2023 SEC Football Power Rankings: Week 8

The Southeastern Conference has three clear tiers after eight weeks of competition.

Five SEC schools had off weeks as college football approaches the final week of October and prepares for the stretch run. The nation's best conference now has separated itself into three clear tiers, where the top five schools in our power rankings still have championship aspirations, the middle four can prepare for bowl season, but the bottom five all must consider their program's futures. 

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 eight weeks of football throughout the conference. 

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

• The Georgia Bulldogs were off this week and now shifts focus to beating the Florida Gators without Brock Bowers.

2. Alabama (-) (7-1, 5-0)

• The Crimson Tide turned a 13-point halftime deficit into a 14-point victory in "The Third Saturday in October" to take revenge over Tennessee. A Chris Braswell sack-fumble turned into a Jihaad Campbell scoop-and-score to seal the deal for Alabama and keep them unbeaten in SEC play.

3. Ole Miss (-) (6-1, 3-1)

• The Rebels won their fourth game in school history in Jordan-Hare Stadium by narrowly defeating the Auburn Tigers 28-21 as Lane Kiffin continues a strong showing in year four in Oxford.

4. LSU (-) (6-2, 4-1)

• The Tigers painted the end zones in camouflage but that was the only hospitable action as LSU hosted, and defeated the Army Black Knights 62-0. 

5. Missouri (-) (7-1, 3-1)

• Eli Drinkwitz and the Tigers continue to earn respect as they disposed of South Carolina 34-12 to stay in the hunt in the SEC East. The Tigers put up 418 yards of offense as Cody Schrader rushed for 159 yards and two scores.

6.  Florida (↑1) (5-2, 3-1)

• The Florida Gators were off this weekend and will look to take advantage of this coming weekend's game against the Georgia Bulldogs. A win would place the Gators in first place in the SEC East with the tie-breaker over the Dawgs.

7.  Tennessee (↓1) (5-2, 2-2)

• The Volunteers threw a haymaker at the Crimson Tide in the first half but never got going in the second half, losing by 14-points and falling behind in SEC East standings. 

8. Texas A&M (-) (4-3, 2-2)

• The Aggies enjoyed a much needed off week after losing to Alabama and Tennessee in consecutive weeks. South Carolina at home this coming week presents a great opportunity to get back on track.

9. Kentucky (-) (5-2, 2-2)

• Big Blue Nation was off this past week after losing to Georgia and Missouri in back-to-back weeks. Mark Stoops and the Wildcats host the Tennessee Vols this weekend.

10. Mississippi State (↑4) (4-3, 1-3)

• The Bulldogs went into Fayetteville and came away with a 7-3 victory for its first conference win of the season. The defense held the Hogs to just 205 total yards while keeping them out of the end zone. 

11. Auburn (-) (3-4, 0-4)

• The Tigers fought the Ole Miss Rebels at home but couldn't get the job done, losing a close matchup to remain winless in the SEC. Quarterbacks Peyton Thorne and Robbie Ashford combined for 122 passing yards.

12. South Carolina (-) (2-5, 1-4)

• Shane Beamer and his Gamecocks stubbed their toe on Saturday in Columbia. South Carolina converted just three third downs all afternoon to fall further behind in the SEC East.

13. Arkansas (↓3) (2-6, 0-5)

• The Razorbacks had a perfect chance to end its losing streak with the Mississippi State Bulldogs coming to town. The Hogs loss may spell doom for San Pittman.

14. Vanderbilt (↓1)(2-6, 0-4)

• The Commodores were off this week and will head to Oxford this coming weekend with an opportunity to play spoiler.