The billows of smoke from thousands of cigars at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, marked another week of dominance atop the Southeastern Conference for the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Head coach Kalen DeBoer avenged last year’s loss to the Vols by thumping Josh Heupel’s squad 37-20 in the “Third Saturday in October.” Just 276 miles away, the Georgia Bulldogs took care of business against the explosive Ole Miss offense, handing head coach Lane Kiffin his first loss of the 2025 campaign. Since losing to Alabama between the hedges, the Bulldogs have rolled their way back into contention for a spot in the SEC championship game and a bid for the College Football Playoff.
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Florida’s Billy Napier exited the program with a victory over Mississippi State after quarterback Blake Shapen tossed an interception to nose guard Michai Boireau that prevented a potential setup for a game-winning field goal. MSU will face the Texas Longhorns in Starkville, Mississippi, this weekend after the Kentucky Wildcats took Steve Sarkisian’s squad to the wire in an overtime thriller.
South of Lexington, quarterback Diego Pavia added to his Heisman Trophy campaign by knocking off the LSU Tigers for the first time since 1990. Pavia’s contributions on the field and as a leader in the locker room have secured the Commodores its first top-10 ranking in the AP Top 25 since 1947.
Discussed as two of the favorites to reach the playoff come December, Texas A&M and Missouri survived scares from Arkansas and Auburn, respectively. The Aggies and Tigers will face each other soon enough, but both programs have difficult tasks ahead in Week 9.
With chaos continuing to erupt across the SEC on Saturday, here are the league’s updated power rankings heading into the ninth week of the 2025 college football season:
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Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Isaiah Horton (1) reacts after a play in the first quarter against the Tennessee Volunteers.
Week 8 result: W, 37-20 vs. No. 11 Tennessee
Week 9 contest: at South Carolina
Oct 18, 2025; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies running back Rueben Owens II (4) celebrates after rushing for a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images
Week 8 result: W, 45-42 at Arkansas
Week 9 contest: at No. 20 LSU
Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Zachariah Branch (1) reacts after a catch against the Mississippi Rebels
Week 8 result: W, 43-35 vs. No. 5 Ole Miss
Week 9 contest: BYE
4. Ole Miss Rebels (6-1, 3-1 in SEC)
Oct 18, 2025; Athens, Georgia, USA; Mississippi Rebels wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling (1) celebrates his touchdown against the Georgia Bulldogs with tight end Dae’Quan Wright (8) during the second half of the game at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Week 8 result: L, 43-35 at No. 9 Georgia
Week 9 contest: at No. 13 Oklahoma
5. Vanderbilt Commodores (6-1, 2-1 in SEC)
Oct 18, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia (2) celebrates the win with the student section against the Louisiana State Tigers during the second half at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
Week 8 result: W, 31-24 vs. No. 10 LSU
Week 9 contest: vs. No. 15 Missouri
Missouri Tigers linebacker Josiah Trotter (40) celebrates a defensive stop as Auburn Tigers take on Missouri Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala. on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. Missouri Tigers defeated the Auburn Tigers 23-17 in 2OT.
Week 8 result: W, 23-17 (Double OT) at Auburn
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Week 9 contest: at No. 10 Vanderbilt
7. Tennessee Volunteers (5-2, 2-2 in SEC)
Braylon Staley #14 of the Tennessee Volunteers runs with the ball after a reception against Cole Adams #7 of the Alabama Crimson Tide during the second quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 18, 2025 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Week 8 result: L, 37-20 at No. 6 Alabama
Week 9 contest: at Kentucky
Oct 18, 2025; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback John Mateer (10) passes against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the second half at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
Week 8 result: W, 26-7 at South Carolina
Week 9 contest: vs. No. 8 Ole Miss
9. LSU Tigers (5-2, 2-2 in SEC)
Oct 18, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Louisiana State Tigers wide receiver Nic Anderson (4) stretches against the Vanderbilt Commodores during pre-game warmups at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
Week 8 result: L, 31-24 at No. 17 Vanderbilt
Week 9 contest: vs. No. 3 Texas A&M
10. Texas Longhorns (5-2, 2-1 in SEC)
Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) looks for an open receiver during the first quarter against the Kentucky Wildcats.
Week 8 result: W, 16-13 (OT) at Kentucky
Week 9 contest: at Mississippi State
Oct 18, 2025; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks running back Mike Washington Jr (4) rushes in the second quarter against the Texas A&M Aggies at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images
Week 8 result: L, 45-42 vs. No. 4 Texas A&M
Week 9 contest: vs. Auburn
12. Auburn Tigers (3-4, 0-4 in SEC)
Auburn Tigers quarterback Jackson Arnold (11) throws the ball as Auburn Tigers take on Missouri Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala. on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. Missouri Tigers lead Auburn Tigers 10-7 at halftime.
Week 8 result: L, 23-17 (Double OT) vs. No. 16 Missouri
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Week 9 contest: at No. 10 Vanderbilt
13. Florida Gators (3-4, 2-2 in SEC)
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 18: Head Coach Billy Napier of the Florida Gators talks with DJ Lagway #2 of the Florida Gators during the first half of the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on October 18, 2025 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
Week 8 result: W, 23-21 vs. Mississippi State
Week 9 contest: BYE
Oct 18, 2025; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs tight end Seydou Traore (8) gestures towards the crowd after a touchdown against the Florida Gators during the first half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
Week 8 result: L, 23-21 at Florida
Week 9 contest: vs. No. 22 Texas
Oct 18, 2025; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback Lanorris Sellers (16) passes against the Oklahoma Sooners in the second quarter at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
Week 8 result: L, 26-7 vs. No. 14 Oklahoma
Week 9 contest: vs. No. 4 Alabama
Oct 18, 2025; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats running back Dante Dowdell (2) catches a pass during the third quarter against the Texas Longhorns at Kroger Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images
Week 8 result: L, 16-13 (OT) vs. No. 21 Texas
Week 9 contest: vs. No. 17 Tennessee
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Alabama reigns, Georgia climbs in Week 9 SEC power rankings
