ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI) swings big early in the season. Alabama didn't move much after beating Kentucky. The Crimson Tide moved up two spots to No. 7. ESPN's algorithm made a larger adjustment for the Kentucky Wildcats. Alabama's second-half bludgeoning of Will Stein's team pushed the Wildcats down 11 spots to No. 51.
Kentucky did not have the SEC's biggest drop in the FPI. Arkansas' 43-10 loss to Utah pushed the Razorbacks down 17 spots to No. 77. Six other SEC teams moved down in the FPI rankings, including Texas, showing how weird early FPI rankings can be. The Longhorns pulled off a fourth-quarter comeback in Austin to nip Ohio State 24-23. The FPI dropped Texas one spot from No. 1 to No. 2. Ohio State moved up one spot to No. 1.
The other five down-rated SEC teams are: LSU down two spots to No. 6; Oklahoma down one spot to No. 12; Ole Miss down one spot to No. 17; South Carolina down six spots to No. 21; Vanderbilt down four spots to No. 39; and Arkansas down 17 spots to No. 77.
Seven SEC teams joined Alabama in upward FPI moves
The SEC's biggest mover was the Tennessee Vols. Tennessee beat Georgia Tech in Atlanta, 45-24, and moved up seven spots to No. 11. Mississippi State moved up six spots to No. 27 after beating Minnesota on the road, 38-13. Auburn moved up four spots to No. 23 after beating Southern Miss 43-8. Missouri moved up three spots to No. 26 after beating Kansas 38-21. Texas A&M moved up two spots to No. 8 after beating Arizona State 48-20. Florida also moved up two spots to No. 15 after beating Campbell 52-3. Georgia moved up one spot to No. 4 after beating Western Kentucky 70-20.
Alabama's next opponent, Florida State, did not play on Saturday. The Seminoles' FPI ranking was unchanged at No. 37. After a loss to Appalachian State, East Carolina dropped four spots to No. 84.
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