WILDCATS

SEC Rewind | East is UK's for the taking

Jonathan Lintner
@JonathanLintner
An LSU fan holds up a sign in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Mississippi State in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014.

Twenty-five undefeated teams remain in the Football Bowl Subdivision, with five of them alone in the SEC West.

The University of Kentucky's East Division, however, remains unstable after a weekend that saw Alabama trounce Florida and Missouri lose to Indiana. Coming off a triple-overtime defeat at Florida -- and with Vanderbilt next -- the Cats figure as a contender.

Here's our weekly look around the league:

EAST

1. South Carolina (3-1, 2-1) — Steve Spurrier said it best after the Gamecocks had to rally to beat Vanderbilt, 48-34: "We've all seen good football teams. We ain't one." (http://es.pn/1wWq8xI)

2. Florida (2-1, 1-1) — Will Muschamp arrived known as a defensive-minded coach. Then his Gators gave up more yards Saturday in a 42-21 loss to Alabama — 645 of them — than the program ever has in one game. (http://bit.ly/1v6jYqF)

3. Missouri (3-1, 0-0) — The Tigers may not hold their ranking. At No. 18 heading into the week, they fell 31-27 to Indiana at home, marking the Hoosiers' first win over a ranked opponent in 37 tries. (http://cjky.it/XTWMRw)

4. Tennessee (2-1, 0-0) — Volunteers coach Butch Jones said "the timing is right" for his team's first off week of the season. It came on the heels of three games against opponents that played in bowls to finish last season. (http://bit.ly/1rergJI)

5. Georgia (2-1, 0-1) — Troy, a traditionally solid Sun Belt Conference power, was blanked by the Bulldogs — 66-0 — in marking Georgia's largest margin of victory since 1958. The Bulldogs did it after back-to-back close games against ranked opponents. (http://bit.ly/XFSgpz)

6. Kentucky (2-1, 0-1) — UK had its first week off, though attention remains on a hot start by quarterback Patrick Towles, who in addition to showing potential in the passing game, would lead the Cats in rushing were it not for sacks. (http://cjky.it/1wWeMtN)

7. Vanderbilt (1-3, 0-2) — The Commodores lost another game and their quarterback, too. Patton Robinette left during the first quarter of Saturday's 48-34 loss to South Carolina with an unspecified first quarter injury and didn't return ahead of next week's trip to Commonwealth Stadium. (http://tnne.ws/1oaUsMS)

WEST

1. Texas A&M (4-0, 1-0) — Once the Aggies' offense started rolling, SMU wasn't stopping them in a 58-6 road victory. Known for its offense, Texas A&M held the Mustangs without a first down in the first quarter, too. (http://bit.ly/1rd0S1x)

2. Alabama (4-01, 1-0) — Quarterback controversy behind him, Blake Sims tied the Crimson Tide's school record for total yards in a game Saturday with 457 against Florida. "People have to respect him as a passer now," said coach Nick Saban. (http://bit.ly/1yl9GbY)

3. Auburn (3-0, 1-0) — The Tigers got the SEC's slate of games started early, winning at No. 20 Kansas State 20-14 on Thursday night. The game signaled increased leadership by quarterback Nick Marshall, who running back Cameron Artis-Payne said "has to stay levelheaded." (http://bit.ly/1uViYXf)

4. Ole Miss (3-0, 1-0) — The Rebels, off for the week, feature cornerback Senquez Golson, who chose football over baseball in college. "This is, in my opinion, the first year he decided to really buy in," coach Hugh Freeze said. (http://bit.ly/1rd1t3e)

5. Mississippi State (4-0, 1-0) — UK's primary West Division opponent continued rolling Saturday, this time to its first victory over LSU since 1999. Showing his versatility, quarterback Dak Prescott threw for two touchdowns and ran 56 yards for another in a 34-29 victory. (http://nyti.ms/1v6oh5r)

6. Arkansas (3-1, 0-1) — The Razorbacks led from the opening kickoff, returned 97 yards by Korliss Marshall, and routed Northern Illinois 52-14 on Saturday. It ended NIU's nation-leading 17-game road winning streak. (http://trib.in/XU0Zoh)

7. LSU (3-1, 0-1) — Beaten by the Louisiana native Prescott, LSU receiver Travin Dural said, "We're going to come out and know that in any game, things can happen. We can lose any game." (http://bit.ly/1yla8af)

Jonathan Lintner can be reached at (502) 582-4199; follow him on Twitter @JonathanLintner.