Five teams on a bye week? Not a problem for the Southeastern Conference which saw some crazy finishes over the weekend. The golden matchup of Georgia and Alabama lived up to the hype, Kentucky came away with an impressive upset win over No. 6 Ole Miss and top-25 ranked teams Oklahoma and Texas A&M both came away with close wins against Auburn and Arkansas, respectively. This week’s Hustler SEC Power Rankings have a little twist: We not only rank every SEC team but also identify each team’s non-quarterback MVP so far this season. Let’s take a look at how Saturday’s games shook up our rankings.
1. Alabama (4-0, 1-0)
Non-quarterback MVP: WR Ryan Williams
This was a monumental win for Alabama. After blowing a 28-0 lead, the new-look Crimson Tide stared down the barrel of a season-altering loss, trailing then-No. 2 Georgia 34-33 with 2:31 left in the game. Enter 17-year-old phenom Ryan Williams, who made one of the most ridiculous plays of the season to win the game for the Tide. Williams now has 462 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns in a debut season that defies even the loftiest of expectations. He is the unquestioned top target for quarterback Jalen Milroe, a Heisman front-runner who has produced an otherworldly 1,237 all-purpose yards and 18 total touchdowns. Throw in a defense that has been dominant for most of the year, and this is the unquestioned No. 1 team in the country. Alabama will head to Nashville this weekend for a showdown with the Vanderbilt Commodores.
2. Texas (5-0, 1-0)
Non-quarterback MVP: OT Kelvin Banks Jr.
Texas came away with a comfortable victory over Mississippi State after a first-half scare in its inaugural SEC game. In just his second career start, quarterback Arch Manning threw for 324 yards and two touchdowns, and added another on the ground, en route to a 35-13 victory. Sophomore wide receiver DeAndre Moore Jr. brought in both touchdowns through the air. The looming quarterback question for Texas remains unanswered, but having both Manning and Quinn Ewers as options to start against Oklahoma next weekend is not a bad problem. The man who deserves recognition for both quarterbacks’ production so far is offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. Banks is a projected top-10 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and has kept the pocket clean all season long for his signal-callers. Texas’ unit up front has been one of the best in the nation, and much of that is because of Banks’ dominance against opposing defensive lines. The Longhorns will look to remain undefeated as they host the Sooners at home in Austin, Texas following their bye week.
3. Georgia (3-1, 1-1)
Non-quarterback MVP: DB Malaki Starks
Which half was the real Georgia? In the first half of their heavyweight showdown with Alabama, quarterback Carson Beck looked overwhelmed, the Bulldogs’ much-vaunted defense couldn’t touch Jalen Milroe and Georgia fell behind 30-7 at the break. In the second half, Beck looked like the second coming of 2019 Joe Burrow while Georgia’s defense rediscovered its swagger. It was a brilliant half for head coach Kirby Smart’s group, despite the sour ending. This team is led by Malaki Starks, a three-year starter who plays every position in Georgia’s secondary and is arguably the best defensive player in the country. When he’s around the ball, Georgia’s defense is unstoppable. However, when teams scheme their offenses away from him through misdirections and clearouts, the Bulldogs’ defense becomes vulnerable. Expect Georgia to get back on track immediately as they take on the much-maligned Auburn Tigers and struggling quarterback Payton Thorne.
4. Tennessee (4-0, 1-0)
Non-quarterback MVP: RB Dylan Sampson
Coming off of three blowout performances in the first three weeks of the season, Tennessee was kept on its toes against SEC foe Oklahoma in Week Four. A fourth-quarter push by the Sooners kept the final score close, ending in a 25-15 victory for the Volunteers. Nonetheless, Tennessee is still one of the top teams in the country, led by quarterback Nico Iamaleava who is a Heisman candidate. Sure, Iamaleava’s been great, but nobody has touched running back Dylan Sampson thus far. He’s amassed over 500 total yards this season while averaging 6.5 yards per carry on the year. His conference-leading 10 rushing touchdowns through four games have been a large reason for the Volunteers’ dominant offensive performances. Tennessee’s defense has also been a factor in its success, highlighted by its 31 tackles for loss in this year’s campaign. The Vols will face Arkansas in Week Six as SEC play continues.
5. Missouri (4-0, 1-0)
Non-quarterback MVP: RB Nate Noel
The Tigers are coming off of a much-needed bye week after their near disaster against Vanderbilt. Most of Missouri’s preseason hype was around All-American wide receiver Luther Burden III, but it’s been Appalachian State transfer running back Nate Noel who has stolen the headlines. The senior has 441 rushing yards on 6.4 yards per carry, including an absurd 199 yards on 8.3 yards per carry against the Commodores. Noel is a punishing runner with breakaway speed and is the perfect complement to Burden III. Bolstered by a top-tier defense, Missouri is deserving of its top-10 ranking. However, this week marks its first major test — a road date with a surging Texas A&M team. Expect to see Noel get the ball early and often as the Tigers attempt to quiet the 110,000-strong crowd at College Station.
6. Ole Miss (4-1, 0-1)
Non-quarterback MVP: WR Tre Harris
Ole Miss was shocked by the Kentucky Wildcats in a 20-17 loss in its first game of conference play in 2024. A missed field goal in the final minute left plenty of Ole Miss fans with a sour taste in their mouths. Quarterback Jaxson Dart, one of the leaders in the Heisman race, threw for 261 yards and 1 touchdown. Regarded as a top receiver in the nation, Tre Harris proved the hype was real, as he hauled in 11 receptions for 176 yards and a score. On the season, Harris has amassed over 800 receiving yards, putting him at the top of the nation — let alone the SEC — by a massive margin. The Rebels will look to bounce back in Columbia as they prepare for a face-off against South Carolina.
7. LSU (4-1, 1-0)
Non-quarterback MVP: OT Will Campbell
The Tigers are riding high, as they stifled South Alabama en route to an easy 42-10 win on Saturday. The Jaguars recently set an FBS record with 87 points in a single game, but that didn’t deter LSU. Freshman running back Caden Durham broke a 71-yard touchdown on the first play of the game and finished with 217 scrimmage yards, while quarterback Garrett Nussmeier threw for a career-high 409 yards. This level of offense is only possible because of LSU’s best player — offensive tackle Will Campbell. The projected top-10 NFL draft pick gave up zero sacks in 2023 and is one of the country’s premier players. The Tigers’ offense is built around his strength and speed, as the 6’6”, 324-pound lineman is capable of physical feats that most can only dream about. LSU’s defense ranks in the middle of the pack in the SEC, so its offense will have to keep firing on all cylinders if the boys from the Bayou want to make a playoff push. Following a bye this weekend, the No. 13 Tigers will take on No. 12 Ole Miss in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Get your crawfish ready.
8. Texas A&M (4-1, 2-0)
Non-quarterback MVP: DE Nic Scourton
Texas A&M has won four consecutive contests since starting the season 0-1. The Aggies pulled out a 21-17 win over Arkansas this weekend, but quarterback Marcel Reed struggled both through the air and on the ground. Running back Le’Veon Moss had his best game of the season, totaling 117 yards on just 13 carries, including a 30-yard scamper in the fourth quarter. On the defensive side of the ball, lineman Nic Scourton was a force to be reckoned with, sacking quarterback Taylen Green on two occasions. After transferring in from Purdue, where he recorded 10.0 sacks and earned Second Team All-Big 10 Honors in 2023, Scourton has gotten off to a great start at College Station. He has tallied 3.0 sacks this season, along with two passes defended and a forced fumble. These contributions have been instrumental in the Aggies’ successful campaign so far. Needless to say, the Aggies will certainly have their hands full when they face off against No. 9 Missouri on Oct. 5.
9. Oklahoma (4-1, 1-1)
Non-quarterback MVP: LB Danny Stutsman
The shorthanded Sooners were down 21-10 with nine minutes to go and were on the brink of an embarrassing defeat to Auburn. Then, true freshman quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. connected with wide receiver JJ Hester for a 60-yard reception to cut the lead to 21-17. Auburn got the ball back with the chance to ice the game, but instead, Payton Thorne threw a game-ending pick-six. Oklahoma scraped out this enormous win despite missing its five leading wide receivers. This impressive victory was the result of Danny Stutsman’s leadership. The All-American is a four-year starter and has led the team in tackles for two years in a row, including a mind-boggling 124 tackles in 2022. The Florida native missed two games last season — which were Oklahoma’s only losses. With Stutsman on the field, the Sooners’ defense can hang with anybody. Following a well-timed bye week, all of his skills will be needed in the first-ever SEC Red River Showdown, as Oklahoma takes on No. 2 Texas on Oct. 12.
10. Kentucky (3-2, 1-2)
Non-quarterback MVP: K Alex Raynor
The Kentucky Wildcats are absolutely roaring after a huge road win against then-No. 6 Ole Miss. On the offensive side of the ball, wide receivers Dane Key and Barion Brown stood out, tallying 105 and 88 receiving yards, respectively. Defensively, the Wildcats brought down opposing quarterback Jaxson Dart four times. The Wildcats' most impressive performer of the season, however, is none other than kicker Alex Raynor, who has yet to miss a kick. Raynor is 11-for-11 on both extra points and field goals, including two from 50-plus yards. He nailed kicks from 27 and 48 yards on Saturday and was also a pivotal player in a narrow loss to Georgia just a few weeks ago. Kentucky is surely riding high during its bye week as it prepares to host Vanderbilt on Saturday, Oct. 12.
11. South Carolina (3-1, 1-1)
Non-quarterback MVP: DE Kyle Kennard
Coming off of a bye week, the Gamecocks are gearing up for an absurd four-week stretch against No. 12 Ole Miss, No. 1 Alabama, No. 19 Oklahoma and No. 25 Texas A&M. Dual-threat quarterback LaNorris Sellers is reportedly healthy after missing Week Four. Sellers’ return will be massive for the Gamecocks’ offense, which depends heavily on the dynamic duo of Sellers and star running back Raheim Sanders. However, a Gamecock upset will most likely stem from the true strength of the team — its defensive line. Five-star freshman defensive end Dylan Stewart has dominated headlines, but an underrated amount of South Carolina’s defensive production comes from Georgia Tech transfer Kyle Kennard. The 6’5” senior leads the SEC with 5.5 sacks and has already forced two fumbles. South Carolina could be in business if he can live in the backfield against Ole Miss.
12. Arkansas (3-2, 1-1)
Non-quarterback MVP: RB Ja’Quinden Jackson
Arkansas put together a complete performance despite suffering a loss against top-25 ranked Texas A&M. Quarterback Taylen Green, on the other hand, was not terribly efficient in the narrow defeat, coughing up the football on three occasions and losing it twice. He launched a 75-yard touchdown on the first drive of the game but offset it by throwing an interception toward the end of the first half. Running back Ja’Quinden Jackson, who has broken out this season, was relatively quiet, finishing with just 37 rushing yards on the day. He salvaged his performance with a touchdown in the first quarter that gave Arkansas the lead at the time. Although he did not have a season-best performance on Saturday, the senior sits alone atop the SEC for the rushing yards crown (509) and is just behind Dylan Sampson in touchdowns (9). The Razorbacks will face their toughest test of the season this week when they host No. 4 Tennessee at home.
13. Vanderbilt (2-2, 0-1)
Non-quarterback MVP: LB Langston Patterson
Vanderbilt has had a roller-coaster of a season so far, with its shocking upset against Virginia Tech, a terrible loss against Georgia State and a near-monumental upset against Missouri. Dual-threat quarterback Diego Pavia has a staggering 50% of Vanderbilt’s total carries and is the clear centerpiece of Vanderbilt’s upstart offense. The Commodores' defense, on the other hand, runs through junior linebacker Langston Patterson, a do-it-all force in the middle of the field. The Nashville native totaled 11 tackles against Missouri and has been the key to fixing a substandard SEC run defense. If Vanderbilt wants to hang around with No. 1 Alabama this weekend, Patterson must be a dominant force in stopping Milroe, Miller, Haynes and the rest of Alabama's lethal run game.
14. Auburn (2-3, 0-2)
Non-quarterback MVP: WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith
After suffering back-to-back conference losses, it’s hard to have much hope for Auburn as it looks forward to this week's bout with Georgia. The Tigers were up 21-10 on Oklahoma early, but it all went south when quarterback Payton Thorne threw an interception that was brought back 63 yards to the house. Wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith stood out yet again for Auburn, snagging another touchdown to bring his count to six on the season. His six touchdowns lead the SEC and match the third-best total in the country. Lambert-Smith has been a big-play machine in 2024, averaging 24.4 yards per reception, which ranks second in the nation among eligible players. It may be time for a quarterback change as the Tigers prepare for their imminent clash with one of the best teams in the country in No. 5 Georgia.
15. Florida (2-2, 1-1)
Non-quarterback MVP: WR Elijhah Badger
Florida has had a rough season so far, getting blown out by in-state rival Miami and SEC rival Texas A&M. Head coach Billy Napier is squarely on the hot seat, as his team has struggled in all facets of the game. Napier decided on a two-quarterback system with incumbent Graham Mertz and promising freshman DJ Lagway, but Arizona State transfer wide receiver Elijhah Badger is at the center of the offense regardless of who’s under center. The junior from Sacramento has 305 receiving yards this year on a prolific 21.8 yards per catch. With fellow wide receiver Tre Wilson out indefinitely with a knee injury, Badger must evolve his game from a big-play threat to a true X-factor wideout. For the Gators to pull off an upset, their defense needs to tighten up, and their quarterback duo must take care of the ball. The Gators will get their first crack at redemption this weekend against a reeling UCF team.
16. Mississippi State (1-4, 0-2)
Non-quarterback MVP: S Corey Ellington
Keeping it close through the first half against the number-one team in the country is undoubtedly an accomplishment for 2024 Mississippi State. Despite this, a final score of 35-13 is not something to be proud of, no matter the strength of the team it’s facing. Senior safety Corey Ellington has been one of the few bright spots on this team, forcing a fumble in every game he’s played this season. Ellington’s rise to stardom isn’t necessarily surprising — he piled up 66 total tackles in 2023 to go along with a pair of sacks. He’ll need to rally the rest of the Bulldogs’ defense to will Mississippi State to a few more wins, but it will not be an easy task. The road ahead is not going to get any brighter, as the Bulldogs will encounter No. 5 Georgia, No. 25 Texas A&M, No. 4 Tennessee, No. 9 Missouri and No. 12 Ole Miss throughout the rest of the season.
