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Here it is. The last week of one of the wildest regular seasons in recent Southeastern Conference history. The conference substantially dominated by one team over the past 17 years has a litany of teams jostling for top position in the league in 2024. As the season wound down, nine teams had a legitimate path to the SEC Championship and/or the College Football Playoffs. No. 3 Texas (10-1, 6-1) leads the way with only one conference loss. But there are two teams with only two conference losses, and a whopping six teams with three conference losses, including perennial power No. 13 Alabama (8-3, 4-3). The teams with three conference losses were mostly in the mix for the league championship until Week 13. As the tumultuous season culminates in Week 14, let's take a look at where each team ranks.
No. 1 Texas (10-1, 6-1 SEC)
The Longhorns haven't necessarily blown the doors off of their new conference, as their best win came in a scrap against Vanderbilt (6-5, 3-4). But they have won enough and after defeating Kentucky (4-7, 1-7) 31-14, they face rival No. 20 Texas A&M (8-3, 5-2), seeking to ensure a spot in the conference championship game.
No.2 Georgia (9-2, 6-2)
Georgia locked up the other spot in the SEC title game after Alabama's loss in Week 13. They're finished with SEC play and will face in-state rival Georgia Tech in Week 14.
No. 3 Tennessee (9-2, 5-2)
No. 8 Tennessee won't play for the conference championship, but the Vols are smack dab in the middle of the race for the CFP. Tennessee travels to face Vanderbilt in Week 14. And that is not the automatic check in the win column that it traditionally has been.
No. 4 South Carolina (8-3, 5-3)
No. 15 South Carolina has been one of the most fun stories in the conference in 2024. More than likely, the Gamecocks will be on the outside looking in when it comes to the CFP. But in Week 14 they will have an opportunity to ruin the weekend of rival No. 12 Clemson (9-2, 7-1).
See how our picks stack up compared to odds across all betting sites.
No. 5 Texas A&M (8-3, 5-2)
The Aggies lost to Auburn in four overtimes in Week 13 and will host Texas in Week 14. The Aggies will have to overcome the extra physical and emotional exertion if they hope to compete for the conference title.
No. 6 Alabama (8-3, 4-3)
It has not been the season that Bama fans had hoped for under first-year head coach Kalen DeBoer. The Crimson Tide fell to Oklahoma (6-5, 2-5) in Week 13, giving Bama its first three-loss season since 2011. Hopes for an SEC title were nixed, and dreams of the CFP were dimmed. A battle against Auburn in the annual Iron Bowl awaits the Tide in Week 14.
No. 7 Ole Miss (8-3, 4-3)
The No. 14 Ole Miss Rebels had an invitation to the CFP in the palms of their hands, and then the Rebs fell to Florida (6-5, 4-4). Shocking? Maybe. But we've all seen this story from Rebels head coach Lane Kiffen before. Beating Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl may salve some of the burn of this season, but not much.
No. 8 Missouri (8-3, 4-3)
No. 21 Missouri battled injuries all season long and still managed to have its name in the mix coming down the stretch. The Tigers are out of the running for anything substantial in the postseason but can finish the season with another conference win over Arkansas (6-5, 3-4).
No. 9 LSU (7-4, 4-3)
LSU and head coach Brian Kelly suffered more than their fair share of disappointment in 2024 but managed to knock off Vandy 24-17 in Week 13. A win over Oklahoma in Week 14 won't be the end of the season that Tigers fans had hoped for, but a loss would be another significant knock against the Kelly regime.
No. 10 Florida (6-5, 4-4)
The Gators are a shocker. Many predicted that we would be discussing head coach Billy Napier's successor by this point in the season. But here we are, Napier is still employed and has the backing of his athletic director heading into the postseason. In consecutive games, Florida beat LSU and Ole Miss and now looks to take down Florida State (2-9, 1-7) for the first time since 2021.
No. 11 Vanderbilt (6-5, 3-4)
Vandy has been everybody's favorite story in the SEC in 2024. Quarterback Diego Pavia and the Commodores have taken down Bama, played Texas to within three points and are bowl-eligible for the first time since 2018. The 'Dores have an opportunity to screw up Tennessee's playoff hopes in Week 14.
No. 12 Arkansas (6-5, 3-4)
The Razorbacks thumped Louisiana Tech (4-7, 3-4 Conference USA) in Week 13 and will cap their season with Missouri. The Hogs have enough firepower in quarterback Taylen Green and the offense to concern the Tigers.
No. 13 Oklahoma (6-5, 2-5)
The Sooners haven't had as strong of a first season in the SEC as the Longhorns, but they did sweep the state of Alabama. There wasn't much more of a shock in college football in Week 13 than OU's defeat of the Crimson Tide. LSU is next up for the Sooners.
No. 14 Auburn (5-6, 2-5)
The Tigers beat Texas A&M when Aggies running back Amari Daniels dropped a pass in the fourth overtime. A season of real bummers seemed to be alleviated after the dropped pass, but the Tigers will have to get over the emotional victory if they hope to go into Tuscaloosa, Ala. and get the upset over the Crimson Tide in the Iron Bowl.
No. 15 Kentucky (4-7, 1-7)
Kentucky is coming off a thrashing by Texas, 31-14. They haven't had the season that many expected, but the Wildcats can royally irritate in-state rival Louisville fans with a victory in Week 14, and ride into basketball season with their chins held high.
No. 16 Mississippi State (2-9, 0-7)
It has not been a lovely season for first-year head coach Jeff Lebby, and there's not much hope for it to get any better in the Egg Bowl. Ole Miss is seething after their third conference loss to Florida, and State just doesn't have the guns to compete. But, in saying that, the Egg Bowl is one of the more tricky rivalries of rivalry weekend.
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