10. South Carolina
South Carolina had a huge opportunity with an early lead against LSU, but they just could not hold on for a win. The Shane Beamer era has had its fair share of ups and downs, but that was a game they just had to have. After blowing out Kentucky on the road, a win over a ranked opponent would have been a huge momentum boost. But now, they will have to grind out wins against some of the toughest teams in the entire nation if they want a good shot at a bowl game.
Their offense has had no issues putting points on the board, but the defense has to get more stops in clutch moments. The LSU game could be a learning experience for them, especially since the Tigers were expected to win by a much bigger margin.
9. Texas A&M
The Texas A&M Aggies bounced back just fine after a close loss to Notre Dame, which was a matchup that saw their offense be purely pedestrian. But they came back and put up 52 points against McNeese, and just took down a struggling Florida team 33-20. They have Bowling Green next, so expect them to be 3-1, and it is tough to see where they are at SEC-wise until they play Arkansas.
For a program that is in a position where they need to have a successful season, the Florida win is extremely important. They also have the benefit of a relatively easy SEC schedule, so look for the Aggies to make some moves this season if they get the offense clicking.