Tracking the SEC vs. the final Top 25 polls

Several of you have inquired about how SEC teams have fared in recent years against teams that finished in the Top 25 of the final polls, either the Associated Press or coaches’ poll.

The argument is that your record against teams that finish the season nationally ranked is a better indicator than your record against teams that were nationally ranked at the time you played them.

I see both sides. But you ask, and I deliver.

The results were telling, too.

Only two SEC teams -- Florida and LSU -- have winning records over the last five seasons against Top 25 teams in the final polls. Florida is 14-9, while LSU is 13-11.

In fact, seven of the 12 SEC teams -- Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Tennessee, South Carolina and Vanderbilt -- have managed five or fewer wins against teams that finished in the Top 25 of the final polls over the last five seasons.

Alabama is 10-12 during that period, but the Crimson Tide are 7-2 over the last two seasons and 5-0 during their 2009 national championship season. Georgia has gone the other way. The Bulldogs are 8-12, which includes a 2-6 mark over the last two seasons.

Arkansas, Kentucky and Tennessee are all winless the last two seasons against teams that finished in the Top 25 of the final polls.


Here’s the breakdown:



Florida – 14-9 (.609)

LSU – 13-11 (.542)

Alabama – 10-12 (.455)

Auburn – 8-12 (.400)

Georgia – 8-12 (.400)

Tennessee – 5-17 (.227)

Ole Miss – 4-14 (.222)

South Carolina – 5-19 (.208)

Arkansas – 3-20 (.130)

Kentucky – 2-17 (.105)

Vanderbilt – 2-17 (.105)

Mississippi State 2-20 (.091)