A five-Saturday September provided some answers in regard to the 2023 SEC championship race, but also left us with plenty of questions.

There are three undefeated teams remaining in the SEC through five full weeks, and none of them might be the best team in the league. Alabama and Ole Miss scored major wins this past weekend, Kentucky and Missouri kept clicking along, and Georgia survived again.

So how do the teams in the SEC stack up as we enter the month of October? Here’s the Week 6 edition of AL.com’s SEC football power rankings for 2023 (all times Central and all games Saturday unless noted):

14. Vanderbilt (2-4, 0-2)

Last week’s ranking: 14

Last week’s game: Lost to Missouri, 38-21

This week’s game: at Florida, 3 p.m., SEC Network

That 2-0 start is beginning to seem like ancient history for the Commodores, who allowed at least 36 points for the fourth straight week. The loss to Missouri was also Vandy’s worst offensive showing of the year, as they were held below 100 yards of total offense until well into the second half. A trip to The Swamp this week isn’t likely to cure much.

13. Mississippi State (2-3, 0-3)

Last week’s ranking: 13

Last week’s game: Lost to Alabama, 40-17

This week’s game: vs. Western Michigan, 11 a.m., SEC Network

Zach Arnett’s debut season is turning into a long one, as the Bulldogs were outclassed on their home field by an SEC West rival for the second time in three weeks. Alabama ran the ball down MSU’s throats in the first half, and pounced on the Bulldogs’ offensive mistakes. A visit from an average MAC team followed by an open date should provide a two-week respite for a program that really needs it right now.

12. Arkansas (2-3, 0-2)

Last week’s ranking: 12

Last week’s game: Lost to Texas A&M, 34-22

This week’s game: at Ole Miss, 6:30 p.m., SEC Network

There’s growing frustration in Fayetteville, where it seems like the Razorbacks have played just poorly enough to lose the last three weeks. Arkansas allowed a punt return touchdown and an interception return touchdown, totaled just 174 yards of offense and didn’t score an offensive touchdown until the final four minutes of the game against Texas A&M. With the way Ole Miss can score, things could get ugly in Oxford on Saturday night.

11. South Carolina (2-3, 1-2)

Last week’s ranking: 11

Last week’s game: Lost to Tennessee, 41-20

This week’s game: Open date

The Gamecocks’ offensive line issues reared their head against the Volunteers, who sacked Spencer Rattler six times and also returned an interception for a touchdown. Not that the South Carolina defense was good, either, allowing 238 yards and three rushing touchdowns. Shane Beamer’s team limps into its open date looking for answers before Florida comes to town on Oct. 14.

10. Auburn (3-2, 0-2)

Last week’s ranking: 10

Last week’s game: Lost to Georgia, 27-20

This week’s game: Open date

Tigers fans don’t want to hear about moral victories, but Hugh Freeze’s team earned a lot of respect for the way it played against the two-time defending national champions on Saturday. Just staying competitive against Georgia has been a tough chore for Auburn in recent years, and the Tigers went toe-to-toe with the Bulldogs for nearly 60 minutes on Saturday. The offense showed improvement (especially in the running game), but still isn’t good enough.

9. Florida (3-2, 1-1)

Last week’s ranking: 5

Last week’s game: Lost to Kentucky, 33-14

This week’s game: vs. Vanderbilt, 3 p.m., SEC Network

After appearing to have turned the corner under second-year coach Billy Napier, Florida took a major step back on Saturday in Lexington. The Gators came into the game playing defense as well as anyone in the league, but allowed 329 yards and three touchdowns rushing, most of that by Ray Davis. Florida also could not put much together offensively until the game was essentially lost. A visit from Vanderbilt should at least make things look a little better for a week.

8. Tennessee (4-1, 1-1)

Last week’s ranking: 8

Last week’s game: Beat South Carolina, 41-20

This week’s game: Open date

The Volunteers put together their most complete effort of the season in dismantling the Gamecocks, displaying offensive balance and pushing their opponent around on defense. Joe Milton wasn’t perfect, but the running game did most of the heavy lifting. Tennessee enters its open date playing good football, though the loss of wide receiver Bru McCoy for the season will hurt with games coming up against stout Texas A&M and Alabama defenses.

7. Missouri (5-0, 1-0)

Last week’s ranking: 7

Last week’s game: Beat Vanderbilt, 38-21

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

The Tigers keep rolling along, and are 5-0 for the first time since 2013. Missouri began that season 7-0 on the way to the first of two straight SEC East titles. This year’s team probably isn’t that good, but might be explosive enough offensively to keep up with anyone on its schedule. A home date this week with an LSU team that scores tons of points but can’t really stop anyone will make for an interesting test.

6. Kentucky (5-0, 2-0)

Last week’s ranking: 9

Last week’s game: Beat Florida, 33-14

This week’s game: at Georgia, 6 p.m., ESPN

The Wildcats made a major statement against Florida, dominating at the line of scrimmage and beating the Gators for the third time in four years. Kentucky had played something of a weak schedule before that, but it’s hard to ignore Mark Stoops’ team now. A visit to Georgia — where the Wildcats haven’t won since 2009 — will likely result in a step back, but if Kentucky can run the ball on the Bulldogs the way Auburn did, watch out.

5. LSU (3-2, 2-1)

Last week’s ranking: 3

Last week’s game: Lost to Ole Miss, 55-49

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

The Tigers certainly play an exciting brand of football, seemingly with an ability to score on anyone at any time. Unfortunately, they don’t play much if any defense. That was never more evident on Saturday, when Brian Kelly’s team allowed 706 yards of offense and blew a nine-point lead with nine minutes left. An early kickoff time at unbeaten Missouri between meetings with Ole Miss and Auburn seems like a trap game waiting to happen.

4. Texas A&M (4-1, 2-0)

Last week’s ranking: 4

Last week’s game: Beat Arkansas, 34-22

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

The Aggies played some sloppy football vs. Arkansas, but still managed to win by double digits with their backup quarterback. Defense and special teams provided an excellent supplement for Max Johnson, who is now the man with Conner Weigman out for the year. Jimbo Fisher’s team has played some of its best football the last two years vs. Alabama, and welcomes the Crimson Tide on the big stage this week.

3. Ole Miss (4-1, 1-1)

Last week’s ranking: 6

Last week’s game: Beat LSU, 55-49

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

The Rebels’ offense rebounded from a one-week hiccup with another stellar performance against LSU, piling up 706 yards and seven offensive touchdowns. The defense did just enough to hold on, getting a stop near the end zone on the final play. In three home games this year, Lane Kiffin’s team is averaging nearly 60 points. That’s probably bad news for Arkansas, which visits this week.

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

Last week’s ranking: 2

Last week’s game: Beat Mississippi State, 40-17

This week’s game: at Texas A&M, 2:30 p.m., CBS

You could make a serious case that Alabama is the best team in the SEC right now; it’s certainly been the most dominant the last two weeks. The Crimson Tide played bully ball against a Mississippi team for the second straight game, running the ball at will and passing only when it needed to. Alabama’s defense is also playing at an elite level since the second half of the Texas game, a span of 12 quarters. After frustration vs. Jimbo Fisher and Texas A&M the last two years, Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide will be out for blood this time around.

1. Georgia (5-0, 2-0)

Last week’s ranking: 1

Last week’s game: Beat Auburn, 27-20

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

The Bulldogs continue to play with fire, but escaped once again on Saturday. Tight end Brock Bowers, arguably the best player in the SEC, was the difference between winning and losing against a vastly less-talented Auburn team. At some point, Georgia will play a complete game, and Kirby Smart’s team might need it against a Kentucky squad playing with a lot of confidence right now.

Creg Stephenson has worked for AL.com since 2010 and covered college football for a variety of publications since 1994. Contact him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter at @CregStephenson.