SEC football power rankings: Tennessee gets its shot vs. Alabama — and Mississippis invade our Top 5

Tennessee football's slow climb up the SEC power rankings continues, with a definitive chance to climb again Saturday when it visits Alabama. Meanwhile, Arkansas and Texas A&M are in a not-so-slow decline.

Two from Mississippi in the top five? Believe it! As for the bookends, Georgia's Georgia, Vandy's Vandy, and the two will meet Saturday to reaffirm that which needs no affirmation. To the rankings we go:

1. Georgia

Last week: 1

This week: vs. Vanderbilt

What to know: If you ever wanted to yell at people who slow down traffic by rubbernecking car accidents, get a ticket to Vanderbilt's game at Georgia this Saturday and you can catch thousands of them all at once.

2. Alabama

Last week: 2

This week: at Tennessee

What to know: The Lone Star State hasn't seen anything like the Crimson Tide's escapes against Texas and now Texas A&M since legendary escape artist Harry Houdini toured Texas for the first time in 1916.

3. Tennessee

Last week: 4

This week: vs. Alabama

What to know: It's been 15 wait-til-next-years in Knoxville in the Alabama series, but none have arrived with Big Orange expectations like this one.

4. Ole Miss

Last week: 3

This week: vs. Auburn

What to know: Ole Miss used to never lose a party. Now it doesn't lose games, either.

5. Mississippi State

Last week: 6

This week: at Kentucky

What to know: Sign of the Apocalypse? How about room for both Ole Miss and Mississippi State in the SEC's top five?

6. Florida

Last week: 9

This week: vs. LSU

What to know: The power poll takes a noticeable loss of wattage here at No. 6, where we begin to sort out the two-loss crowd with a team that threw for 66 yards against Missouri.

7. LSU

This week: at Florida

Last week: 5

What to know: One day, technology will unite radio with the DVR features of pause, rewind and record. Until then, Baton Rouge's postgame call-in shows after a blowout loss like LSU endured will never get their due.

8. South Carolina

Last week: 11

This week: Idle

What to know: At least for this week, you'll address Big Spur as Sir, and nothing less.

9. Kentucky

Last week: 5

This week: vs. Mississippi State

What to know: Will Levis or no Will Levis, the Wildcats tumble four spots after losing at home to South Carolina.

10. Arkansas

Last week: 8

This week: at BYU

What to know: Pro Football Focus grades the Razorbacks' tackling as the worst in the SEC, and an eyeball grade is no more charitable. Opposing backs and receivers should want their tape against Arkansas in every NFL scout's hands.

11. Texas A&M

Last week: 10

This week: Idle

What to know: It's a good thing for Jimbo Fisher that Texas A&M boosters were slapped as children enough not to have a God complex. Or were they?

12. Missouri

Last week: 12

This week: Idle

What to know: The Tigers already have had a season's worth of heartbreak in three one-possession SEC losses, by a combined 14 points. When they show up at the bar alone on Valentine's Day, pour 'em a strong one.

13. Auburn

Last week: 13

This week: at Ole Miss

What to know: Tigers coach Bryan Harsin defended a failed fake punt on his own half of the field in a scoreless game against Georgia by saying Auburn "got the look" it wanted. So did Georgia − the look of desperation.

14. Vanderbilt

Last week: 14

This week: at Georgia

What to know: A 52-28 loss to Ole Miss formally ushered in the "halftime lead" stage of Commodore moral victories.

Reach Chase Goodbread at cgoodbread@gannett.com. Follow on Twitter @chasegoodbread

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: SEC football power rankings: Mississippi invasion, Vols get their shot