SEC Tiers and this Week's Games

I think it's way too early to put most teams in a tier yet. However I think in most seasons you've got 4 tiers that developed as the season goes on;

Tier 1: Championship Level
Teams that are vying for an SEC Championship and on pace to make the College Football Playoff

Tier 2: Nationally Competitive
These are the teams that are unlikely to win the SEC... a long shot for a national title... but in contention for a Playoff Spot. Generally speaking they are in the Top 25, probably in the 10-25 section of the rankings

Tier 3: Competitive Teams on Pace for a Winning Season
These are the teams that are capable of beating anyone... but also very unlikely to make the playoff. They are near certain to make a bowl game and have a winning season, but probably not in contention for the Playoff. Mostly just hoping to finish the year ranked in the Top 25

Tier 4: Teams Having a Bad Year
These teams range from horrific to maybe decently competitive but at the same time unlucky. Generally speaking they are in the bottom 4 of the league... hoping to make a bowl game and maybe eke out the season barely above .500 overall.

This weekend seems to have given us 3 games in which the winner will move into a higher tier and the loser will very likely fall a tier. All three games could be considered a coin flip:

LSU at Ole Miss
Winner moves into Tier 1 for now. Loser is almost certain to have a season in which they fail to ever get into Tier 1 and will hope to stay in Tier 2 at best.

Florida at Auburn
Winner will firmly sit in Tier 2 after an early season big win. Loser most definitely will in be relegated to Tier 3 this year at best.

Miss State South Carolina
Winner probably jumps up to Tier 2 for the time being. Loser is looking at Tier 3 at best and probably Tier 4.


Just three very hard to pick, coin flip type games. Yet all three will have MAJOR bearing on how this season turns out.