2023 SEC Football Power Rankings: Final Rankings
The No. 8 Alabama Crimson Tide upset the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs in the Southeastern Conference Championship Game to bring our 2023 football season to a close. The Dawgs, our No. 1 team for the last 10 weeks, were riding a 29-game winning streak before losing 27-24 to the Crimson Tide.
Forget preseason polls. Forget what happened last season. Disregard recruiting rankings and what these teams looked like on paper. The only criteria considered in this season's BamaCentral SEC Power Rankings was what happens between the white lines during games.
Winning was rewarded and losing was punished in our 2023 Power Rankings, so let's get right to it as we complete our rankings ahead of bowl season.
1. Alabama (↑1) (12-1, 9-0)
- The Crimson Tide continued to "Lank" by beating the back-to-back national champions and ending a 29-game winning streak. Alabama utilized field position and long drives to control the tempo of the SEC Championship Game, win the title and take top spot in our final rankings. The Crimson Tide's season continues in the Rose Bowl against Michigan in the College Football Playoff Semi-final.
2. Georgia (↓1) (12-1, 8-1)
- The Georgia Bulldogs needed just one more stop or to convert a few more third downs on Saturday to defeat the Crimson Tide as Kirby Smart's team couldn't overcome a 13-3 run in the middle two quarters to keep their hopes for a three-peat alive. Georgia's season concludes in Miami with the Orange Bowl against Florida State.
3. Ole Miss (-) (10-2, 6-2)
- Lane Kiffin got the Rebels to another 10-win season after wrangling Mississippi State on Thanksgiving night. He gets to celebrate with a New Year's Six appearance in the Peach Bowl against No. 10 Penn State on Dec. 30.
4. LSU (-) (9-3, 6-2)
- The Tigers rode the best player in the conference in Jayden Daniels to a third place SEC West finish. Daniels may not win the Heisman but he was electric all season long. The Bayou Bengals finish their season with the Wisconsin Badgers in the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa, Fla., on New Year's Day.
5. Missouri (-) (10-2, 6-2)
- The Missouri Tigers finished their season with a Black Friday beat down of the Arkansas Razorbacks. Eli Drinkwitz certainly earned votes for Coach of the Year as the Tigers were the surprise team this season. Missouri earns a date with Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl on Friday, Dec. 29.
6. Tennessee (-) (8-4, 4-4)
- It was a big come down from 2022 for the Volunteers but replacing a quarterback like Hendon Hooker is never easy. Josh Heupel's home victory over Texas A&M likely serves as the season's high-water mark. The Volunteers will play Iowa in the Citrus Bowl on New Year's Day to close out the season.
7. Texas A&M (-) (7-5, 4-4)
- The Aggies lost big to LSU in the final week of the year but that's small potatoes compared to the changes that are ahead with a new coach entering the fold. Texas A&M tries to put a little shine on its poor year by defeating Oklahoma State in the Texas Bowl on Wednesday, Dec. 27.
8. Kentucky (↑1) (7-5, 3-5)
- The Wildcats finished their season with some pride by defeating their rival Louisville. Devin Leary never quite worked out from the transfer portal and now Big Blue Nation has an intriguing matchup with Clemson in the Gator Bowl on Friday, Dec. 29.
9. Florida (↑1) (5-7, 3-5)
- The Gators finish ninth in our season long rankings by virtue of head-to-head victory over South Carolina. It was a brutal collapse for Florida as the take a five-game losing streak into the offseason.
10. South Carolina (↓2) (5-7, 3-5)
- Shane Beamer could've taken a four-game winning streak into a bowl game, but instead his squad stubbed its toe against Clemson in the final week and misses bowl eligibility.
11. Auburn (-) (6-6, 3-5)
- The Tigers almost got the win to save their season in the Iron Bowl but instead came up just short. There were some wins to hang their hat on but the fans on The Plains expect more. Hugh Freeze gets a chance go above .500 in his first year by playing Maryland in the Music City Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 30.
12. Mississippi State (-) (5-7, 1-7)
- The Bulldogs fought for bowl eligibility in the Egg Bowl and lost in the season finale of a lost year. Administration's already hired Jeff Lebby to get a new chapter of Mississippi State football underway.
13. Arkansas (-) (4-8, 1-7)
- The Hogs lost its last game to Missouri on Black Friday but made positive headlines by rehiring Bobby Petrino to serve as offensive coordinator. We'll see if it works out as Sam Pittman appears to be on thin ice.
14. Vanderbilt (-) (2-10, 0-8)
- 2023 can only be counted as a step back for Clark Lea and the Commodores. Vanderbilt was winless in the SEC after being one-game away from bowling with two conference wins the year prior. It's a challenging job in Nashville but winless in league play is never acceptable.
