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Here's CBSSports.com Rapid Reports SEC power ranking:
1. Alabama (7-0, 4-0 SEC): After seven blowouts, the Tide bring the nation's top defense (8.3 points per game) into a three-game stretch against top-20 teams: Mississippi State, at LSU, Texas A&M. AJ McCarron has thrown 249 straight passes without an interception. Last week's power ranking: 1. Next up: Mississippi State, Saturday, 8:30 p.m. ET (ESPN).
2. Florida (7-0, 6-0 SEC): The Gators have matched last year's win total and have beaten three teams ranked in the BCS standings' top 20. They'll clinch the SEC East with a win Saturday. Last week's power ranking: 2. Next up: Georgia, Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (CBS), in Jacksonville.
3. LSU (7-1, 3-1 SEC): The Tigers forced five turnovers as they slowed the Johnny Manziel Heisman train. LSU, which ranks eighth in the SEC in total offense, has two weeks to prepare for its rematch with Alabama. Last week's power ranking: 3. Next up: Alabama, Nov. 3, 8 p.m. ET (CBS).
4. Mississippi State (7-0, 3-0 SEC): Tyler Russell has thrown 15 TDs against one INT, LaDarius Perkins has run for eight scores while averaging 5.8 yards per carry, and Johnthan Banks has four INTs. The Bulldogs have won nine straight dating to last year. Last week's power ranking: 6. Next up: at Alabama, Saturday, 8:30 p.m. ET (ESPN).
5. South Carolina (6-2, 4-2 SEC): Coming off a season-low 191 total yards of offense, the Gamecocks likely will go back to QB Connor Shaw, who was pulled for Dylan Thompson in the 44-11 loss at Florida. “We're still trying to get Connor to throw a little bit more when it's there,” coach Steve Spurrier said. “But again, Connor, with his ability to run, certainly helps our running.” Last week's power ranking: 4. Next up: Tennessee, Saturday, 12 p.m. ET (ESPN).
6. Georgia (6-1, 4-1 SEC): The Bulldogs, who struggled to beat Kentucky, have won four of the last 22 meetings with the Gators, including last year's 24-20 victory. Georgia hasn't won back-to-back games in the series since 1988-89. But the Bulldogs should get OLB Jarvis Jones back from an ankle injury. Last week's power ranking: 5. Next up: Florida, Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (CBS), in Jacksonville.
7. Texas A&M (5-2, 2-2 SEC): Johnny Manziel proved he's human with three INTs in the loss to LSU, but should get back on track against Auburn's young defense. Last week's power ranking: 7. Next up: at Auburn, Saturday, 7 p.m. ET (ESPNU).
8. Arkansas (3-4, 2-2 SEC): The off week enabled tight end Chris Gragg to return from a bone bruise in his leg. He caught 19 balls for 234 yards and two TDs in a little over three games before getting hurt. Last week's power ranking: 8. Next up: Ole Miss, Saturday, 12:21 p.m. ET (SEC Network).
9. Tennessee (3-4, 0-4 SEC): The Vols are 0-14 against ranked opponents under coach Derek Dooley, but Alabama's Nick Saban says Dooley “is doing a fantastic job.” Many Tennessee fans disagree. Last week's power ranking: 9. Next up: at South Carolina, Saturday, 12 p.m. ET (ESPN).
10. Ole Miss (4-3, 1-2 SEC): The Rebels have doubled their win total from last year entering an expected shootout in Fayetteville. Ole Miss averages 32.7 points, while the Razorbacks averaged 36.5 points in their last two games. Last week's power ranking: 10. Next up: at Arkansas, Saturday, 12:21 p.m. ET (SEC Network).
11. Vanderbilt (3-4, 2-3 SEC): The Commodores beat Auburn for the second straight time thanks in large part to Zac Stacy. The senior is Vandy's all-time leading rusher with 2,670 yards after getting 169 and the go-ahead TD vs. the Tigers. Last week's power ranking: 11. Next up: Massachusetts, Saturday, 7 p.m ET (FSN).
12. Missouri (3-4, 0-4 SEC): QB James Franklin plans to return from his sprained knee as the Tigers go for their first SEC win. He's been out since Oct. 6. Last week's power ranking: 12. Next up: Kentucky, Saturday, 12 p.m. ET (ESPNU).
13. Auburn (1-6, 0-5 SEC): Off to its worst start since 1952, Auburn is the first team since 1936 to start 1-6 within two years of finishing atop the Associated Press poll. Last week's power ranking: 13. Next up: Texas A&M, Saturday, 7 p.m. ET (ESPNU).
14. Kentucky (1-7, 0-5 SEC): The Wildcats have used four quarterbacks this season and plan to play two, freshman Jalen Whitlow and senior Morgan Newton, on Saturday. Despite an injured shoulder, Newton ran for a touchdown, threw for another and led Kentucky on a field-goal drive in its narrow loss to Georgia. Last week's power ranking: 14. Next up: at Missouri, Saturday, 12 p.m. ET (ESPNU).
For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis from SEC bloggers Daniel Lewis and Larry Hartstein, follow @CBSSportsSEC.
1. Alabama (7-0, 4-0 SEC): After seven blowouts, the Tide bring the nation's top defense (8.3 points per game) into a three-game stretch against top-20 teams: Mississippi State, at LSU, Texas A&M. AJ McCarron has thrown 249 straight passes without an interception. Last week's power ranking: 1. Next up: Mississippi State, Saturday, 8:30 p.m. ET (ESPN).
2. Florida (7-0, 6-0 SEC): The Gators have matched last year's win total and have beaten three teams ranked in the BCS standings' top 20. They'll clinch the SEC East with a win Saturday. Last week's power ranking: 2. Next up: Georgia, Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (CBS), in Jacksonville.
3. LSU (7-1, 3-1 SEC): The Tigers forced five turnovers as they slowed the Johnny Manziel Heisman train. LSU, which ranks eighth in the SEC in total offense, has two weeks to prepare for its rematch with Alabama. Last week's power ranking: 3. Next up: Alabama, Nov. 3, 8 p.m. ET (CBS).
4. Mississippi State (7-0, 3-0 SEC): Tyler Russell has thrown 15 TDs against one INT, LaDarius Perkins has run for eight scores while averaging 5.8 yards per carry, and Johnthan Banks has four INTs. The Bulldogs have won nine straight dating to last year. Last week's power ranking: 6. Next up: at Alabama, Saturday, 8:30 p.m. ET (ESPN).
5. South Carolina (6-2, 4-2 SEC): Coming off a season-low 191 total yards of offense, the Gamecocks likely will go back to QB Connor Shaw, who was pulled for Dylan Thompson in the 44-11 loss at Florida. “We're still trying to get Connor to throw a little bit more when it's there,” coach Steve Spurrier said. “But again, Connor, with his ability to run, certainly helps our running.” Last week's power ranking: 4. Next up: Tennessee, Saturday, 12 p.m. ET (ESPN).
6. Georgia (6-1, 4-1 SEC): The Bulldogs, who struggled to beat Kentucky, have won four of the last 22 meetings with the Gators, including last year's 24-20 victory. Georgia hasn't won back-to-back games in the series since 1988-89. But the Bulldogs should get OLB Jarvis Jones back from an ankle injury. Last week's power ranking: 5. Next up: Florida, Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (CBS), in Jacksonville.
7. Texas A&M (5-2, 2-2 SEC): Johnny Manziel proved he's human with three INTs in the loss to LSU, but should get back on track against Auburn's young defense. Last week's power ranking: 7. Next up: at Auburn, Saturday, 7 p.m. ET (ESPNU).
8. Arkansas (3-4, 2-2 SEC): The off week enabled tight end Chris Gragg to return from a bone bruise in his leg. He caught 19 balls for 234 yards and two TDs in a little over three games before getting hurt. Last week's power ranking: 8. Next up: Ole Miss, Saturday, 12:21 p.m. ET (SEC Network).
9. Tennessee (3-4, 0-4 SEC): The Vols are 0-14 against ranked opponents under coach Derek Dooley, but Alabama's Nick Saban says Dooley “is doing a fantastic job.” Many Tennessee fans disagree. Last week's power ranking: 9. Next up: at South Carolina, Saturday, 12 p.m. ET (ESPN).
10. Ole Miss (4-3, 1-2 SEC): The Rebels have doubled their win total from last year entering an expected shootout in Fayetteville. Ole Miss averages 32.7 points, while the Razorbacks averaged 36.5 points in their last two games. Last week's power ranking: 10. Next up: at Arkansas, Saturday, 12:21 p.m. ET (SEC Network).
11. Vanderbilt (3-4, 2-3 SEC): The Commodores beat Auburn for the second straight time thanks in large part to Zac Stacy. The senior is Vandy's all-time leading rusher with 2,670 yards after getting 169 and the go-ahead TD vs. the Tigers. Last week's power ranking: 11. Next up: Massachusetts, Saturday, 7 p.m ET (FSN).
12. Missouri (3-4, 0-4 SEC): QB James Franklin plans to return from his sprained knee as the Tigers go for their first SEC win. He's been out since Oct. 6. Last week's power ranking: 12. Next up: Kentucky, Saturday, 12 p.m. ET (ESPNU).
13. Auburn (1-6, 0-5 SEC): Off to its worst start since 1952, Auburn is the first team since 1936 to start 1-6 within two years of finishing atop the Associated Press poll. Last week's power ranking: 13. Next up: Texas A&M, Saturday, 7 p.m. ET (ESPNU).
14. Kentucky (1-7, 0-5 SEC): The Wildcats have used four quarterbacks this season and plan to play two, freshman Jalen Whitlow and senior Morgan Newton, on Saturday. Despite an injured shoulder, Newton ran for a touchdown, threw for another and led Kentucky on a field-goal drive in its narrow loss to Georgia. Last week's power ranking: 14. Next up: at Missouri, Saturday, 12 p.m. ET (ESPNU).
For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis from SEC bloggers Daniel Lewis and Larry Hartstein, follow @CBSSportsSEC.
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