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SEC Football Power Rankings After Week 3: Auburn Trending Down

By Jake Mastroianni

Sep 17, 2016; Auburn, AL, USA; Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Trevor Knight (8) speaks with Auburn Tigers head coach Gus Malzahn after the game at Jordan Hare Stadium. Texas A&M defeated Aubrn 29-16. Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2016; Auburn, AL, USA; Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Trevor Knight (8) speaks with Auburn Tigers head coach Gus Malzahn after the game at Jordan Hare Stadium. Texas A&M defeated Aubrn 29-16. Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 17, 2016; Auburn, AL, USA; Texas A&M Aggies lineman Myles Garrett (15) tackles Auburn Tigers quarterback Sean White (13) during the first quarter at Jordan Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2016; Auburn, AL, USA; Texas A&M Aggies lineman Myles Garrett (15) tackles Auburn Tigers quarterback Sean White (13) during the first quarter at Jordan Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports /

2 – Texas A&M (10) – 3-0 – Up 4

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Despite the putrid offense that Auburn threw up against them, I thought Texas A&M’s win Saturday was very impressive.

The defense pretty much shutdown everything Gus Malzahn threw at them, and their defensive line was constantly in the backfield.

Trevor Knight looked comfortable at quarterback and made several big plays with his feet and with his arm. He also protected the football and didn’t throw an interception in a game for the first time this season.

That was a difficult road game for the Aggies, and they silenced the Auburn crowd with a 29-16 win.

They now have two legitimate wins over solid teams from power conferences.

Through three weeks they look like the only team – other than Ole Miss – that can stay on the field with Alabama.

They’ll face another big test this weekend as a red hot Arkansas team comes to town.

Sep 17, 2016; Oxford, MS, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Hurts (2) stands on the field after the game against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Alabama won 48-43. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2016; Oxford, MS, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Hurts (2) stands on the field after the game against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Alabama won 48-43. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports /

1 – Alabama (1) – 3-0 – Even

To be completely honest, I think Ole Miss is the only team in the SEC that matches up well with Alabama. They have a quarterback that can hurt you through the air and running the ball.

It looked like it was going to be a 3-peat for the Rebels, but there was no way Nick Saban was going to let that happen.

Now that they’ve put Ole Miss behind them, I don’t think there is anyone else in the SEC to stand in their way. In order to beat Alabama you have to have a true duel-threat quarterback.

Tennessee’s Joshua Dobbs is the only one who comes close to fitting that profile, and he has not impressed me in three weeks. Trevor Knight has the capability as well and has beaten Alabama in the past, so I think the Aggies have a chance to knock the Tide off.

If Alabama had to follow up that Ole Miss game against Tennessee or Texas A&M I think they’d have some problems. But they get Kent State, Kentucky and Arkansas to cool down before playing Tennessee and Texas A&M in back-to-back weeks.

Next: Auburn Football: 3 Up, 3 Down After Texas A&M Game

Week four brings another big slate of SEC games that will shake up the power rankings again. There are three games between ranked SEC teams this weekend.

Enjoy!

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