Austin, TX
SEC Power Rankings after Week 3: Texas on top, Mississippi State to the basement
We’re a quarter of the way through the 2024 SEC football season, this past Saturday’s results have led to some shuffling at the top and bottom of SEC power rankings.
How have the power rankings changed after Week 3 of the season?
1. Texas Longhorns (up from 2)
Is there a QB controversy in Austin?! Maybe, but what isn’t a controversy is whether or not the Horns should be #1. They absolutely should after a 3-0 start featuring three blowout wins, including dismantling Michigan in Ann Arbor. They’ve been the nation’s most impressive team so far.
2. Georgia Bulldogs (down from 1)
The Bulldogs are not without flaws. UGA was fortunate to walk out of Lexington a winner, but it was by no means a great performance for the presumed title favorites. No need to panic. Kirby Smart’s title-winning teams had games like this one. But for now, they fall to second in the power rankings.
3. Ole Miss Rebels
Are the Rebels for real? Probably, but it’s impossible to know because they still haven’t played anyone with a pulse. That won’t change this Saturday either. But they demolishing the teams they have played, so that’s good enough to have them here.
4. Alabama Crimson Tide (up from 5)
Alabama’s response to struggling for 3+ quarters at home with USF was to dominate Wisconsin on the road. Pretty good, if you ask me. Granted USF may literally be a better team than the Badgers, but this was an impressive win for the Tide nonetheless.
5. Tennessee Volunteers (down from 4)
Leading 65-0 at the half to then win 71-0 is insane. The Vols have a death machine look to them. But like Ole Miss, we don’t have the greatest idea of how good they truly are. That will change this Saturday though after Josh Heupel takes his team on the road to face his alma mater and former employer in Norman.
6. Missouri Tigers
Mizzou got its first test of the season with Boston College, and while it was by no means a cakewalk, they got the win. They’re not quite as flashy as the team ahead of them, but the Tigers still look to be a complete team capable of being one of the league’s best.
7. Oklahoma Sooners
Last week I said OU was in this spot by default because despite not looking particularly impressive, I didn’t know who I could have ahead of them. Yeah well copy and paste that to this week. The Sooners beat Tulane. The Sooners are 3-0. I don’t know that the Sooners are good.
8. LSU Tigers
Luck seemed to be on the Tigers side (and water is wet) in their win at South Carolina. After getting down 17-0, seemingly everything broke in their favor, and they got an exciting win. The defense is still a massive problem, and the offense is somewhat disjointed. But LSU is a solid team.
9. Texas A&M Aggies
Does Florida suck? Absolutely. Was it still a good sign that the Aggies went on the road and wiped the floor with them while dealing with a weather delay? Of course! Marcel Reed may be the ultimate answer for A&M at QB. A Collin Klein offense needs a QB who can run, and he provides that.
10. South Carolina Gamecocks (up from 13)
You almost had it, Gamecocks. You almost had it. That was a heartbreaking loss for South Carolina against the Tigers. You’re dominating the game, but then your QB gets hurt, officiating takes an unfortunate turn, and you miss a game-tying FG at the end of regulation. Painful. But even with the loss, this team clearly is good enough to make some minor noise.
11. Arkansas Razorbacks (down from 10)
Things were looking iffy for a minute there in Fayetteville, but the Hogs managed to get the win over UAB. Crisis averted. Now, can Arkansas be feisty enough to spring some upsets in SEC play?
12. Auburn Tigers (down from 11)
Congrats to Auburn for not losing to a G5 team from the state of New Mexico for the second-straight year. We’ll just ignore that you only led by four at the half and instead focus on the 45-19 final score. Is Hank Brown the savior at QB? Probably not, but he can’t be any worse than what AU had before.
13. Kentucky Wildcats (up from 16)
Despite another loss and 1-2 start, I’ve moved the Cats up from the cellar. They were right there with Georgia, and South Carolina doesn’t look like an awful loss (even though it was a home blowout). This team certainly isn’t great, but they aren’t horrible.
14. Vanderbilt Commodores (down from 12)
Oh, Vandy. Just when I thought you had something special brewing, you go and lose to Georgia State. That’s a real shame. But at least you’ve still got that win over Virginia Tech to prop you above the true disaster programs of the SEC.
15. Florida Gators
Graham Mertz? DJ Lagway? Doesn’t matter. The Gators are awful. Getting torched at home by the backup QB for a Texas A&M offense that looked totally incompetent to start the year is a crystal clear sign that the end is near for Billy Napier in Gainesville. But can his team at least beat #16 in my rankings?
16. Mississippi State Bulldogs
You know what losing by 24 points at home to a MAC team gets you? Last place. Mississippi State looks like the worst team in the SEC. They look like arguably the worst P4 team in the country. It’s only fitting that the Bulldogs and Gators get to subject fans to a matchup between each other this coming Saturday.
Despite being a top-20 player at his position in 247’s 2023 CFB recruiting rankings, now sophomore wide receiver DeAndre Moore Jr. barely played in his freshman year, recording zero catches while playing mostly special teams.
Despite this, Moore was seen as one of the hardest workers in the offseason, catapulting himself from the bottom of the WR depth chart to a starting role. Still, the receiver struggled to find a spot in the first two weeks, recording zero catches against Colorado State and Michigan even with him starting as the primary slot receiver.
But Saturday’s game against the UTSA Roadrunners saw a blossoming performance from the young receiver, capped off with a touchdown on redshirt freshman quarterback Arch Manning’s first play in the game after starter Quinn Ewers’ injury.
“To see the work that we all put in, come to life on Saturdays in front of the big DKR crowd under the lights, it was a really exhilarating moment,” Moore said.
Even with his struggles to find the ball in his hands the first two weeks, Moore relayed his emphasis on practicing how you play at all times.
“We see it every day in practice,” Moore said about the touchdown catch. “It was really nothing new for us, because we’ve already been prepped for the game, you know it really comes easy for us.”
Moore finished the afternoon with three catches and a touchdown, both tied for third most on the team. While the sophomore still isn’t the number on target like transfer Isaiah Bond, Moore brings an element that many others lack: the ability to run-block nickel cornerbacks like a pro.
Moore worked under future NFL Draft pick Jordan Whittington this last year, learning the traits that made the veteran one of the most beloved players on the team throughout his Texas career. One of the hardest-to-teach abilities for a wide receiver is the skill of run-blocking, something many star recruits deem less necessary as they try to turn into the best pass-catchers in the nation. Moore, however, has shown already his ability to help in the running game, even despite head coach Steve Sarkisian’s problems with his teams blocking on the boundary.
“Something we challenged the receivers on this morning in my meeting was, I think we need to block better on the perimeter,” Sarkisian said. “We need to get we need to get hands and hats on safeties, and we got to give our runners an opportunity to create really big runs.”
If Moore were to stay as the top blocker of the group, playing time would be assured with Sarkisian’s love for the ground game. With efficient running comes the ability to throw the ball at will and take the top off of the defense, leading to more plays near the goal line, enabling Moore to be a threat.
“The biggest thing is to want to,” Moore said about blocking. “Do you want to go put your face on that man’s face? You know what I’m saying? And for me, I love football, so every little aspect of it I’m going to go do to the best of my ability. And if it’s blocking and having to shield that man off, I’m going to go do that. “
Austin, TX
Uber expands self-driving ride-hailing service to Austin and Atlanta with Waymo partnership
Uber Technologies is set to expand its partnership with Alphabet’s Waymo, introducing self-driving, all-electric Jaguar I-PACE vehicles to Austin, Texas, and Atlanta, Georgia, starting early next year. This move follows a successful collaboration in Phoenix, Arizona, where Waymo’s autonomous vehicles have been available since 2023.
Additionally, Uber will oversee and deploy a growing fleet of Waymo’s fully autonomous cars, expected to increase to hundreds over time. This initiative aligns with Uber’s broader strategy to integrate new technologies and transition its entire fleet to green energy.
Uber first teamed up with Waymo in 2023 to offer driverless cars in Phoenix. The new service in Austin and Atlanta will allow riders to request Waymo vehicles through Uber’s platform for certain trips. However, the specific criteria for these “qualifying trips” were not disclosed. Riders can also choose to opt out of receiving a Waymo vehicle.
The announcement comes at a crucial time for autonomous vehicle companies, which are facing increased scrutiny from safety regulators due to recent incidents involving self-driving technology. Uber’s partnership with Waymo is part of a broader strategy to leverage advancements in electric and autonomous driving technologies. Uber has also announced a similar collaboration with General Motors’ Cruise to provide self-driving cars on its platform by next year.
Waymo started as the Google Self-Driving Car Project in 2009 and is a leading player in the autonomous vehicle sector. The company currently operates Waymo One, an autonomous ride-hailing service in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix. Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana expressed excitement about the expansion, highlighting the positive feedback from existing riders and the opportunity to bring the benefits of autonomous driving to new cities.
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi also expressed enthusiasm about the expanded partnership, emphasizing the potential for riders in Austin and Atlanta to experience the advantages of autonomous transportation through Uber’s platform.
SEC analyst Paul Finebaum is predicting that Arch Manning will win the Heisman Trophy Award before he leaves Texas and moves on to the National Football League.
Appeared on the Matt Barrie Show Sunday, Finebaum expressed confidence in the young quarterback’s chances of hoisting the prestigious trophy at some point down the line.
“He’s gonna win,” Finebaum said.
Though some oddsmakers have placed him as the sixth-most likely winner of the Heisman this year, Manning won’t be winning it for as long as Quinn Ewers is still on the roster and healthy. Ewers left Saturday’s win against UT-San Antonio with a strained abdomen but is reportedly expected to be “week to week” with the injury.
He gave a performance for the ages as he accounted for five touchdowns in less than three quarters of work. He completed 9 of-12 passes or 223 yards for four touchdowns. He also had a 67-yard touchdown run.
Manning will get anoither opportunity to run the offense on his own this Saturday when Texas hosts Louisiana Monroe, Ewers, who entered the season as one of the Heisman betting favorites, is expected to be out for the game.
“I mean, I don’t think they look any different,” Finebaum said. “Now, I’m sure, the old timers will say – not that I am a new timer – ‘Hey, that experience of Quinn Ewers.” But Arch Manning looks like he’s been around and I think Texas is in great shape.”
Former Oklahoma quarterbacks Spencer Rattler and Caleb WIlliams were both in a similar predicament, Finebaum said.
“As I remember, Spencer Rattler, wasn’t he the Heisman favorite going into the season? And he got replaced by Caleb WIlliams. So, I mean it’s happened before,” Finebaum said, “But, I am sure Sark will figure this out.
“It doesn’t matter. Texas doesn’t have much on their dance card until we get to October, so they are in good shape.”
Texas and Louisiana Monroe will kick off at 8 p.m. on Saturday night at DKR Stadium. The game will be available for streaming on ESPN+.
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