2023 SEC Football Power Rankings: Week 7

No changes at the top, but some teams at the bottom earn respect for challenging contenders.

Both Mississippi schools were off this weekend while Georgia and Alabama played bottom-feeders in their division in the 11 a.m. window. It was the second weekend in a row the conference had an all-Tigers matchup but the game of the weekend was likely in Knoxville between the Aggies and Volunteers.

Forget preseason polls. Forget what happened last season. Disregard recruiting rankings and what these teams look like on paper. The only criteria considered in this season's BamaCentral SEC Power Rankings is what happens between the white lines during games.

Winning is rewarded and losing is punished in our 2023 Power Rankings, so lets get right to it as we react to seven weeks of football throughout the conference. 

1. Georgia (-) (7-0, 4-0)

• The Bulldogs went to Nashville and cruised to victory to stay unbeaten on the season. Sure, the Commodores had the score tied 7-7 after the first quarter, and outscored the Dawgs 13-10 in the fourth quarter, but Kirby Smart's program was never really in danger, defeating the 'Dores 37-20.

2. Alabama (-) (6-1, 4-0)

• The Crimson Tide was still asleep at 11 a.m. for its homecoming game with the Arkansas Razorbacks, but two touchdown passes gave the Tide a halftime lead. Alabama napped at halftime and the Razorbacks took advantage, but ultimately came up short of claiming their first SEC win.

3. Ole Miss (-) (5-1, 2-1)

• The Lane Train was in the station this week on an off week.

4. LSU (-) (5-2, 4-1)

• The LSU offense is likely the best in the conference and nothing changed on Saturday. Heisman Trophy candidate Jaylen Daniels amassed 418 yards from scrimmage, with three touchdowns to lead the Bayou Bengals past the Auburn Tigers 48-18.

5. Missouri (-) (6-1, 2-1)

• Eli Drinkwitz and his team responded to last weekend's loss to LSU by going on the road and serving Big Blue Nation its second loss in two weeks. Missouri appears like it may be one of the better team in the conference, but beware, the road ahead continues to get more challenging for the Tigers.

6. Tennessee (↑3) (5-1, 2-1)

• Tennessee's special teams shouldered the load in Knoxville this week as the Volunteers won an ugly 20-13 game over Jimbo Fisher and his squad. Dee Williams cashed in a 39-yard punt return to ultimately give Big Orange a victory.

7. Florida (↑1) (5-2, 3-1)

• The Gators claimed their first road win of the season on Saturday, going to Columbia and taking down the Gamecocks 41-39 after transfer portal quarterback Graham Mertz threw for 423 yards and three touchdowns.

8.  Texas A&M (↓2) (4-3, 2-2)

• It's two conference losses in a row for Texas A&M after Tennessee held the Aggies to just 54 rushing yards. Two Max Johnson interceptions and 11 penalties spelled doom for Jimbo Fisher's squad.

9.  Kentucky (↓2) (5-2, 2-2)

• Mark Stoops might want to ask for more NIL donations after his Wildcats squandered a 14-0 lead and dropped its second game in consecutive weeks, losing to Missouri 38-21.

10. Arkansas (↑2) (2-5, 0-4)

• The Razorbacks might be ranked a bit high when looking at record alone, but this weekend's 24-21 loss to the Crimson Tide marked it's fourth one-score loss of the year. Arkansas has lost to LSU and Alabama each by three points and Ole Miss by seven, all on the road.

11. Auburn (↓1) (3-3, 0-3)

• The fans are getting restless on The Plains as Auburn laid a stinker on Saturday in Death Valley. The Tigers appear to have one of the worst offenses in the league as they went just 3-12 on 3rd downs against LSU.

12. South Carolina (↓1) (2-4, 1-3)

• The Gamcocks defense couldn't stop a nose bleed at home on Saturday, and Shane Beamer's team dropped its third conference game.

13.  Vanderbilt (↑1)(2-6, 0-4)

• The Commodores fought to the end but no one really expected Clark Lea's squad to compete with Georgia. Vanderbilt is still winless in conference play, but showed good fight.

14. Mississippi State (↓1) (3-3, 0-3)

• The Bulldogs enjoyed an off week