We polled reporters within the USA TODAY Network who cover SEC schools for their preseason predictions, all-conference teams and preseason awards.

Neighbors discusses the difference between the SEC and other conferences in the league and why the depth of players makes it stand out among the rest.

Two Tennessee football players were honored when the SEC announced its weekly awards Monday. Kicker Max Gilbert was named SEC Co-Special Teams Player of the Week, while wide receiver Braylon Staley earned Freshman of the Week by the conference after the Vols defeated Arkansas, 34-31, at Neyland Stadium.

The Southeastern Conference has eight teams in the Top 25, including five in the top 10. The Big Ten is next with six schools in the poll. The ACC has five and Big 12 four. The Atlantic-10 and Big East each have one.

There are two ranked matchups with close spreads: No. 10 LSU at No. 17 Vanderbilt and No. 23 Utah at No. 15 BYU. Utah is a 3.5-point favorite on the road, but the more interesting spread is in Nashville.

Ole Miss and Texas A&M remain undefeated, though Texas and Alabama both took major strides this past Saturday toward the top of the conference pecking order. The Longhorns and Crimson Tide both knocked off previously unbeaten, Texas overpowering Oklahoma and Alabama edging Missouri.

The SEC announced the start times and TV network assignments for Week 9's action on Monday, including Auburn football's game at Arkansas. The Tigers and Razorbacks will square off at 11:45 a.m. CT on Saturday, Oct. 25, at Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The game will be broadcast on SEC Network.

The Auburn Tigers are 3-3 and have been on the wrong end of some questionable calls from the referees too many times already.

A bill in Congress co-sponsored by Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., calls for a rewrite of the 1961 Sports Broadcasting Act, which forbids the conferences from combining their TV rights. Campbell supports that element of Cantwell’s recently introduced SAFE Act.

Freeze's buyout at Auburn is $15.4 million, almost identical to the total the Tigers paid out to Bryan Harsin eight games into his second season in 2022 amid inner program failures and on-field struggles. Freeze signed a six-year deal that same year, worth $39 million.

Georgia is ranked No. 7 in the coaches poll and 5-1 heading into a top 10 matchup with Ole Miss. But are the reigning SEC champs still top tier SEC?