AL.com’s SEC football power rankings for Week 7 of 2023: Cream begins rising to the top
We’re approaching the midway point of the 2023 college football season and SEC schedule, and the teams at the top are the ones who we figured would be there.
Upstarts Kentucky and Missouri fells from the ranks of the unbeatens in Week 6, while preseason favorites Alabama and Georgia remained perfect in SEC play. Meanwhile, contenders such as LSU and Ole Miss asserted themselves with key league victories.
So how do the teams in the SEC stack up as we head into the second week of October? Here’s the Week 7 edition of AL.com’s SEC football power rankings for 2023 (all times Central and all games Saturday):
Last week’s ranking: 14
Last week’s game: Lost to Florida, 38-14
This week’s game: vs. Georgia, 11 a.m., CBS
The slog continues for the Commodores, who once again were outclassed by a more talented opponent. Any chance Vanderbilt might catch Florida napping went out the window early, as the Gators built a two-touchdown lead by halftime. Next up is a visit from the two-time defending national champions, who are riding a 23-game winning streak. Yikes.
Last week’s ranking: 13
Last week’s game: Beat Western Michigan, 41-28
This week’s game: Open date
The Bulldogs’ victory over the Broncos was probably more of a grind than Mississippi State faithful had hoped for, but any win after three straight SEC setbacks was welcome. With quarterback Will Rogers and running back Jo’Quavious Marks both banged up, the Bulldogs hit their open date at the right time. Back-to-back trips to Arkansas and Auburn await after the bye week.
Last week’s ranking: 12
Last week’s game: Lost to Ole Miss, 27-20
This week’s game: at Alabama, 11 a.m., ESPN
The Razorbacks have lost four straight games for the first time since 2020, which was Sam Pittman’s first year as head coach. The loss at Ole Miss was particularly frustrating, as Arkansas scored 13 straight points to take the lead in the fourth quarter, but could not hold on. The Hogs have not been blown out in any of their four losses, which will be put to the test on Saturday in Tuscaloosa.
Last week’s ranking: 11
Last week’s game: Open date
This week’s game: vs. Florida, 2:30 p.m., SEC Network
The Gamecocks come out of their open date with back-to-back games against SEC East opponents in Florida and Missouri, teams they should be able to stay on the field with. Beating both the Gators and Tigers would be nice for Shane Beamer’s team, but perhaps a split is more realistic.
Last week’s ranking: 10
Last week’s game: Open date
This week’s game: at LSU, 6 p.m., ESPN
The Tigers got a lot of mileage nationally and regionally after playing Georgia close on Oct. 1, and we’ll see how sharp Hugh Freeze’s team is coming out of the bye week. The passing game has been dreadful this year, which isn’t great news heading to Baton Rouge to face an LSU team that is scoring points in bucketloads of late.
Last week’s ranking: 9
Last week’s game: Beat Vanderbilt, 38-14
This week’s game: at South Carolina, 2:30 p.m., SEC Network
The Gators bounced back from an embarrassing loss to Kentucky by manhandling hapless Vanderbilt, with quarterback Graham Mertz enjoying a career day. Florida remains in decent shape to finish second in the SEC East, but needs to show more consistency from week to week. A trip to Columbia, S.C., on Saturday will be a good measuring stick.
Last week’s ranking: 7
Last week’s game: Lost to LSU, 49-39
This week’s game: at Kentucky, 6:30 p.m., SEC Network
The Tigers got off to a brilliant start against LSU, leading by two scores in the second quarter and by eight at halftime. However, Eli Drinkwitz’s team couldn’t keep up with the explosive Bayou Bengals, getting outscored 22-7 in the fourth quarter. A trip to Lexington provides an interesting bounce-back opportunity for Missouri.
Last week’s ranking: 6
Last week’s game: Lost to Georgia, 51-13
This week’s game: vs. Missouri, 6:30 p.m., SEC Network
The good times ended in a hurry for the Wildcats, who fell behind Georgia 21-0 by early in the second quarter and lost by 38. Kentucky’s vaunted running game was nowhere to be found, as the Bulldogs held them to just 59 yards and no run longer than 11 yards. Mark Stoops and company now face another SEC East team looking to bounce back from its first loss when Missouri visits Kroger Field on Saturday night.
Last week’s ranking: 8
Last week’s game: Open date
This week’s game: vs. Texas A&M, 2:30 p.m., CBS
The Volunteers’ open date was well-placed, because their season will essentially be decided in the next three weeks. Tennessee faces the two best defenses in the SEC this week and next in Texas A&M and Alabama, then travels to Kentucky. Josh Heupel’s team will need to show it’s more up to the task than in its last big game, when the Volunteers flopped at Florida.
Last week’s ranking: 4
Last week’s game: Lost to Alabama, 26-20
This week’s game: at Tennessee, 2:30 p.m., CBS
The Aggies have certainly closed the gap on Alabama the last three years, which is progress after a half-decade of getting blown out by the Crimson Tide. Still, Texas A&M fell apart in the second half on Saturday, getting outscored 16-3, having a field goal blocked and allowing a safety. Next up is a second straight spotlight game at Tennessee, and Jimbo Fisher’s team will need to regroup quickly.
Last week’s ranking: 5
Last week’s game: Beat Missouri, 49-39
This week’s game: vs. Auburn, 6 p.m., ESPN
Jayden Daniels has to be the early favorite for SEC Player of the Year after a brilliant performance in the comeback win at Missouri. The Tigers’ offense is pretty undisputable at this point, though the defense continues to have issues, particularly up front (a late pick-six was huge, however). Next up is Auburn, which proved it came run on anyone at Georgia last time out.
Last week’s ranking: 3
Last week’s game: Beat Arkansas, 27-20
This week’s game: Open date
Though this one lacked the offensive fireworks of the previous week’s shootout with LSU, Ole Miss scored a fourth-quarter comeback win against an SEC West opponent for the second straight week — and actually played solid defense this time. The Rebels still must face Texas A&M and Auburn, but enter their open date with a solid claim as the second-best team in their division.
Last week’s ranking: 2
Last week’s game: Beat Texas A&M, 26-20
This week’s game: vs. Arkansas, 11 a.m., ESPN
After a very shaky first half filled with pre-snap penalties and poor blocking, the Crimson Tide settled down and played some of its best football of the year in the final two quarters in College Station, considering the opponent and environment. The quarterback questions appear settled now, but the offensive line remains problematic. Alabama should fare well this week against an Arkansas team that has suddenly lost the ability to run the ball.
Last week’s ranking: 1
Last week’s game: Beat Kentucky, 51-13
This week’s game: at Vanderbilt, 11 a.m., CBS
The Big Dawgs finally played like it on Saturday, choking out the Wildcats on defense, showing excellent offensive balance and essentially putting the game away by early in the second quarter. It was the first time Georgia had covered the point spread all season. Kirby Smart’s team carries its 23-game winning streak to Vanderbilt this weekend, so we can probably go ahead and pencil in No. 24.
