Week 10 in the SEC had everything fans could ask for, from late-game drama to near-upsets. Texas A&M kept its perfect season alive thanks to its powerful defense, and Vanderbilt put up a statement win with College GameDay on campus. With only a few weeks left in the regular season, each team’s strengths and weaknesses are becoming clear, with certain position groups setting the tone for each program. This week, the Hustler decided to take a closer look at the best of the best across the SEC as the race for the title heats up.
1. Alabama (7-1, 5-0 SEC)
Best position group: Wide receivers
Alabama escaped a potential upset, prevailing against a struggling South Carolina team to notch its seventh-straight victory. Quarterback Ty Simpson attempted 43 passes, completing 24 and earning 2 passing touchdowns on the day. Star wide receiver Germie Bernard scored a 25-yard touchdown run with just 34 seconds left on the clock, sealing Alabama’s fifth consecutive win against an SEC opponent. The Crimson Tide continues to lean on its dynamic receiver room of Bernard, Isiah Horton and Ryan Williams, as their playmaking abilities are unmatched in college football. The star-studded trio has racked up 13 receiving touchdowns on the season despite Horton’s recent injury. Since its opening loss to Florida State, Alabama has appeared unbeatable, consistently closing out contests against ranked opponents.
Following its bye week, Alabama will host LSU on Nov. 8, in what will be the Tigers’ first game without Brian Kelly.
2. Texas A&M (8-0, 5-0)
Best position group: Defensive line and edge rushers
In Texas A&M’s matchup last week against LSU, the Aggies’ defensive line, specifically edge rusher Cashius Howell, was the star of the show. Texas A&M’s defensive line is built around players like Howell, DJ Hicks and transfers Dayon Hayes and Tyler Onyedim. Together, they controlled the line of scrimmage, limiting the Tigers’ offense to 4.2 yards per play and only 60 rushing yards. They have proved their strength throughout the entire season, totaling 18 sacks in their last 4 games while only giving up 1.
This week, A&M has a bye while it prepares for its game at Missouri on Nov. 8.
3. Georgia (6-1, 4-1)
Best position group: Secondary
Following its bye week, No. 5 Georgia moves down one spot on our rankings as it prepares for its sixth-straight SEC opponent. Georgia is coming off an impressive 43-35 win over then-No. 4 Ole Miss, serving the Rebels their first loss this season. Georgia’s secondary is anchored by senior cornerback Daylen Everette who has recorded 13 solo tackles and 6 pass breakups on the season. The standout unit also features safeties KJ Bolden and Kryon Jones along with cornerback Daniel Harris Jr.
The Bulldogs will be traveling to Gainesville to face the Gators on Saturday as they hope to extend their three-game winning streak.
4. Ole Miss (7-1, 4-1)
Best position group: Wide receivers
In a tough game versus Oklahoma, the Rebels’ offense kept them in the game despite second-half pressure from the Sooners. Unlike their loss against Georgia in Week 9, the offense didn’t fade out at the end of the game, ultimately allowing them to come out with a win. The receiving corps’ main strength is its depth, led by talents Cayden Lee, Deuce Alexander and receiving yards leader Harrison Wallace III. Their combination of returning players and transfers has combined to form an incredibly powerful offense.
Ole Miss hosts South Carolina at home this week, in hopes of picking up another conference win.
5. Vanderbilt (7-1, 3-1)
Best position group: Quarterback
No. 9 Vanderbilt notched its second-straight victory over a top-15 SEC opponent as the Commodores defeated then-No. 15 Missouri 17-10 in a low-scoring contest. ESPN’s College Gameday traveled to Nashville, Tennessee, and didn’t hesitate to embrace the hype surrounding star quarterback Diego Pavia. While Pavia has clearly powered Vanderbilt to its recent success, the Heisman candidate struggled to find his footing against a talented Missouri defense. While Pavia ran it into the endzone in the final two minutes to take the lead, the Vanderbilt defense propelled this win. Steve Gregory’s unit held the Tigers to just 3 points until the fourth quarter, forcing 4 punts and 2 turnovers in the matchup. The defense took the field for over 36 minutes on Saturday, proving its ability to rise to the occasion when the offense struggles to move the football.
The Commodores travel to Austin to face No. 20 Texas on Saturday morning looking to continue their historic run as they make a push toward their first-ever playoff berth.
6. Missouri (6-2, 2-2 )
Best position group: Linebackers
In a game closer than the score suggested, the Missouri Tigers fell to the Commodores in Nashville as thousands of loyal Vanderbilt fans watched on. Despite the loss, the talent of their linebackers shined through, as the Missouri defense contained one of the highest scoring offenses in the nation. Linebacker Josiah Trotter’s 9 tackles helped limit Vanderbilt to just 45 total plays and a 3-10 conversion rate on third downs.
Now-No. 19 Missouri will host No. 3 Texas A&M at home next week, hoping to bounce back from its loss to Vanderbilt by serving the Aggies their first loss of the season.
7. Tennessee (6-2, 3-2 )
Best position group: Defensive line
Tennessee picked up a much-needed 56-34 victory over Kentucky, improving to 6-2 on the season. The Volunteers are led by senior defensive ends Dominic Bailey and Joshua Josephs, who have recorded 4.5 and 4 sacks, respectively. Tennessee leads the SEC with 13 forced fumbles, illustrating the impact of its experienced and explosive defensive line. Josephs is tied for the lead in the SEC with 3 forced fumbles, additionally registering 15 solo tackles.
No. 14 Tennessee will host No. 18 Oklahoma on Nov. 1 as it looks to build off its dynamic win in Lexington.
8. Oklahoma (6-2, 2-2)
Best position group: Defensive line
Despite what looked like a strong comeback during the third quarter, the Oklahoma Sooners ultimately fell to Ole Miss this weekend at home, 34-26. The Sooners’ usually strong defense, led by defensive lineman R Mason Thomas and linebacker Kip Lewis, failed to contain the Rebels’ explosive offense. Defensive play caller and head coach Brent Venables failed to adapt throughout the game, which is why the defense was unable to stop Ole Miss’s late game scores. Despite the rough outing this week, their season performance has been elite, only letting up an average of 13.9 points per game to their opponents.
No. 18 Oklahoma will be traveling to Knoxville, Tennessee this weekend to face the No. 14 Volunteers, in what should be an electric SEC matchup.
9. Auburn (4-4, 1-4 )
Best position group: Running backs
Auburn moved up two spots in The Hustler’s rankings following its 33-24 comeback victory against Arkansas. Hardly anyone anticipated the Tigers’ running back room being a position of strength this season, but Jeremiah Cobb has emerged as a key playmaker for Auburn’s offense. Starting quarterback Jackson Arnold was benched against Arkansas after throwing a pick-six at the end of the first half, which resulted in the Tigers trailing 21-10 at halftime. Although backup Ashton Daniels shined, Cobb is the reliable piece that Hugh Freeze consistently leaned on for this offense down the stretch. On Saturday, he carried the ball 28 times for a total of 153 yards, also logging 2 receptions for 19 yards. Cobb is second in the SEC in rushing yards while averaging an impressive 6.1 yards per carry on the season.
Auburn will host Kentucky this Saturday as it hopes to improve to above .500.
10. LSU (5-3, 2-3)
Best position group: Wide receivers
The LSU Tigers lost their second-straight game, this time to Texas A&M by a score of 49-25. LSU struggled mightily against the Aggies, in part due to its inability to establish its passing game. Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier threw for just 168 yards and 1 touchdown, limiting the abilities of the Tigers explosive receiving corps. When talents like Aaron Anderson and Zavion Thomas shine, LSU has proved it can win games, which will be key as they fight to remain in College Football Playoff contention. It will be interesting to see how the team, mainly the offense, fares after the firing of head coach Brian Kelly.
LSU has a bye this week while it prepares to take on the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama next weekend.
11. Florida (3-4, 2-2)
Best position group: Offensive line
Florida exits its bye week moving down one spot in The Hustler’s rankings after securing a tight 23-21 victory over Mississippi State on Oct. 18. Florida’s offense is powered by star center Jake Slaughter, who has made the job easier for quarterback DJ Lagway. Slaughter earned First Team All-American and All-SEC honors for his play in the 2024 season and has continued his dominance in 2025. Fellow senior Damieon George joins Slaughter as a top-rated offensive guard for the Gators, building a relatively solid offensive line that is key to the Gators’ success.
The Gators will host No. 5 Georgia as they hope to pull off a shocking upset and move above .500 within the SEC.
12. Texas (6-2, 3-1)
Best position group: Wide receivers
After a nerve-wracking overtime win over Mississippi State this weekend, Texas’ strengths are more apparent. Their strong group of pass catchers helped keep them in the game versus Mississippi State this weekend, as receivers Emmett Mosley and Parker Livingstone helped the Longhorns power a late-game comeback. The offense leaned on its passing attack during the second half, as a lackluster game from the offensive line made it challenging to establish the run. When Manning left the game in overtime after a hard fall to the turf, the versatility of the receivers allowed backup quarterback Matthew Caldwell to seamlessly secure a win.
Texas plays Vanderbilt at home this weekend, and the wide receiver corps may be the key once again as the Longhorns may be without Manning.
13. South Carolina (3-5, 1-5)
Best position group: Secondary
South Carolina put up a solid fight against Alabama before eventually falling short in a 29-22 loss. The Gamecocks didn’t go down easy as they kept up with the Crimson Tide, entering the fourth quarter with a lead. South Carolina’s shockingly close contest against the No. 4 team in the nation moved it up two spots in The Hustler’s rankings. South Carolina limited Alabama’s explosive offense to just 14 points heading into the fourth quarter, largely due to the secondary’s ability to keep the passing game in check. The Gamecock secondary is anchored by safeties Peyton Williams and DQ Smith, who have recorded a combined 57 solo tackles and 3 interceptions. Cornerbacks Judge Collier and Brandon Cisse along with nickelback Jalen Kilgore finish out the secondary, solidifying the pass coverage for this defense.
The Gamecocks travel to Oxford, Mississippi, for a marquee matchup against Ole Miss on Saturday.
14. Mississippi State (4-4, 0-4)
Best position group: Linebackers
This past weekend, the Bulldogs lost in heartbreaking fashion to Texas after the Longhorns built a late-game comeback and won with an overtime score. Despite the loss, Mississippi State’s linebackers were the core of the defense. Senior Nic Mitchell led the team with seven tackles in Saturday’s game, playing a key role in the makeup of the defense. Thirty-eight of his 43 tackles over the course of this season were assisted, demonstrating how his position as an inside linebacker gives him more opportunities to finish stops. This year’s group of linebackers has increased physicality and depth compared to last year, which has powered their tough mentality this season.
The Mississippi State Bulldogs will be traveling to Arkansas this weekend, where they’ll look to rise above .500.
15. Arkansas (2-6, 0-4)
Best position group: Running back
Arkansas blew an 11-point halftime lead at home against Auburn this past Saturday, losing 33-24. Despite running back Mike Washington being one of the few bright spots for the Razorbacks this season, interim head coach Bobby Petrino handed him the football just 12 times in the loss. Washington is No. 3 in the SEC in yards with 712, racking up 5 rushing touchdowns on the season. Washington is averaging an impressive 6.6 yards per carry and has contributed to Arkansas being No. 5 in total points in the SEC.
This weekend, Arkansas hosts Mississippi State as each team attempts to earn its first win against an SEC opponent. This provides the Razorbacks with an opportunity to gain some momentum before ending their season with a gauntlet of a schedule against LSU, Texas and Missouri.
16. Kentucky (2-5, 0-5)
Best position group: Quarterback
Coming off a painful loss to Tennessee this past weekend, fans of the Kentucky Wildcats can at least hold on to the fact that QB Cutter Boley had a historic game. Boley threw five touchdown passes in Saturday’s game, a new record for Kentucky freshman quarterbacks. Although Kentucky’s defense failed to make any significant plays, Boley showed accuracy and confidence under pressure, showing promise for the Wildcats’ future.
Kentucky will travel to Auburn to try and snap a four-game losing streak in SEC play.
