SEC Tiers

First off, the gap between #1 and #16 is probably the smallest the gap has ever been in the SEC from top to bottom… at least in the modern era.

With that said, I feel like the SEC has three tiers:

Tier 1
Texas A&M
Alabama
Georgia
Ole Miss

All four likely headed to the Playoff. Aggie’s schedule is a relative cakewalk but they’ve looked impressive.

Tier 2
Vanderbilt
Missouri
Tennessee
Oklahoma
Auburn
LSU
Texas
Arkansas
Florida

Any of these could beat each other on any given day, IMO. Many will say Vandy belongs in the top tier. While I do think they are at the top of this second group, I don’t think they’ve proven themselves to be Tier 1.

Vandy was beaten soundly at Alabama. Also notice how A&M manhandled LSU in Baton Rouge while LSU gave Vandy a very close game in Nashville. Missouri probably outplayed them this week and if not for losing their QB, would have likely beaten them. Just don’t think Vandy is quite in the same league as those other four.

Tier 3
South Carolina
Mississippi State
Kentucky

S Carolina’s lopsided losses to Vandy and Oklahoma along with Kentucky’s lopsided loss to Tennessee and LSU’s loss to A&M are the only real blowouts we’ve seen yet in SEC play. Because LSU’s was to the conference’s best team, I’ll give them a bit of a pass.