Georgia, Texas and Alabama all lose on chaotic SEC Week 7
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
No. 1 Georgia fell at home to unranked Auburn 27-24 as three SEC powers lost the same day.
No SEC team is unbeaten, and Georgia and Kentucky now share first at 4-1.
Background
The SEC (Southeastern Conference) is the top-tier US college football league whose standings decide its championship game and shape College Football Playoff hopes. Week 7 reshuffled the table: top-ranked Georgia lost at home to unranked Auburn, No. 6 Texas blew a 17-point lead to unranked Florida, and No. 7 Alabama lost at No. 14 Tennessee. It was the second straight week a No. 1 AP Poll team lost to an unranked opponent, and the first time since 1990 the country's top team lost in back-to-back weeks.
How it unfolded
- Oct 17, 2026Week 7 upsets: No. 1 Georgia lost at home to unranked Auburn 27-24, No. 6 Texas lost to unranked Florida 27-24 after leading by 17, and No. 7 Alabama lost at No. 14 Tennessee 26-10. Arkansas beat Vanderbilt 31-21 for its first SEC win since 2024.
- Oct 18, 2026Updated standings put Georgia and Kentucky tied for first at 4-1 in conference, with Tennessee and Ole Miss at 3-1. No SEC team remains unbeaten, and nine SEC teams are ranked in the top 25 of the US LBM Coaches Poll.
- Oct 20, 2026CBS Sports' Week 8 SEC Power Rankings moved Tennessee from 11 to 5 and dropped Alabama from 2 to 6, while Arkansas rose from 16 to 15.
Who’s saying what
- Caution
- Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said the staff would "evaluate everything" after the Longhorns gave up a 17-point lead to unranked Florida.
- Analysts
- CBS Sports called Kentucky's road win over Oklahoma "not exactly a resume-boosting victory" but noted it was the Wildcats' third conference road win.