SEC Power Rankings (Week 9): Auburn rises after first SEC win

It was another epic weekend for SEC football as Texas A&M went into Death Valley and put a beatdown on Brian Kelly and LSU, Alabama survived an upset attempt by South Carolina, and Vanderbilt won a defensive battle, 17-10, against Missouri.

Ole Miss basically clinched a playoff spot with a 34-26 victory at Oklahoma, while Texas staged an epic comeback to defeat Mississippi State in overtime in Starkville.

In other games, Auburn got its first SEC win of the season thanks to a fourth-quarter defensive effort that forced four turnovers against Arkansas.

As the calendar switches from October to November this week, we are in for the last month of SEC football for the 2025 season. Here are our rankings following Week 9:

1. Texas A&M (8-0, 5-0 SEC)

Result: Beat No. 20 LSU 49-25

This Week: Bye

Oct 25, 2025; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed (10) celebrates with wide receiver Ashton Bethel-Roman (3) after a play during the second half against the Louisiana State Tigers at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images | Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

2. Alabama (7-1, 5-0)

Result: Beat South Carolina 29-22

This Week: Bye

3. Vanderbilt (7-1, 3-1)

Result: Beat No. 15 Missouri 17-10

This Week: at No. 22 Texas

Vanderbilt's quarterback Diego Pavia (2) celebrates his go-ahead touchdown against Missouri during their game at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. | Denny Simmons / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

4. Georgia (6-1, 4-1)

Result: Bye

This Week: vs. Florida

5. Ole Miss (7-1, 4-1)

Result: Beat No. 13 Oklahoma 34-26

This Week: vs. South Carolina

6. Tennessee (6-2, 3-2)

Result: Beat Kentucky 56-34

This Week: vs. No. 13 Oklahoma

Tennessee wide receiver Mike Matthews (4) celebrates on the field during a NCAA football game against Kentucky at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky on Oct. 25, 2025. | Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

7. Missouri (6-2, 2-2)

Result: Lost to No. 10 Vanderbilt 17-10

This Week: Bye

8. Oklahoma (6-2, 2-2)

Result: Lost to No. 8 Ole Miss 34-26

This Week: at No. 17 Tennessee

9. Texas (6-2, 3-1)

Result: Beat Mississippi State 45-38 (OT)

This Week: vs. No. 10 Vanderbilt

Oct 25, 2025; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Texas Longhorns wide receiver Emmett Mosley V (3) catches the ball for a game winning touchdown in overtime against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

10. Florida (3-4, 2-2)

Result: Bye

This Week: vs. No. 5 Georgia

11. LSU (5-3, 2-3)

Result: Lost to No. 3 Texas A&M 49-25

This Week: Bye

12. Auburn (4-4, 1-4)

Result: Beat Arkansas 33-24

This Week: vs. Kentucky

Oct 25, 2025; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Auburn Tigers head coach Hugh Freeze and his wife Jill Freeze celebrate after the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Auburn won 33-24. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images | Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images

13. South Carolina (3-5, 1-5)

Result: Lost to No. 4 Alabama 29-22

This Week: at No. 8 Ole Miss

14. Mississippi State (4-4, 0-4)

Result: Lost to No. 20 Texas 45-38 (OT)

This Week: at Arkansas

15. Arkansas (2-6, 0-4)

Result: Lost to Auburn 33-24

This Week: vs. Mississippi State

16. Kentucky (2-5, 0-5)

Result: Lost to No. 17 Tennessee 56-34

This Week: at Auburn