Week 1 SEC Power Rankings: Georgia Bulldogs on top

The top three teams are familiar, but are some surprises in store for the rest of the league?

Steve Simpson | Aug 27, 2023

Week 1 SEC Power Rankings: Georgia Bulldogs on top /

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The SEC football season officially got underway Saturday night with Vanderbilt's solid win over Hawaii. It will begin in earnest this Saturday with the rest of the teams in the conference playing their first games.

Here is our first edition of the SEC Power Rankings going into week one of the season:

1. Georgia Bulldogs

Auburn vs Georgia — Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Georgia enters the season as the leader out of the gates. The Dawgs do have a few questions to answer with first year starter Carson Beck at quarterback and the recent season-ending injury to running back Branson Robinson. The depth along the front lines should be able to minimize any issues or concerns.

2. LSU Tigers

Tigers Tight end Mason Taylor scores the game winning two point conversion in overtime as the LSU Tigers take down Alabama 32-31 at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana,Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. Lsu Vs Alabama Football 2 9164

LSU is returning many of their key pieces from last year's SEC West Division winning team. Jayden Daniels will be an explosive weapon for the Tigers in the running and passing game. Defense is seldom a question in Baton Rouge, so expect them to be in contention for the conference title throughout the season.

3. Alabama Crimson Tide

Alabama has more questions entering this season than they have the last 15 years. Nick Saban seems to be undecided at who will be the team's QB1 and there are some questions about the offensive line as well. Kevin Steele's defense should be stout enough to provide some time for the Tide's offense to find it's rhythm.

4. Tennessee Volunteers

Tennessee is looking to follow up last season's success by taking that next step to being a championship contender. Quarterback Joe Milton will be the driving force for the Vols on offense and he has a talented receiving corps to work with along with a solid running game. The real question for the Vols is are they good enough to get by Georgia to win the SEC East?

5. Texas A&M Aggies

Texas A&M had the best recruiting class in the country last year, but then laid a dud on the field finishing a miserable 5-7. The heat is on Jimbo Fisher to provide a big ROI after the Aggies have invested so much in him and their NIL. The addition of offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino should be enough to help Connor Weigman take that next step and get the Aggies back in a bowl game.

6. Kentucky Wildcats

The Wildcats are pinning their hopes on NC State transfer quarterback Devin Leary to help them move up the pecking order in the SEC East. We won't really find out how good this team can be until October as the September schedule is relatively easy.

7. Arkansas Razorbacks

Arkansas returns quarterback K.J. Jefferson and is expecting big things from the senior. Can he deliver? Games against LSU and Texas A&M to close out September will go a long way to determining the answer. Win or split those two games and the Hogs will be set up to make a run in the west, lose both and the season gets more difficult the rest of the way.

8. Ole Miss Rebels

For all his offensive genius Lane Kiffin, the one thing he lacks is a really good defense. Ole Miss will have to outscore people again this year. Will Jaxson Dart be leading that charge or will it be Oklahoma State transfer Spencer Sanders? The competition is very tight between the two and Kiffin may not decide until late this week.

9. South Carolina Gamecocks

South Carolina is poised to build off a strong finish to the 2022 season. Spencer Rattler will lead the offense and it is believed by many in Columbia that this could be a special season. We'll find out how much these Gamecocks can fight when they go to Athens on September 16.

10. Auburn Tigers

Forget last year, this is a whole new team and a much needed new staff for the Tigers. Hugh Freeze has rebuilt the offensive line, has the best running back room in the SEC, brought in Michigan State transfer Peyton Thorne at QB and added some much needed depth to the wide receiver room. Games against Cal, Texas A&M and Georgia in September will set the tone for the rest of the season.

11. Mississippi State Bulldogs

Will Rogers returns for his last year in Starkville. Mike Leach's unexpected passing last year resulted in defensive coordinator Zach Arnett being named head coach. Can he continue to build off the success of the "Air Raid" offense?

12. Florida Gators

Florida Gators linebacker Lloyd Summerall III (99) looks on before the game against the South Florida Bulls at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, September 17, 2022. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun] Ncaa Football Florida Gators Vs South Florida Bulls — © Matt Pendleton / USA TODAY NETWORK

Billy Napier enters his second season at Florida in an uncomfortable position. After a disappointing 6-7 season in 2022 and losing his starting quarterback in the first round of the NFL draft, The Gators have a lot of questions on both sides of the ball. Is Wisconsin transfer QB Graham Mertz a capable replacement? The opening game against the Utah Utes will be a good barometer.

13. Missouri Tigers

Missouri's weird Tiger mascot. — Eric Starling/Auburn Daily

Missouri has a tough task ahead of them to rise out of the depths of the SEC East. Eli Drinkwitz is facing some heat in his fourth year and the September schedule should help him get off to a good start.

14. Vanderbilt Commodores

Vanderbilt quarterback AJ Swann (13) throws against South Carolina during the first quarter at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. Vandyscfb 110522 An 013 — © Andrew Nelles / Tennessean.com / USA TODAY NETWORK

Despite their 35-28 win over Hawaii Saturday night, The Commodores are still not nearly talented enough to compete for championships in the SEC, but they could string together a couple of unexpected wins this season and make a bowl game.