Final SEC Power Rankings by Tiers: Alabama Back on Top

Tier VI: Vanderbilt

To end the year, Vanderbilt ends where they have ranked most of the season. The Commodores were eliminated from bowl eligibility long ago and have since just played with the hope of seeing some light at the end of the tunnel. But ending the year on a 10-game losing streak is the opposite of what they hoped for.

Tier I: Alabama

All season long, Georgia and Alabama continuously dominated in-conference play. Eventually, both dominant squads were bound to meet to declare a champion in the SEC, and that day came on Saturday. In a close bout, Nick Saban’s squad proved all the doubters wrong. Now, as the only SEC team to make the College Football Playoffs, the Crimson Tide end this season’s power rankings alone in Tier I.

Tier II: Georgia

Although their perfect season ended along with their hopes of winning their third straight national championship, Georgia has plenty to be proud of. Finishing 8-1 in conference play, Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs fell just short of their goal. Despite the loss, they’ll have one more game against Florida State to end the year with a statement and prepare to start their redemption tour next season.

Tier III: Missouri, LSU, Ole Miss, Tennessee

These four teams all finished the year ranked inside the Top 25. With impressive seasons for each program, they helped prove that the SEC is one of the most competitive, if not the most competitive, conferences in all of college football. With one more game left, each team gets one last shot to prove how dangerous they are.

Tier IV: Texas A&M, Kentucky, Auburn

These programs all ended the year unranked but earned themselves a bowl game. And while being unranked isn’t an accolade, it does provide some insight into how each team compares to others around the nation. Nonetheless, winning a bowl game in college football is no easy task. Unranked or not, they’ve earned the same opportunity as all the other bowl-eligible teams not in the CFP.

Tier V: Arkansas, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Florida

This tier is among the bottom half of the SEC this season. These programs finished under .500 and missed their chance at a bowl game. With each team dealing with a tough season, they’ll all look to bounce back next year. But for now, they’ll all have to go through long offseasons before they can do that.

Tier VI: Vanderbilt

To end the year, Vanderbilt ends where they have ranked most of the season. The Commodores were eliminated from bowl eligibility long ago and have since just played with the hope of seeing some light at the end of the tunnel. But ending the year on a 10-game losing streak is the opposite of what they hoped for.