Last week, there might have been some argument for who belonged on top of SEC Softball Power Rankings, but the Oklahoma Sooners hushed any doubt for this week.
There continues to be constant movement throughout the SEC as heavyweights take on each other, including the Sooners winning two of three at Texas over the weekend. Alabama also got the best of the Longhorns the week before, but an unexpected blow sent Bama tumbling. However, even though that trio has had the headlines, Arkansas and Florida also can't be overlooked. And every other team (except maybe Kentucky) is also dangerous enough to stir up more chaos from top to bottom.
The Sooners are on top of the SEC and all of college softball after their series win over Texas. OU has even more chances to prove itself this week with a midweek Bedlam matchup against Oklahoma State on Wednesday night and a weekend series against Arkansas. So far, no one has been able to quiet the Sooners' potent lineup.
The Gators have put together sweeps in three of their six SEC series so far, including against South Carolina last weekend. They also took two of three from Tennessee and their only series loss was to Arkansas. However, Florida mostly benefited from Alabama's midweek slip.
Had these power rankings came out a day sooner, Alabama would be comfortable at No. 2. However, the Crimson Tide lost to Samford 3-2 on Tuesday night, and a loss that ugly was worth knocking Bama down at least one spot. With series wins over Texas and Arkansas, though, the Crimson Tide can't be any lower than this.
Mississippi State shut out Arkansas in Game 1, but then the Razorbacks turned things around to get another ranked series win. The Hogs also have a series win over Florida, but lost two of three to Bama. With the Sooners up next, the Razorbacks could assert themselves as real SEC contenders this weekend.
It's been a tough few weeks for Texas with back-to-back series losses to OU and Bama, but those were against two of the best teams in the country. The Longhorns still belong here, and maybe even higher, even after those tough series.
The Aggies are still just outside the top 5 after sweeping Ole Miss. Texas A&M is really good, but still needs to take out one of the above teams to move up.
Tennessee is getting back to being the team that was No. 1 in the country thanks to stellar pitching. The Vols, though, are still recovering from series losses to Florida and Ole Miss. Tennessee gets this weekend off, so will have to wait to continue its climb.
Georgia won two of three against Missouri last weekend, further solidifying the Bulldogs are as middle-of-the-pack as they come.
Mississippi State stole Game 1 from Arkansas, but then was crushed the rest of the series. The Bulldogs also have a series loss to Georgia right ahead of them.
LSU got the SEC some bragging rights with a win over No. 12 Arizona last weekend, but still dropped the series. Regardless, it proved every SEC team will be dangerous when the postseason gets here.
The Tigers might be struggling to stay above .500, but they put up a fight no matter who's across from them. They've dropped back-to-back series to Georgia and LSU while swiping a game from both.
A previous top-25 squad, South Carolina has been beaten up since SEC play started. The Gamecocks, though, have a chance to move up in the SEC pecking order with a series against Missouri this weekend.
The Rebels somehow managed to upset Tennessee in a series, but those are their only two SEC wins so far. Even those two wins, though, are enough to be ahead of the next two.
Auburn took two of three from Kentucky in a battle of bottom-dwellers, and the two have done nothing but lose ever since.
Kentucky is the worst team in the SEC. There's no argument about that and it won't change. The Wildcats are likely done winning in SEC play.
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