Here is the latest SEC sports news from The Associated Press
UNDATED (AP) — November begins with the familiar sight of Southeastern Conference teams in lofty places in the initial College Football Playoff rankings. And much like a year ago, two-time defending national champion and top-ranked Georgia is looking up from second after Tuesday night’s release. Ninth-ranked Alabama (No. 8 CFP) and No. 11 Mississippi (No. 10 CFP) follow, with No. 13 LSU (No. 14 CFP) and No. 14 Missouri (No. 12 CFP) on the radar. The next five weeks will determine if the unbeaten Bulldogs make the final four-team playoff. Being in position in the final month is what teams build toward.
UNDATED (AP) — It’s hard for any game to overshadow LSU-Alabama, but No. 14 Missouri at No. 1 Georgia may be it. Both contests highlight Southeastern Conference play this weekend. Both have plenty of implications for the league divisional races. Missouri has the chance for the top of the East if they can defeat the two-time defending national champions at home. Georgia carries a 25-game win streak into the game. No. 8 Alabama can put some distance between itself and No. 13 LSU in the SEC West race.
UNDATED (AP) — Quarterback Jayden Daniels is set to lead LSU and the nation’s top offense against Jalen Milroe and Alabama. The eighth-ranked Crimson Tide host the 13th-ranked Tigers on Saturday night. Both teams have been on hot streaks after shaky starts, though they’ve done it in different ways. LSU is averaging more than 47 points a game while Alabama has one of the SEC’s best defenses. The winner has emerged as the SEC West champion in 10 of the past 12 years.
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — The Southeastern Conference standings and AP Top 25 poll cast a spotlight on what will be at stake when No. 1 Georgia puts its 25-game winning streak on the line against No. 14 Missouri. The season’s first College Football Playoff ranking only added heat to the spotlight. Georgia sits behind Ohio State in the first CFP ranking. Missouri comes to Athens with its highest CFP ranking in school history, at No. 12. A win over Georgia would send the Tigers higher in the CFP ranking while also giving Missouri the upper hand in the SEC East.
UNDATED (AP) — Lane Kiffin has offered high praise this week for Texas A&M and the Aggies’ talent level. The 11th-ranked Mississippi coach says Jimbo Fisher’s Aggies have a “mind-blowing” collection of talent. The two teams meet on Saturday in Oxford, Mississippi. The Rebels need a win to stay alive in the SEC West race. Texas A&M can become bowl eligible with a victory. Both teams have defenses that are among the best at sacking opposing quarterbacks. That presents challenges to Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart and Texas A&M’s Max Johnson.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Joe Milton III is coming off possibly his best game this season. Now the Tennessee quarterback has a chance to prove he can carry that progress into November ahead of the games that will decide the 19th-ranked Volunteers’ postseason future. Milton has struggled with accuracy in his career. He turned in a nearly perfect passing performance in a big win at Kentucky. The sixth-year senior can tune up his game even more Saturday afternoon at homecoming against one-win UConn. Tennessee needs Milton to keep improving with Southeastern Conference East showdowns against No. 14 Missouri and No. 1 Georgia looming
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Jacksonville State faces South Carolina in the first-ever all-Gamecocks matchup. The two schools are the only ones in the FBS with that nickname. It’s has been a year of opposite trajectories for the two schools. Jacksonville State is 7-2 under second-year coach Rich Rodriguez after winning its past two games. South Carolina has lost four straight and sits at 2-6. South Carolina would need to win its final four games to qualify for a bowl game.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida can become bowl eligible for the second consecutive year under coach Billy Napier with a victory against Arkansas. With a November schedule that includes No. 13 LSU, 14th-ranked Missouri and No. 4 Florida State, the Gators might need to get win No. 6 at home Saturday. The Gators have won 10 of 12 in the series, including all five in the Swamp. Arkansas, meanwhile, has lost six in a row, with five of those being by seven points or less. But the Razorbacks could get preseason All-American running back Raheim “Rocket” Sanders back this week.