alabama, 29-22Last week: 13This week: at Ole Miss
Ugh. Oof. Decide your three-letter phrase. Saturday had an opportunity to be a season-salvaging win, then … bah. Now the Gamecocks are virtually actually lacking a bowl, and the discourse has turned as to if Shane Beamer ought to go forward and take the Virginia Tech job if it’s provided.
Keep in mind how Vanderbilt and South Carolina have been a powerful one-two in final 12 months’s vibes rankings? Vanderbilt stored going. South Carolina went the opposite means.
A fan introduced a “Kelly Gotta Geaux” signal to Saturday’s LSU-Texas A&M recreation to precise his displeasure. Stephen Lew / Imagn Pictures
15. LSU (5-3, 2-3)
Consequence: Misplaced to Texas A&M, 49-25Last week: 12This week: Bye
It’s simply not good. It’s simply … unhealthy. So unhealthy. So very unhealthy.
16. Kentucky (2-5, 0-5)
Consequence: Misplaced to Tennessee, 56-34Last week: 16This week: at Auburn
The one factor holding LSU out of the distress basement is the dreadful state of Kentucky. Nothing has modified right here. Nothing seems to be like it would. This isn’t actually knocking Mark Stoops, and even his bosses. Stoops has had an excellent run, however it simply appears apparent that it’s over. The one query is how a lot anybody cares.
