Week 6 of the college football season turned into what fans online deemed “Upset Saturday,” and it was a real mess. Five of the top-11 teams lost, and three of those were SEC teams, including Vanderbilt’s historic upset over then-No. 1 Alabama.
Along with the Crimson Tide, then-No. 4 Tennessee lost to Arkansas, and then-No. 9 Missouri lost to Texas A&M, which jumped 10 spots to No. 15 in the AP Poll after the victory. It’s chaos and beyond unclear who’s actually good, who had a (good or bad) fluke game and who remains an SEC title and College Football Playoff contender.
Going into Week 7, Texas is the lone undefeated SEC team and reclaimed its No. 1 spot with Alabama falling to No. 7. Everyone else not named Auburn and Mississippi State has one or two losses on the season.
So at the approximate halfway point in college football’s regular season, which teams need to start panicking when it comes to the SEC standings, as well as the College Football Playoff? We break them down on a scale from one to 10 with 10 being an absolute fire sale where everybody needs to go.
No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs panic meter: 2
Losing to Alabama was rough, but it seems like no SEC team is going to make it through the regular season unscathed. If this team is as dominant as it has looked at points this year, a remaining schedule featuring Ole Miss, Tennessee and Florida shouldn’t be a problem. Even if that schedule still includes Texas.
No. 7 Alabama Crimson Tide panic meter: 3
There’s really no need for Alabama and its fans to panic, despite the upset loss to Vanderbilt, which surely no one is going to forget anytime soon. There’s plenty of time for the Crimson Tide to get back on track, they’re still in the SEC championship game race and they’re still a playoff contender.
And the thing is: I think the expanded 12-team playoff actually helps the “haves” more than the “have-nots” here, and that benefits a lot of the SEC. With a bad loss in a four-team format, Alabama’s playoff hopes would be in real jeopardy, especially if other top teams remain undefeated. But with a 12-team playoff, powerhouses like Alabama can take a loss, even an ugly one, and basically brush it off if they keep winning.
No. 8 Tennessee Volunteers panic meter: 6
Tennessee should be getting a little concerned. The Vols were looking strong until they hit their SEC schedule, and suddenly, that offense started being a lot less proficient. Like a lot of teams on this list, they can overcome a loss to Arkansas — one that wasn’t even that bad except for the fact that it was Arkansas.
But the schedule isn’t doing them any favors. After facing Florida this weekend, Tennessee has Alabama, Kentucky and Georgia upcoming, and there’s no way the Vols can play like they have been and expect to win out. They’ll need to step up big time to continue to have a shot at the SEC title game and playoff.
No. 9 Ole Miss panic meter: 5
Oxford is on the cusp of an all-out meltdown, but it’s not there yet. This team can still get back on track. All it has to do on Saturday is take care of business on the road at LSU, where it hasn’t won since 2008. *Gulp*
No. 13 LSU Tigers panic meter: 4
The team that caused the most panic across the SEC to begin the year seems to have steadied the ship. The Tigers couldn’t ask for a better time to face Ole Miss. A win on Saturday and LSU is right back in the driver’s seat for an SEC title with very winnable games against Texas A&M, Alabama, Florida, Vanderbilt and Oklahoma remaining.
No. 15 Texas A&M Aggies panic meter: 1
Honestly, the Aggies probably don’t need to panic at all at this point. Going into Week 7, they’re at the top of the SEC, and while that probably won’t last forever, there’s a not-too-hard path for Texas A&M to finish with an undefeated conference schedule.
The Aggies’ lone loss so far was the season opener to Notre Dame, but they’re 3-0 in SEC play. They took care of Missouri, and for upcoming ranked opponents, all they have right now is No. 13 LSU later this month and then No. 1 Texas to close the regular season. So depending on how these next several weeks go, there’s a real possibility here that Texas A&M finishes SEC play with at most one loss and contends for the conference title.
No. 18 Oklahoma Sooners panic meter: solid 8
Maybe even a nine. But let’s stick with a comfortable eight for now. Things aren’t looking particularly great for the Sooners in their new conference, and it’s getting to the point where you have to wonder just how secure Brent Venables is at the helm.
While dealing with some injuries, Oklahoma statistically has one of the worst offenses in the country right now and averages less than 300 yards per game, putting up 28.6 points a game. And the Sooners’ defense really isn’t much better. They have an absolutely brutal schedule ahead too with Texas this weekend before eventually facing Ole Miss, Missouri, Alabama and LSU. Kinda feels like a win if they go 2-2 for those last four games.
No. 21 Missouri Tigers panic meter: 7
Oh no, that Texas A&M loss is one that just cannot happen. Especially not in blowout fashion. Frankly, the Tigers’ schedule just isn’t strong enough to push them to the playoffs without a signature win — unless other top SEC teams start picking up multiple losses. Missouri needs to hope it can beat Alabama and then hope some more Alabama doesn’t lose another game the rest of the year.
