Halfway through their first seasons coaching Florida and Texas A&M respectively, Dan Mullen and Jimbo Fisher have given their fan bases belief things are on the rise in Gainesville and College Station.

Last Saturday’s wins by the Gators and Aggies over previously unbeatens LSU and Kentucky resulted in position shifts in the SEC Power Rankings for Week 7.

The Gators leaped four spaces to No. 3 and A&M edged up one slot to No. 5.

Eight teams maintained their positions from last week’s poll, three moved up (Florida, Texas A&M, Mississippi State) and three dropped (LSU, Kentucky, Auburn).

As usual, there’s no change at numero uno.

1. Alabama (Last Week No. 1, 6-0 overall, 3-0 SEC West)

Last week: Beat Arkansas, 65-31

Takeaway: Do you think Alabama’s offense gets bored from its game-to-game annihilation that has produced 40 offensive TDs on possessions averaging just 5.4 plays and 63.5 yards? Alabama has had four one-play TD drives and four two-play drives. Tide tight end Hale Hentges told Al.com, "Trust me, as an offensive player, sometimes it's even frustrating how fast we can score. It's like, 'OK, let's get in a rhythm, let's get in a groove.' You throw a block and you're like, 'OK, that was one play.'"

Up next: Home vs. Missouri

2. Georgia (LW No. 2, 6-0, 4-0 SEC East)

Last week: Beat Vanderbilt, 41-13

Takeaway: The Bulldogs have eased their way through a series of lightweights, which may account for why Georgia hasn’t had “that game” yet in which everything clicks for four quarters. That may change Saturday when they play at No. 12 one-loss LSU. The Tigers easily have the best defense Georgia has played to date. Possibly a totally focused and engaged group of Bulldogs will play at the championship level that took them to last year’s national title game.

Up next: At LSU

3. Florida (LW No. 7, 5-1, 3-1 SEC East)

Last week: Beat LSU, 27-19.

Takeaway: Are the Gators really the third best team in the SEC? At least for this week, Florida is tops among a third tier of league teams that includes LSU, Texas A&M, Kentucky and Mississippi State. They all are interchangeable, separated by various weaknesses. Florida doesn’t have many obvious challenges left on its schedule.

Up next: At Vanderbilt

4. LSU (LW No. 3, 5-1, 2-1 SEC West)

Last week: Lost at Florida, 27-19.

Takeaway: It’s tough to win on the road when your receivers drop five passes, you have 11 penalties, your tackling is awful, your quarterback gets sacked five times and your offensive line allows 11 tackles for loss. LSU has so much to clean up from the meltdown in Gainesville that the Tigers are practicing in hazmat suits this week.

Up next: Home vs. Georgia

5. Texas A&M (LW No. 6, 4-2, 2-1 SEC West)

Last week: Beat Kentucky, 20-14 in OT

Takeaway: A&M has two one-possession SEC wins in the last two weeks. That may not seem like progress, but the fact that the Aggies have bowed their necks when things have gotten tough is a dramatic turnaround from past seasons. A&M coach Jimbo Fisher is quickly establishing a culture of physical and mental toughness. And that’s no Aggie joke.

Up next: At South Carolina

6. Kentucky (LW No. 5, 5-1, 3-1 SEC East)

Last week: Lost at Texas A&M, 20-14 in OT

Takeaway: The Wildcats have this week’s open date to fix an almost nonexistent passing game that has led to Kentucky scoring one offensive TD in the last six quarters. Defenses know if they stop UK running back Benny Snell and quarterback Terry Wilson’s occasional keepers, that’s all it takes to whip the ’Cats. Kentucky is last in the SEC in passing offense averaging 145.5 yards per game with a 6-to-5 touchdowns to interceptions ratio.

Up next: Open date

7. Mississippi State (LW No. 8, 4-2, 1-2 SEC West)

Last week: Beat Auburn, 23-7.

Takeaway: Yes, State’s offense doesn’t have explosive playmakers to keep defenses off-balance and allow the Bulldogs to match some of the league’s better offenses TD for TD. But first-year MSU coach Joe Moorhead has finally realized his team’s limitations and its strengths. So, if State’s defense can keep smothering the opposition, the Bulldogs may just be able to beat most folks with their running game. There are probably at least two or three losses lurking on MSU’s schedule. The difference between finishes of 8-4 and 7-5 in a league full of parity except for Alabama and Georgia is an invite to a Florida bowl vs. a bowl in a locale so cold you can’t feel your feet.

Up next: Open date.

8. Auburn (LW No. 4, 4-2, 1-2 SEC West)

Last week: Lost at Mississippi State, 23-7

Takeaway: There is a reason why every smart college head football coach wants Memphis-based Jimmy Sexton as an agent. Sexton is the best at squeezing more money and ludicrous contract buyout terms from schools who have coaches who are just successful enough to keep holding their employers for ransom. The fact Sexton got Auburn last December to give Gus Malzahn a new 7-year, $49 million deal with a current buyout value of $32.7 million (fifth highest among all FBS coaches) is one of the slickest negotiations in recent years. Despite the fact Malzahn’s teams have lost four or more games the last four seasons, Sexton parlayed Auburn’s West Division title last year into a huge payday for Malzahn. Without an offensive line that can block and at least one 1,000-yard rusher in the backfield, Malzahn is simply an overpaid offensive guru whose offense is currently a dumpster fire.

Up next: Home vs. Tennessee

9. South Carolina (LW No. 9, 3-2, 2-2 SEC East)

Last week: Beat Missouri, 37-35

Takeaway: The win over Mizzou might be as good as it gets for Gamecocks’ coach Will Muschamp, rallying behind a senior reserve quarterback. Starting QB Jake Bentley, who sat out last week’s game still recovering from an injury, should be back in action for South Carolina.

Up next: Home vs. Texas A&M

10. Missouri (LW No. 10, 3-2, 0-2 SEC East)

Last week: Lost at South Carolina, 37-35.

Takeaway: One day, just one day, Missouri might have a defense that can make stops when games are on the line. It probably won't happen this year. This Saturday’s game at No. 1 Alabama should have a parental guidance label because the excessive violence coming the Tigers' way might be too squeamish for anyone under the age of 16.

Up next: At Alabama.

11. Ole Miss (LW No. 11, 4-2, 0-2 SEC West)

Last week: Beat UL-Monroe, 70-21.

Takeaway: One of college football’s most entertaining teams producing inflated offensive stats that mean very little. Right now, it’s all the Rebels have to cling to hoping for brighter days two or three years down the line.

Up next: Vs. Arkansas in Little Rock

12. Arkansas (LW No. 14, 1-5, 0-3 SEC West)

Last week: Lost to Alabama, 65-31.

Takeaway: Everyone in the state of Arkansas is excited that the Razorbacks scored 31 points vs. mighty Alabama last week. Most of those points came when the Tide cleared its bench and were just trying to stay awake without being bored with another weekly beatdown.

Up next: Vs. Ole Miss in Little Rock

13. Vanderbilt (LW No. 12 3-3, 0-2 SEC East)

Last week: Lost at Georgia, 41-13.

Takeaway: The thing about the Commodores is that just when you’re ready to write off their entire season, they push an opponent to the limit or even win. It might happen this week.

Up next: Vs. Florida

14. Tennessee (LW No. 14, 2-3, 0-2 SEC East)

Last week: Open date

Takeaway: If first-year coach Jeremy Pruitt is smart, he spent most of last week recruiting. Too bad there isn’t an in-season signing period where colleges could sign graduating seniors immediately like they were free agents. It would be Tennessee's only hope this season.

Up next: At Auburn