AL.com’s SEC football power rankings for Week 13 of 2023: Cupcake Saturday claims a victim

Week 12 in the SEC wasn’t as thoroughly uninteresting as we might have thought going in.

Sure, Alabama, LSU, Ole Miss and others were barely challenged by Group of 5 or FCS competition, but there were still a few notable happenings on what has been derisively described as “Cupcake Saturday.” Most notably, Auburn fans might not have known New Mexico State’s nickname or location before Saturday, but they certainly do now.

Elsewhere, Georgia dismissed any idea of a letdown after clinching the SEC East title, easily dispatching Tennessee. Missouri barely survived an upset bid by a bowl-hungry Florida team. And interim coaches at Mississippi State and Texas A&M picked up victories to at least temporarily stanch the hurt of seasons gone wrong.

So we’ve finally reached the end of the road in the 2023 regular season, with some honest-to-goodnes in-state feuds on-tap this week. There are a couple of other contrived rivalries to fill out the slate, but whichever team you follow should at least be playing an emotion-filled game on Thursday, Friday or Saturday of Thanksgiving week.

So how do the teams in the SEC stack up as we head into the final week of the regular season? Here’s the Week 13 edition of AL.com ’s SEC football power rankings for 2023 (all times Central and all games Saturday unless noted):

Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea walk off the field at the end of the first half of an NCAA college football game against Auburn, Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)AP

Last week’s ranking: 14

Last week’s game: Open date

This week’s game: at Tennessee, 2:30 p.m., SEC Network

Thanks to playing in Week Zero, Vanderbilt had an odd open date in late November, but here’s hoping Clark Lea and the boys figured out a way to be more competitive in the season’s final game. The Commodores carry a 9-game losing streak into their game vs. Tennessee in Knoxville on Saturday, with the Volunteers also hurting after back-to-back blowout losses. This season has long since been lost for Vanderbilt, but maybe they can salvage something in the finale.

Arkansas running back Dominique Johnson (20) runs for a touchdown as Florida International defensive back Adrian Cole (6) tries to make the tackle during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)AP

Last week’s ranking: 13

Last week’s game: Beat Florida International, 44-20

This week’s game: vs. Missouri, 3 p.m. Friday, CBS

We need pause briefly for a mea culpa, as the assumption here last week after a 48-10 home loss to Auburn was that Sam Pittman’s days at Arkansas were done. He not only survived the week, but got assurances on at least another season from his athletics director following the victory over FIU. The Razorbacks won’t go bowling this year, but have a chance to knock Missouri out of the New Year’s Six rotation if they can spring the upset on Black Friday in Fayetteville.

Mississippi State wide receiver Freddie Roberson (19) catches a pass while Southern Mississippi cornerback Micheal Caraway Jr. (2) tries to make a tackle during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023. Mississippi State won 41-20. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)AP

Last week’s ranking: 12

Last week’s game: Beat Southern Miss, 41-20

This week’s game: vs. Ole Miss, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, ESPN

The Bulldogs began the week by firing head coach Zach Arnett after just 10 games on the job, with veteran assistant Greg Knox stepping in as interim coach. Mississippi State also welcomed back quarterback Will Rogers and running back Woody Marks just in time for the Golden Eagles to come to town. Southern Miss took an early 7-0 lead before the Bulldogs took control with 23 straight points. Things got a little hairy in the fourth quarter, but MSU held on to win and got within one victory of bowl-eligibility. Heavily favored Ole Miss visits Starkville on Thanksgiving night, but strange things sometimes happen in the Egg Bowl.

Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops checks the scoreboard during the first half of an NCAA college football game against South Carolina on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Artie Walker Jr.)AP

Last week’s ranking: 9

Last week’s game: Lost to South Carolina, 17-14

This week’s game: at Louisville, 11 a.m., ABC

There have been bigger disasters in the SEC in 2023, but no team’s season has fallen apart as completely as the Wildcats’ has in the last six weeks. Kentucky was 5-0 and ranked in the Top 25 heading into a game at Georgia in early October, but the Wildcats were blown out in that game. They have won only once since, over a Mississippi State that fired its coach. Kentucky turned the ball over three times on Saturday to help South Carolina at least keep some dim bowl hopes alive. The Wildcats are already bowl-eligible this season, and this week will try to play spoiler to Louisville’s slim chances of a College Football Playoff berth.

South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler (7) throws a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Kentucky on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Artie Walker Jr.)AP

Last week’s ranking: 11

Last week’s game: Beat Kentucky, 17-14

This week’s game: vs. Clemson, 6:30 p.m., SEC Network

There’s some life in these Gamecocks after all. South Carolina has won three straight games to stand on the cusp of bowl-eligibility heading into a home game with in-state rival Clemson on Saturday (note to self: don’t call it the “Palmetto Bowl.” They hate that in South Carolina). Though Spencer Rattler had his usual solid game passing the ball, Shane Beamer’s bunch won in a different fashion than usual vs. Kentucky. The Gamecocks did it with defense this time, sealing the game with a forced fumble in the final two minutes.

New Mexico State wide receiver Jonathan Brady (6) carries the ball as Auburn cornerback Jaylin Simpson (36) pursues during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)AP

Last week’s ranking: 8

Last week’s game: Lost to New Mexico State, 31-10

This week’s game: vs. Alabama, 2:30 p.m., CBS

Any positive momentum headed into Iron Bowl week for the Tigers fizzled at the hands of the Aggies on Saturday, in what will go down as one of the worst losses in Auburn football history . New Mexico State led 10-7 at halftime, but fans and observers kept waiting for Auburn to flip a switch like it has so many times in similar games over the years. But that second wind never came for Hugh Freeze’s team, and it must be asked if the Tigers spent all week preparing for Alabama rather than New Mexico State. The ghosts of Jordan-Hare are mighty during the Iron Bowl, and the loss to the Aggies will be forgotten if Auburn can somehow knock off a Crimson Tide team that is angling for a spot in the College Football Playoff.

Florida head coach Billy Napier is seen on the sidelines during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Missouri Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)AP

Last week’s ranking: 10

Last week’s game: Lost to Missouri, 33-31

This week’s game: vs. Florida State, 6 p.m., ESPN

What could have been a sweet, bowl-clinching upset fizzled in around 90 seconds of clock time on Saturday night, as Missouri methodically marched into position for a game-winning field goal after the Gators had gone on top with a 3-point kick of their own. So now it will take beating undefeated Florida State for Billy Napier’s team to improve upon last year’s record and go to the postseason. Both teams are wounded at quarterback, with Graham Mertz knocked out on Saturday with a collarbone injury and FSU’s Jordan Travis suffering a grotesque leg injury. Max Brown looked decent in place of Mertz vs. Missouri, but beating a team with playoff aspirations is a lot to ask of a redshirt freshman in his first start.

Texas A&M quarterback Jaylen Henderson (16) passes down field against Abilene Christian during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)AP

Last week’s ranking: 7

Last week’s game: Beat Abilene Christian, 38-10

This week’s game: at LSU, 11 a.m., ESPN

Six days after Jimbo Fisher was purged from the program and Elijah Robinson was installed as interim coach, Texas A&M scuffled to a win over an FCS team. Third-string quarterback Jaylen Henderson and the rest of the Aggies played just well enough to keep anyone from getting too nervous over this one. The season essentially ended with Fisher’s firing, but the Aggies could finish third in the SEC West if they can somehow pull an upset over high-scoring LSU on Saturday in Baton Rouge. At least the game’s not at night.

Georgia running back Kendall Milton (2) scores a touchdown as he is hit by Tennessee defensive back Doneiko Slaughter (0) during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)AP

Last week’s ranking: 6

Last week’s game: Lost to Georgia, 38-10

This week’s game: vs. Vanderbilt, 2:30 p.m., SEC Network

No one outside Knoxville was really expecting the Volunteers to pull the upset over Georgia on Saturday, but a more representative showing would have been nice. Tennessee scored on the first play of the game ... and that was about it for the highlights. Josh Heupel’s team has lost three of its last four SEC games, all of them by double-digits. The Vols should easily handle Vanderbilt on Saturday to get to eight wins in the regular season for just the second time since 2016, but this year was certainly a step backward from the offensive-fueled heights of 2022.

Missouri head coach Eliah Drinkwitz yells on the sidelines during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Florida Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)AP

Last week’s ranking: 5

Last week’s game: Beat Florida, 33-31

This week’s game: at Arkansas, 3 p.m. Friday, CBS

All the positives of a breakthrough season for Missouri nearly went for naught after the Tigers allowed Florida to take a late lead on Saturday night in Columbia. Luckily for the Tigers, they had Brady Cook, Luther Burden and Harrison Mevis. The former two got the Tigers in position for Mevis to win it with a last-second field goal and keep Mizzou in the running for a New Year’s Six bowl bid. Eli Drinkwitz’s team can secure a 10-win regular season and potential Top 10 ranking on Friday in Fayetteville against struggling-but-not-totally-dead Arkansas.

LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers (8) celebrates after his touchdown with quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Georgia State in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)AP

Last week’s ranking: 4

Last week’s game: Beat Georgia State, 56-14

This week’s game: vs. Texas A&M, 11 a.m., ESPN

Jayden Daniels put on an offensive show again on Saturday night, accounting for 509 yards and eight(!) touchdowns in a rout of the visiting Panthers. The senior quarterback is now firmly atop the list for the Heisman Trophy, with it currently a two-man race between him and Oregon’s Bo Nix. LSU continues to be unstoppable on offense, and faces what might have been an intriguing matchup against a very good Texas A&M defense on Saturday in Baton Rouge. After the firing of Jimbo Fisher, however, it’s possible the Aggies have mailed in the rest of this season.

Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart (2) releases a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Louisiana-Monroe in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Thomas Graning)AP

Last week’s ranking: 3

Last week’s game: Beat Louisiana-Monroe, 35-3

This week’s game: at Mississippi State, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, ESPN

The Rebels sleepwalked through the first half against the Warhawks, which is understandable after the letdown of a blowout loss to Georgia the previous week. Ole Miss woke up in the second half, however, and was able to win easily enough that it could rest its key personnel in the fourth quarter. That’s important given the quick turnaround to the Egg Bowl on Thanksgiving night in Starkville. Mississippi State is playing for bowl-eligibility with an interim coach, but Ole Miss has a shot at a 10-win regular season and potentially a New Year’s Six bowl. So expect Lane Kiffin to pull out all the stops to beat his in-state rival when it’s down and keep his team’s postseason options open.

Alabama offensive lineman JC Latham (65) and running back Justice Haynes (22) celebrate Latham's touchdown run during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Chattanooga, Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)AP

Last week’s ranking: 2

Last week’s game: Beat Chattanooga, 66-10

This week’s game: at Auburn, 2:30 p.m., CBS

There was no tin-horning or triple option fear and loathing in this one, which the Crimson Tide turned into a laugher by the end of the first quarter. Jalen Milroe and other key players were able to rest the entire second half and get ready for the Iron Bowl, where Auburn always gives its best shot, particularly when the game is at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Alabama lost at Auburn in 2017 and 2019 and needed four overtimes to win two years ago, so it’s certainly possible this one will go down to the wire as well. However, Nick Saban knows his team needs a convincing victory to separate itself from other one-loss teams in the College Football Playoff pecking order. So don’t expect a flat or jittery Alabama performance in this one.

Georgia quarterback Carson Back makes a first down pass completion during an NCAA college football game against Tennessee, Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, in Knoxville, Tenn.Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP

Last week’s ranking: 1

Last week’s game: Beat Tennessee, 38-10

This week’s game: at Georgia Tech, 6:30 p.m., ABC

Any talk of Georgia coasting through an unchallenging schedule has been put to rest in the last four weeks, in which the Bulldogs have outscored Florida, Missouri, Ole Miss and Tennessee by a combined 163-68. Kirby Smart’s defense allowed a 75-yard touchdown on the first play vs. the Volunteers, and dominated the rest of the day. The Bulldogs have tied Alabama’s SEC record with 28 straight victories, and became the first team in league history to go 8-0 in conference play for three consecutive years. They should break the record with ease vs. the Yellow Jackets on Saturday night, and then would go for 30 wins in a row vs. the Crimson Tide in Atlanta in the SEC championship game.