SEC friendly fire

Entering into Week 9 of NCAA football play, only ten undefeated teams remain. None of which come from the SEC. After mass updates such as Vanderbilt defeating Alabama, Arkansas beating Tennessee, and Kentucky defeating Ole Miss.

With this near round robin, the SEC has taken a tanking in the AP ranks as three Big Ten teams currently remain undefeated followed by the Big 12, ACC and American all with two.

Conference clean slates

While no team has a squeaky clean record, two SEC teams have stayed clean throughout their SEC play. Those two teams are the Texas A&M Aggies and the LSU Geaux Tigers. Both teams sit at 4-0, but unfortunately, this will not remain the case as the two teams face off against one another this weekend as No. 8 LSU travels to College Station to play No. 14 Texas A&M meaning one team will fall victim to this friendly fire, and lose their pure SEC streak.

Who will come out on top?

After a convincing win over the Longhorns, the Georgia Bulldogs now sit at No. 2 in the AP rankings and lead as the supposed “top” SEC team.

With Alabama now essentially out of playoff contention since the retiring of Head Coach Nick Saban and losses to Tennessee and Vanderbilt, many assumed this also helped solidify the Bulldogs' seeding. However, teams such as Texas and Tennessee are still very much in the conversation.

Tennessee’s only loss on the season comes from an upset by Arkansas, but the Vols have rebounded strongly with victories over Florida and Alabama. The team has a relatively easy schedule remaining, but the true test will come when they have to face Georgia in Athens. Whichever team loses will not only be collecting a second loss but most likely crowning the opponent as the leader of the SEC.

Now if Tennessee escapes with this win Texas could somehow top them in the polls. The team still has two ranked opponents left in the season as they face No. 25 Vanderbilt this weekend on the road, and then finish the season with their in-state rivals No. 14 Texas A&M. Gaining both these top 25 matchups could potentially give the Longhorns the upper hand in placement.

Will the Commodores' reign continue?

Headlines continue to include one particular team no one thought to see involved in the College Football World this season. The Vanderbilt Commodores have reigned terror and distraught on powerhouse SEC teams.

They first caught heads by forcing Missouri into overtime just to lose by a field goal. They stayed steaming through as they flipped the college football world upside down in a victory over the Crimson Tide. Finally, they entered into the Top 25 after receiving wins over Kentucky and Ball State.

They now enter once again a Top 25 match-up, this time No. 5 Texas who previously held the No. 1 rank before their loss to Georgia.

Despite the game being at home for the Commodores, the Longhorns are distant favorites. However, that’s the exact storyline that Alabama entered into just 3 weeks ago.

If Vanderbilt can get the win then the SEC-friendly fire will not remain all too friendly much longer, and Tennessee will most likely walk away as the SEC favorites and could easily face a multitude of teams come the SEC Championship.

Friendly to foe fire:

With all these upsets there is no clear path as to who will escape the SEC into the 12-team College Football Playoffs this year. Only time will tell with only six weeks remaining in the season, and a lot of football to be played.

Bronwyn Liber is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email brl5354@psu.edu.