There were a few close calls this week, but the top two teams in the SEC remain on track for an undefeated showdown on Sunday. LSU had single-digit victories over Tennessee, Georgia and Texas A&M, while South Carolina was tested by UConn’s mighty six. But both southeastern powers remain unblemished heading into their first meeting of the season.
Plenty of other high-profile ranked matchups have dotted the calendar to this point, but to have two conference rivals each aiming to deal the other its first loss would be an unexpected gift in February, provided Auburn doesn’t play spoiler before then. The Gamecocks hope to become the first team since 2016 to run an undefeated campaign, while the Tigers are seeking to fortify their resume and prove that their record isn’t a fluke or result of a weak schedule. Much is on the line for two of the top teams — though not my top two, Indiana still edges out LSU for now — in the country, and their lone regular-season matchup will be appointment viewing.
Until then, let’s check in on the rest of the teams in the country who, like the Tigers, are trying to unseat the defending champs.
Dropped out: Middle Tennessee State
Almost famous: Creighton, MTSU, Baylor, USC
Notes on the votes
• Other than South Carolina, perhaps no team in the…
