It's 2026. Auburn is faltering in the SEC during the early part of October. Alabama and Georgia are undefeated and tracking towards a massive Week 6 clash, with President Donald Trump set to be in attendance at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
These are realities Tiger fans didn't want to see this season. These are realities the Auburn family is absolutely sick of.
And yet, these realities have arrived anyway. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
The post-Week 5 SEC football power rankings sadly prove that:
No. 1: Georgia
UGA dominated Vanderbilt 38-14 Between the Hedges in a game where the Dawgs had some mild early troubles. Ultimately, Kirby Smart's program is too disciplined to lose a matchup like this, or even allow it to be close by the final moment.
Georgia heads to Tuscaloosa next weekend for perhaps the SEC's biggest conference game this season.
No. 2: Alabama
The Tide had the aura play of the week, heading to Starkville the morning of a 56-23 trouncing of Mississippi State. Alabama continues to dominate that rivalry, but more importantly, continues to look like a legitimate contender in the SEC.
We'll see if Kalen DeBoer's squad can get revenge in Week 5 after being dominated by the Dawgs in the 2025 SEC Championship Game.
No. 3: Texas
The Longhorns were on their bye in Week 5.
Texas takes on Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry next weekend, though the Sooners deflated this matchup with two early-season losses.
No. 4: Ole Miss
The Rebels were also on their bye week.
Ole Miss looks to get back on the winning track next weekend against Vanderbilt in Nashville. Pete Golding's squad was badly exposed in Week 4 against Florida.
No. 5: Tennessee
While it took a while to figure out the quarterback position, George MacIntyre had a better grasp behind center than true freshman Faizon Brandon. Josh Heupel yanking Brandon was the winning move for Tennessee during a 24-14 triumph over Auburn in Week 5.
The Vols have a major trap game in Arkansas against the Hogs next weekend before the Third Saturday in October matchup the following week.
No. 6: LSU
LSU beat up on FCS McNeese State in Week 5, but the Bayou Bengals have to keep their foot on the gas pedal against Kentucky.
Will Stein has changed what the Wildcats represent on the schedule after a 4-1 start.
No. 7: Missouri
The loss against Mississippi State last weekend was a strange one given the results of Week 5. Missouri dominated Florida in stunning fashion at Faurot Field.
Eli Drinkwitz's teams are often good, but never great. It's tough to buy too much stock yet, but these Tigers look like they can give anyone a challenge after gashing the Gators 45-17.
No. 8: Florida
So much for the Florida hype. Jon Sumrall is completely unimpressed with his team after being embarrassed by Mizzou.
The Gators cannot afford to lose to South Carolina at home next week. They will revolt in the "Swamp" if so.
No. 9: Kentucky
Kentucky got its grittiest win of the season, battling back from down 17 points to knock off the Cocks at Williams-Brice Stadium on Saturday.
No one is sleeping on the Wildcats anymore. Stein's offense, with Kenny Minchey running the show, could score, and the defense got key stops against South Carolina as well. LSU could be on upset alert next weekend.
No. 10: Mississippi State
Kamario Taylor had three turnovers, which included two interceptions and a fumble, but he still had three touchdown passes and 258 passing yards against Alabama.
There are no moral victories when the entire country wants to poach your quarterback in the transfer portal this coming January if you're the Bulldogs, though. The bye week looms for Mississippi State before a trip to Death Valley in Week 7.
No. 11: Texas A&M
It might be too little, too late, but Texas A&M may have finally found its identity. The Aggies ran all over Arkansas, with 231 of their 401 total yards coming on the ground in a 34-7 slaughter of the Hogs.
Downplaying quarterback Marcel Reed's role in the offense could be a concession of the 2026 season. Perhaps Mike Elko and Holmon Wiggins will soon turn to sophomore Brady Hart to salvage it.
No. 12: Auburn
Alex Golesh had an unsuccessful road debut in his Rocky Top homecoming. Truth be told, there wasn't much to be happy about.
There are signs that Auburn can beat the bottom-rung programs in the SEC, but the Tigers probably don't have a chance to beat any of the conference's elite. Tough scene.
No. 13: South Carolina
Shane Beamer's seat is starting to simmer. South Carolina needed this one against Kentucky at home before taking on the Gators in Gainesville and Tennessee in Columbia after that.
The Gamecocks don't have the toughest schedule in the aftermath of those two matchups, though you could almost certainly count Georgia as a loss. Is Beamer going to survive to see November in South Carolina?
No. 14: Oklahoma
OU was the third team in the conference on its bye week. Because of how bad other teams were, they moved up a spot.
The Sooners are still not in a great place. Texas is next in Dallas, and Oklahoma doesn't look built to stop the Longhorns from winning three Red River Rivalry matchups in a row.
No. 15: Vanderbilt
Losing to UGA isn't as bad as losing to Auburn last week. Still, if 5-star true freshman quarterback Jared Curtis has any lingering injury issues, it's tough to see the Commodores winning many games against a schedule with only one team that entered Week 5 unranked remaining.
Vanderbilt may not be set to win many more games even if Curtis is healthy.
No. 16: Arkansas
Being Texas A&M's turning point is nothing to be proud of in 2026. Arkansas has nothing to look forward to for the rest of the season.
The Razorbacks may already be out of bowl game consideration. Ryan Silverfield's first season may only go down from here.
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