The SEC is once again the toughest conference in the entire country, according to the Associated Press' latest college football poll. South Carolina's win in their back and forth game against Georgia last week played well with the AP as they jumped 10 spots to No. 14. This move up the rankings gives the South Eastern Conference a staggering seven teams in the top 15, including five in the top 10.
The SEC boasts eight ranked teams for the third straight week, including five teams in the top 10 for two consecutive weeks. Alabama is the highest ranked SEC team coming in at No. 3, followed by Auburn at No. 5, Texas A&M at No. 6, LSU at No. 8 and Ole Miss at No. 10.
Georgia, following the 38-35 defeat at the hands of the Gamecocks, tumbles all the way to No. 13 while Missouri comes in at No. 18. Brett McMurphy and Mark Schlabach of ESPN wrote in their bowl projections that Georgia's loss to South Carolina has "dropped the Bulldogs out of a playoff spot." However, the duo currently predicts Georgia to play in either the Outback or Cotton bowl later this season.
The SEC has been the dominant college football conference of the last decade. The conference has been represented by at least one team in nine of the last 11 BCS National Championship games, including the last eight. USA Today's college football poll also features eight SEC teams in their top 25.
The Florida State Seminoles remain the No. 1 team in the nation, according to both USA Today and the Associated Press. However, with only two ranked opponents on their schedule this season, FSU could stay in that position throughout the year as they coast into a playoff spot. FSU defeated Auburn 34-31 with a fourth quarter comeback in last season's BCS National Championship Game.