Auburn got its business done during a 21-15 win over Vanderbilt in Week 4. The Tigers still find themselves in the back half of the SEC despite finally getting a conference victory on the board during the Alex Golesh era.
Where does the rest of the "It Just Means More" conference stack up? Certainly, some clarity was provided at the end of September.
Here's this writer's SEC hierarchy through the first month of the 2026 season:
No. 1: Georgia
After thoroughly dominating Oklahoma Between the Hedges, 41-13, Georgia has taken back its mantle of being the SEC's top team.
The Bulldogs are beating teams like they did during the Kirby Smart glory years. UGA's glory years feel like they ended when the CFP expanded to 12 teams.
Maybe they're back in Athens. Beware of Dawgs.
No. 2: Florida
Beating Ole Miss so convincingly in the "Swamp" may prove that Florida has a tangible home-field advantage again after losing to Golesh's USF program in 2025.
The Gators looked even better offensively against the Rebels than they did against Auburn in Week 3.
Perhaps DJ Durkin is owed an apology for last week's 44-spot, courtesy of Buster Faulkner's offensive machine. Pete Golding's defense is no slouch and met its match in Gainesville on Saturday.
No. 3: Alabama
It's tough to deny Alabama's offensive firepower any longer after another 45-plus-point effort. This team is for real.
The Crimson Tide has scored 192 points through the first month of the season. That includes Florida State and two SEC foes, after a 49-18 dismantling of South Carolina in Tuscaloosa on Saturday.
Alabama and Georgia have a must-watch showdown on October 10 at Bryant-Denny Stadium that will determine who is the conference's true top dog.
No. 4: Texas
The nation's No. 1 team looked vulnerable again on Rocky Top after nearly getting the doors blown off by Ohio State two weeks ago.
Texas survived, but the Longhorns allowed Arch Manning to be sacked six times, while the running game was fairly muted.
UT is a very vulnerable top dog right now. They may not be exposed until late October, with the bye and the Red River Rivalry up next, though.
No. 5: Mississippi State
Consecutive wins against South Carolina and Missouri make Mississippi State a co-tenant at the top of the SEC standings at 2-0 in the conference.
Mauling Minnesota in Week 2 only further builds a case that the Bulldogs could actually be for real.
Maybe it all crashes down next weekend as State hosts Alabama in another installment of a one-sided series for the Tide. Don't tell the cowbell ringers in Starkville, though.
No. 6: Ole Miss
Being so thoroughly dominated by the Gators is definitely a confusing follow-up to defending Vaught-Hemingway Stadium last week against Lane Kiffin and LSU.
Still, perhaps an emotional letdown was natural when facing a Florida team that looks like a bona fide contender.
Golding, Trinidad Chambliss, and Co. deserve the benefit of the doubt, but the defense has looked far from bulletproof over the last six quarters.
No. 7: LSU
Speaking of Kiffin, his team defended the aura of a night game in Death Valley with a trouncing of Texas A&M at Tiger Stadium.
LSU produced 506 yards of offense and held the line on third down, allowing the Aggies to convert on just four of 15 third-down attempts.
The schedule slows down on the Bayou with the Southland's McNeese State next weekend.
No. 8: Tennessee
Tennessee looked the best in losing among the non-winners during Week 4's slate. The Vols played the Horns down to the very last play.
True freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon is a star-in-the-making, standing up to a daunting pass rush on a historic day for Texas defensive end Colin Simmons.
Auburn comes to town in Week 5 for a big prove-it game for Big Orange.
No. 9: Missouri
Mizzou won the Border War two weekends ago against Kansas, but couldn't get on the board in conference play after losing to Mississippi State at Davis Wade Stadium.
Missouri has Florida coming to CoMo in Week 5, so a plunge down the power rankings could be due next weekend.
For now, Mizzou has to like how Ole Miss transfer quarterback Austin Simmons has turned out. He had the Tigers nearly stealing it at the end of the Bulldogs game in Week 4.
No. 10: Auburn
There's upward mobility for Auburn in Week 5. Beating Tennessee would have many taking the Tigers seriously.
The offensive line could hold Auburn back if it can't keep Byrum Brown safe. It may take a massive leap from the running game, too.
The Tigers could be due for some upset magic on the road, though. Auburn hasn't won an SEC game as a road underdog since 2023.
No. 11: Kentucky
Kentucky was suspiciously vulnerable against South Alabama in the first half during Week 4, but the Wildcats got it together by the game's end.
A 21-0 second half sealed the deal for UK against the Jaguars.
Will Stein's program is moving in the right direction after upsetting Texas A&M in Week 3. Facing the Gamecocks could be a confidence booster next Saturday for Kentucky.
No. 12: Arkansas
The Hogs are also moving in the right direction after blowing out Tulsa. It wasn't long ago that Arkansas was on the wrong side against Utah, though.
Ryan Silverfield is battling an unconfident fanbase's anxiety.
Beating Texas A&M at Kyle Field could be a major sign that the Razorbacks aren't a bottom-of-the-barrel team in the SEC this season.
No. 13: Vanderbilt
Frankly, Vanderbilt is lucky it isn't 2-2. NC State seemingly didn't want to win its matchup in Nashville last Saturday, though, unfathomably fumbling the game away in the end zone.
The Commodores were beaten by Auburn on the Plains, but they kept things close until the final minutes.
Vanderbilt isn't going back to being the conference's punchline. Clark Lea has a highly respectable program, if not a world-beater.
No. 14: South Carolina
There were some brutal moments for South Carolina during the team's embarrassing blowout loss to Alabama.
It appears some of Shane Beamer's players are quitting on him and his team. That's a bad look, to say the least.
Beamer could further lose the locker room with a loss next weekend against Kentucky.
No. 15: Oklahoma
OU was not competitive against UGA. With two losses, including the other against Michigan, things are looking down for the Sooners and Coach Brent Venables.
Oklahoma gets the bye week before facing the Longhorns in Dallas.
Things may get worse before they get better in Norman.
No. 16: Texas A&M
Lose to Arkansas this coming Saturday at home, and Mike Elko may just have a similarly scorching seat to Venables.
Things are quickly unraveling in College Station. The Aggies' defense has been walked through over the past two weeks. They looked vulnerable against Arizona State in the first three quarters of Week 2.
No team in college football has been more disappointing than TAMU so far.
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