There are two weeks left in the 2024 SEC football season and it’s still largely unclear who will play for the league championship.

We did bid goodbye to a few contenders this past week, as LSU and Missouri dropped out of the title hunt after suffering their third losses. There are still six teams in the mix for a berth in Atlanta for the SEC championship game, however, with all of them also candidates for spots in the College Football Playoff.

So how do the teams in the SEC stack up as we hit the final two weeks? Here’s the Week 13 edition of AL.com’s SEC football power rankings for 2024 (all times Central and all games Saturday):

16. Mississippi State (2-8, 0-6)

Last week’s ranking: 16

Last week’s game: Open date

This week’s game: vs. Missouri, 3:15 p.m., SEC Network

The Bulldogs had their second bye this past week, gearing them up for two games in which they can act as spoilers. The home game vs. Missouri could have major implications in the SEC’s tiebreaker system should MSU pull off the upset, while the Nov. 29 Egg Bowl in Oxford could affect Ole Miss’ chances at a playoff spot. It’s been a forgettable season all around for Jeff Lebby’s team, and the sooner it gets over with, the better.

15. Kentucky (4-6, 1-6)

Last week’s ranking: 15

Last week’s game: Beat Murray State, 48-6

This week’s game: at Texas, 2:30 p.m., ABC

The Wildcats won for the first time since September against a 1-9 FCS opponent, but any victory was satisfying at this point. Kentucky appears to have found a keeper in redshirt freshman running back Jamarion Wilcox, who posted his second straight 100-yard day. The Wildcats need to win out to reach a bowl for the ninth consecutive year, and will be heavy underdogs against the Longhorns and in-state rival Louisville in the final two weeks. Despite its gaudy record, however, Texas hasn’t exactly been dominant, so perhaps Mark Stoops’ team can re-channel the magic it used to upset Ole Miss earlier this year.

14. Auburn (4-6, 1-5)

Last week’s ranking: 14

Last week’s game: Beat Louisiana-Monroe, 48-14

This week’s game: vs. Texas A&M, 6:30 p.m., ESPN

The Tigers salvaged a little bit of dignity on Saturday, proving they could still handle a less-talented team. Quarterback Payton Thorne shook off a shoulder injury to enjoy his best day at Auburn, while freshman receiver Cam Coleman finally looked like a 5-star recruit for an entire game. Hugh Freeze’s team needs to win out to avoid a fourth straight losing season, and we haven’t seen the Tigers steal one at Jordan-Hare this year as has long been their M.O. Perhaps the Aggies will wilt under the lights and Auburn will still have something to play for in the Iron Bowl.

13. Oklahoma (5-5, 1-5)

Last week’s ranking: 13

Last week’s game: Open date

This week’s game: vs. Alabama, 6:30 p.m., ABC

The Sooners got a week off after a brutal loss to Missouri, and their reward is a Saturday night visit from arguably the most upwardly mobile team in the SEC. Oklahoma has been incredibly banged up on offense all season, and perhaps the bye week will help in that regard. The heat has definitely been turned up on Brent Venables, who needs a win over either Alabama or LSU to avoid a second losing record in three seasons. The Sooners will definitely need to do some soul-searching in the offseason after an underwhelming SEC debut.

12. Arkansas (5-5, 3-4)

Last week’s ranking: 11

Last week’s game: Lost to Texas, 20-10

This week’s game: vs. Louisiana Tech, 3 p.m., ESPN+/SECN+

Those good vibes back in October have been squandered by flat performances the last two times out vs. Ole Miss and Texas. The Razorbacks didn’t get blown out by the Longhorns, but never really looked like they had a shot to win, either. Arkansas at least has a shot to get bowl-eligible against Louisiana Tech, although the Bulldogs have allowed a total of 13 points the last two weeks. Sam Pittman’s job appears safe for the moment, but that could change if the Hogs don’t win again this season.

11. LSU (6-4, 3-3)

Last week’s ranking: 7

Last week’s game: Lost to Florida, 27-16

This week’s game: vs. Vanderbilt, 6:45 p.m., SEC Network

Speaking of hot seats, the bloom is definitely off the rose with Brian Kelly in Baton Rouge after the Tigers largely failed to show up in Gainesville a week after getting hammered at home by Alabama. LSU is out of the SEC championship and playoff races now and really doesn’t even have a chance to play spoiler in the final two weeks vs. Vanderbilt and Oklahoma. The SEC and TV networks have propped up the Tigers for success with repeated home games at night, so anything less than an 8-4 finish is really inexcusable. Unfortunately for those who’d like to see Kelly sent packing, his $60 million buyout makes that highly unlikely.

10. Florida (5-5, 3-4)

Last week’s ranking: 12

Last week’s game: Beat LSU, 27-16

This week’s game: vs. Ole Miss, 11 a.m., ABC

The Gators continue to make baby steps in Billy Napier’s third year, and showed what kind of team they can be with a healthy DJ Lagway behind center. Ole Miss will be tough to beat even in Gainesville on Saturday, but Florida has that Nov. 30 game at Florida State — which is 1-9 — in its back pocket for bowl-eligibility. Napier and athletics director Scott Stricklin have promised changes in the offseason, and we’ll see then what they actually do. Even so, it’s fair to say the Gators have exceeded what were very modest expectations this year.

9. Vanderbilt (6-4, 3-3)

Last week’s ranking: 10

Last week’s game: Open date

This week’s game: at LSU, 6:45 p.m., SEC Network

The Commodores go as Diego Pavia goes, and we’ll see how healthy the play-making senior quarterback is after a week to rest. Vandy is already bowl-eligible, but should have a shot against suddenly vulnerable LSU in Baton Rouge on Saturday night if Pavia is good to go. The regular-season finale vs. Tennessee is also very interesting, as Clark Lea’s team could spoil any number of SEC contenders’ postseason hopes based on the league’s labyrinthine tiebreaker system.

8. Missouri (7-3, 3-3)

Last week’s ranking: 9

Last week’s game: Lost to South Carolina, 34-30

This week’s game: at Mississippi State, 3:15 p.m., SEC Network

The Tigers showed late life for the second straight week, but fell out of the SEC championship and playoff races after a wild back-and-forth loss to the Gamecocks. Quarterback Brady Cook and running back Nate Noel returned from injury and were both highly productive, but the Missouri defense couldn’t hold on in the fourth quarter. A season that began with playoff hopes has no doubt been a disappointment for Eli Drinkwitz’s team, but a second straight 10-win finish is still on the table.

7. South Carolina (7-3, 5-3)

Last week’s ranking: 8

Last week’s game: Beat Missouri, 34-30

This week’s game: vs. Wofford, 3 p.m., ESPN+/SECN+

There’s no hotter team in the league right now than the Gamecocks, who have won four straight since a narrow loss to Alabama in mid-October. Redshirt freshman LaNorris Sellers is developing into a dynamic playmaker before our very eyes, and South Carolina’s outstanding defensive front will keep it in any game. South Carolina is done with SEC play, and one-score losses to LSU and Alabama will definitely sting when postseason destinations are announced. With an FCS opponent this week and a diminished (though still dangerous) version of Clemson the next followed by a bowl game, Shane Beamer’s team has an excellent shot at double-digit wins for the first time in 11 years.

6. Texas A&M (8-2, 5-1)

Last week’s ranking: 5

Last week’s game: Beat New Mexico State, 38-3

This week’s game: at Auburn, 6:30 p.m., ESPN

The Aggies did what they needed to do to get past a bad Group of 5 team, but outside of freshman quarterback Marcel Reed don’t have very many flashy weapons on the offensive side of the ball. The defense should be able to carry Mike Elko’s team past Auburn on Saturday night, making the regular-season finale vs. Texas in College Station the equivalent of an SEC championship semifinal. Texas A&M’s best wins have been diminished in recent weeks by LSU’s collapse and Missouri’s injury-fueled regression, so it’s highly questionable the Aggies will earn a College Football Playoff berth without winning the SEC title.

5. Tennessee (8-2, 5-2)

Last week’s ranking: 2

Last week’s game: Lost to Georgia, 31-17

This week’s game: vs. UTEP, noon, ESPN+/SECN+

There’s no shame in losing at Georgia, as the Bulldogs haven’t lost in Athens in more than five years. However, Josh Heupel’s team needs to prove it can win on the road to take the next step from tough out to legitimate contender. Outside of an afternoon win at LSU in 2022, Tennessee hasn’t recorded what would be considered signature road victory in a decade. The loss to Georgia essentially cancels out the win vs. Alabama, and the Volunteers might need some help to get into the playoff even if they finish 10-2.

4. Georgia (8-2, 6-2)

Last week’s ranking: 6

Last week’s game: Beat Tennessee, 31-17

This week’s game: vs. Massachusetts, 11:45 a.m., SEC Network

A week after getting pushed around by Ole Miss in Oxford, the Bulldogs flexed their muscles against the Volunteers on Saturday night. Some would argue they got quite a bit of help from the officials, but this Georgia team looked like the one we saw at Texas earlier this year and so many times in the last few seasons. Carson Beck played arguably his best game of the year, which was a good sign after several shaky weeks. Georgia is done with SEC play and a longshot for the conference championship game unless Alabama or Texas lose at least once, but should cruise into the playoff with wins over UMass and Georgia Tech the next two weeks.

3. Ole Miss (8-2, 4-2)

Last week’s ranking: 4

Last week’s game: Open date

This week’s game: at Florida, 11 a.m., ABC

The Rebels had a week off after their biggest win in years (over Georgia on Nov. 9), only to see the way the standings evolved give them almost no shot to reach the SEC championship game. Based on tiebreakers, Ole Miss would likely need both Alabama and Texas A&M to lose twice to get to Atlanta. A playoff berth is more likely with wins over Florida and Mississippi State, though even then Lane Kiffin’s team might need some help. If the Rebels don’t earn a spot in the Top 12, that inexplicable home loss to Kentucky in late September will be the reason why.

2. Alabama (8-2, 4-2)

Last week’s ranking: 3

Last week’s game: Beat Mercer, 52-7

This week’s game: at Oklahoma, 6:30 p.m., ABC

The Crimson Tide has been on cruise control since the loss at Tennessee, with three straight dominant wins and a strong enough schedule to put it in Atlanta for the SEC championship game with wins over Oklahoma and Auburn and no major surprises elsewhere in the league. It appears that only Missouri losing to both Mississippi State and Arkansas would knock Alabama out of the SEC title game (the better the Tigers’ record, the better the Crimson Tide’s strength of schedule). Like all the two-loss teams in the SEC, there’s a fear that losing the conference championship game would knock Kalen DeBoer’s team out of the playoff, but commissioner Greg Sankey isn’t going to let that happen.

1. Texas (9-1, 5-1)

Last week’s ranking: 1

Last week’s game: Beat Arkansas, 20-10

This week’s game: vs. Kentucky, 2:30 p.m., ABC

The Longhorns have looked like less than a juggernaut most of the season, but have not really been in danger of losing a game this year outside of that lone defeat to Georgia on Oct. 19. Still, Texas’ SEC schedule has been largely underwhelming and Steve Sarkisian’s team probably cannot afford another loss if it wants to remain guaranteed of a playoff spot. The Longhorns should handle Kentucky this week, setting up the Nov. 30 trip to College Station as an elimination contest for the SEC title game — and perhaps a CFP berth.

Creg Stephenson has worked for AL.com since 2010 and covered college football for a variety of publications since 1994. Contact him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter at @CregStephenson.