The 2023 SEC championship race is heating up. Not many teams are out of the mix yet.
The Georgia Bulldogs escaped with a 27-20 road win over the Auburn Tigers. Texas A&M prevailed, 34-22, over Arkansas in Dallas, Texas.
Buy Bulldogs TicketsKentucky bullied Florida behind a ruthless rushing attack in a 33-14 win over the Gators. Missouri took care of business against Vanderbilt.
LSU is the conference’s big loser from Week 5. The Tigers, who lost at Ole Miss, already have two losses after being considered a College Football Playoff contender in the preseason. Alabama is the favorite to win the SEC West.
How do we rank the SEC after a wild Week 5?
14
Vanderbilt Commodores
Record: 2-4
Week 5: Missouri 38, Vanderbilt 21
Vanderbilt is the worst team in the SEC and that should come as no surprise. The Commodores have not made a bowl game since 2018, which was the last time Vanderbilt did not finish last in the SEC East. Vanderbilt isn’t going to be favored in any remaining SEC games.
13
Arkansas Razorbacks
Record: 2-3
Week 5: Texas A&M 34, Arkansas 22
Arkansas quarterback KJ Jefferson and the Razorbacks failed to get much going offensively against a stout Texas A&M defense. Arkansas has a solid team, but making a bowl game may be tough for the Razorbacks after a 2-3 start.
12
Mississippi State Bulldogs
Record: 2-3
Week 5: Alabama 40, Mississippi State 17
Mississippi State can’t get over the hurdle that is the Alabama Crimson Tide. The Bulldogs have a long way to go if they want to be relevant in the SEC. Mississippi State doesn’t have a bad team, but it doesn’t have a good one either.
11
South Carolina Gamecocks
Record: 2-3
Week 5: Tennessee 41, South Carolina 20
South Carolina needs to get a win. The Gamecocks have losses against quality competition: UNC, Georgia and Tennessee. Losses don’t do you much good in the SEC. The Gamecocks also have a star in wide receiver Xavier Legette and quarterback Spencer Rattler, but they are not putting it all together.
10
Florida Gators
Record: 3-2
Week 5: Kentucky 33, Florida 14
Where in the world was Florida’s run defense against Kentucky? The Gators surrendered 280 rushing yards to Kentucky running back Ray Davis. Florida is an alarming 8-18 in its last 26 games against Power Five opponents.
9
Auburn Tigers
Record: 3-2
Week 5: Georgia 27, Auburn 20
Georgia’s defense had fits with Auburn’s rushing game and turned the ball over twice at Auburn. The Tigers made this one more interesting than many fans expected. Auburn’s quarterbacks, Payton Thorne and Robby Ashford, need to provide more consistency in the passing game.
Auburn has a strong defense and will always be a tough team to beat at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
8
LSU Tigers
Record: 3-2
Week 5: Ole Miss 55, LSU 49
Defense was optional in the LSU-Ole Miss game. LSU allowed a staggering 706 total yards on the road against Ole Miss. The Tigers have two losses and are pretty much out of the College Football Playoff race after high preseason expectations. LSU can still win the SEC West, but it will have to be perfect from here on out.
Don’t blame LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels. Daniels had 513 total yards and five total touchdowns in LSU’s defeat.
7
Missouri Tigers
Record: 5-0
Week 5: Missouri 38, Vanderbilt 21
Missouri is looking like one of the better teams in the SEC. The Tigers have wins over Kansas State and Memphis. Missouri quarterback Brady Cook lit up Vanderbilt for 396 passing yards and four touchdowns. Tigers’ star receiver Luther Burden hauled in 11 receptions for 140 receiving yards and two touchdowns to help Missouri move to 5-0.
6
Kentucky Wildcats
Record: 5-0
Week 5: Kentucky 33, Florida 14
The Wildcats can rejoice. They’ve now won three straight games against Florida. Kentucky’s schedule does not get easier: The Wildcats travel to play at Georgia in Week 6. Kentucky’s rushing game (329 total rushing yards) was massive in its win over Florida.
5
Tennessee Volunteers
Record: 4-1
Week 5: Tennessee 41, South Carolina 20
Tennessee avenged one of its losses from the 2022 season. The Volunteers are a contender in the SEC East. Tennessee hosts Georgia later in the year in a game that could decide who goes to Atlanta. The Volunteers accumulated 238 rushing yards in a home over South Carolina in Week 5.
4
Ole Miss Rebels
Record: 4-1
Week 5: Ole Miss 55, LSU 49
Ole Miss’ defense did not play well against LSU, but defense does not matter as much when your offense racks up 706 yards. Ole Miss punted twice against LSU. The Rebels ran wild against the Tigers. Ole Miss ran for 317 rushing yards behind a monster 177-yard game from running back Quinshon Judkins.
3
Texas A&M Aggies
Record: 4-1
Week 5: Texas A&M 34, Arkansas 22
Texas A&M quarterback Max Johnson looked pretty sharp in his first start for the Aggies in 2023. Johnson threw for 210 passing yards and two touchdowns against the Razorbacks. The bad news is he threw a costly pick six.
Texas A&M’s defense has looked much better to open SEC play. The Aggies allowed only 174 total yards against Arkansas. It’s tough picking the SEC’s No. 3 team behind Alabama.
2
Alabama Crimson Tide
Record: 4-1
Week 5: Alabama 40, Mississippi State 17
Alabama dominated Mississippi State on the road. The Crimson Tide pulled away in the fourth quarter. Alabama, which may have the best defense in the SEC, held Mississippi State to 107 passing yards and forced three interceptions.
1
Georgia Bulldogs
Record: 5-0
Week 5: Georgia 27, Auburn 20
Georgia looked a little shaky on the road at Auburn. The Bulldogs turned the ball over twice and allowed Auburn to jump to a 10-0 lead. Georgia regained the lead in the fourth quarter thanks to a monster second half from tight end Brock Bowers.
This Georgia run defense may not be as good as it has been in previous years. Georgia gets the nod over the rest of the SEC thanks to its consistent track record and 5-0 start to the year.
