College football’s “Week Zero” might have whetted your appetite, but the full flavor of the 2023 season is on display this week.

All 14 SEC teams will be on the field between Thursday and Sunday, part of an overwhelming buffet of football during the long Labor Day holiday weekend. The menu includes a handful of juicy non-conference matchups, but the majority of the season-openers will allow the SEC teams to flex their muscles against lesser competition.

So how do the teams in the SEC stack up headed into the season? Here’s the first edition of AL.com’s SEC football power rankings for 2023 (all times Central and all games Saturday unless noted):

1. Georgia (0-0)

Last week’s ranking: N/A

Last week’s game: N/A

This week’s game: vs. UT Martin, 5 p.m. (ESPN+)

Putting any team other than the two-time defending national champion at the top of this list would be an extreme hot take, and we don’t really traffic in those around here. Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs are unproven at quarterback with new starter Carson Beck, but loaded everywhere else. Georgia will get a couple of weeks to sort out any questions they might have under center.

2. Alabama (0-0)

Last week’s ranking: N/A

Last week’s game: N/A

This week’s game: vs. Middle Tennessee State, 6:30 p.m. (SEC Network)

The Crimson Tide is still the default favorite in the SEC West for at least another year, but the gap has certainly as close as it has been in quite a while. Alabama is outstanding at running back, but unproven elsewhere on offense. Nick Saban’s team should put an excellent defense on the field, and has a week to get the kinks out before Texas rolls in on Sept. 9.

3. LSU (0-0)

Last week’s ranking: N/A

Last week’s game: N/A

This week’s game: vs. Florida State in Orlando, 6:30 p.m. Monday (ABC)

The reigning SEC West champions start the season with a real heavyweight fight in Orlando, a year after losing at the wire to the Seminoles in New Orleans. Quarterback Jayden Daniels is as steady as they come, and Brian Kelly’s Tigers are loaded with talent across the board. LSU might feel the loss of star defensive lineman Maason Smith, who is suspended for the opener.

4. Tennessee (0-0)

Last week’s ranking: N/A

Last week’s game: N/A

This week’s game: vs. Virginia in Nashville, 11 a.m. (ABC)

Last year’s breakout team in the SEC is out to prove 2022 was no fluke, but will need to show that strong-armed Joe Milton can pick up where Hendon Hooker left off. Josh Heupel’s Volunteers draw a high-profile-in-name-only opponent in the Cavaliers, who suffered through a nightmarish 2022 season. Expect Tennessee to roll in Nashville.

5. Ole Miss (0-0)

Last week’s ranking: N/A

Last week’s game: N/A

This week’s game: vs. Mercer, 1 p.m. (ESPN+)

The Rebels stumbled down the stretch last year amid rumors Lane Kiffin might be headed to Auburn, but enhanced their roster markedly through the transfer portal during the offseason. It appears Jaxson Dart will start at quarterback after holding off transfer Spencer Sanders. Mercer is a solid FCS opponent, but the party in the Grove should be a happy one.

6. South Carolina (0-0)

Last week’s ranking: N/A

Last week’s game: N/A

This week’s game: vs. North Carolina in Charlotte, 6:30 p.m. (ABC)

Another team that entered the offseason with a lot of moment was Shane Beamer’s Gamecocks, who beat Tennessee and Clemson to end the regular season and lost a close bowl game to Notre Dame. South Carolina draws a strong opening opponent in the Tar Heels, who feature one of the country’s best quarterbacks in Drake Maye. Can the Gamecocks avoid the Regression Monster in 2023?

7. Texas A&M (0-0)

Last week’s ranking: N/A

Last week’s game: N/A

This week’s game: vs. New Mexico, 6 p.m. (ESPN)

The most disappointing team in the SEC last year was without question Jimbo Fisher’s Aggies, but this team is far too talented to go 5-7 again. Bobby Petrino has come on board as offensive coordinator, and it remains a huge question mark as to whether he and Fisher can co-exist. If they can, A&M might be ready to move up rather quickly.

8. Arkansas (0-0)

Last week’s ranking: N/A

Last week’s game: N/A

This week’s game: vs. Western Carolina, 3 p.m. (ESPN+)

The Razorbacks have been to back-to-back bowl games under Sam Pittman, which is not nothing considering they had missed out on four straight postseasons prior to 2021. Still, Arkansas might have trouble avoiding getting lost in the wash in an SEC that is getting better every year. The Hogs do get a couple of easy opponents to open the season, though.

9. Kentucky (0-0)

Last week’s ranking: N/A

Last week’s game: N/A

This week’s game: vs. Ball State, 11 a.m. (SEC Network)

Have the Wildcats passed their peak under Mark Stoops, the second longest-tenured coach in the SEC after Nick Saban? They won three fewer games in 2022 (7) than they did in 2021 (10), including losses in three of their final four. Transfer quarterback Devin Leary might be the answer after the departure of the inconsistent (and oft-injured) Will Levis, however.

10. Auburn (0-0)

Last week’s ranking: N/A

Last week’s game: N/A

This week’s game: vs. UMass, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN)

There’s no more mysterious team in the SEC this year than the Tigers, who have turned over nearly half of their roster since Hugh Freeze arrived in December. More than a dozen newcomers are expected to start or play major roles for Auburn this year. UMass’ surprising win at New Mexico State last week notwithstanding, the Tigers begin the season against a team they should be able to push around.

11. Florida (0-0)

Last week’s ranking: N/A

Last week’s game: N/A

This week’s game: at Utah, 7 p.m. Thursday (ESPN)

Billy Napier’s first year in Gainesville was so forgettable that you might not remember the Gators beat the eventual Pac-12 champion Utes 29-26 to open the season. They lost five of their last seven, however, and are still searching for an identity on both offense and defense. Utah is one of the toughest places in the country to play, and Florida’s young team will have to grow up in a hurry.

12. Mississippi State (0-0)

Last week’s ranking: N/A

Last week’s game: N/A

This week’s game: vs. Southeastern Louisiana, 3 p.m. (SEC Network)

The Bulldogs should be a fascinating watch this year, as they transition away from Mike Leach’s Air Raid offense to a more conventional attack. New coach Zach Arnett was the defensive coordinator last year, however, so Mississippi State should continue to play hard-nosed defense. An opener against an FCS opponent is probably ideal considering the circumstances.

13. Missouri (0-0)

Last week’s ranking: N/A

Last week’s game: N/A

This week’s game: vs. South Dakota, 7 p.m. Thursday (SEC Network)

Eli Drinkwitz’s three seasons in Columbia have been decidedly average, with a near-miss against Georgia last season probably the highlight. It’s fair to ask at this point if six wins and a bowl game might be Missouri’s ceiling in the 2020s version of the SEC. The Tigers will feature a two-quarterback system to begin the season, and face an FCS team coming off a 3-8 season in their opener.

14. Vanderbilt (1-0)

Last week’s ranking: N/A

Last week’s game: Beat Hawaii 35-28

This week’s game: vs. Alabama A&M, 6 p.m. (ESPN+)

The Commodores got the jump on the rest of the SEC by winning a closer-than-expected game vs. the Warriors in Nashville on Saturday night. A win is a win, though it’s worth remembering Vandy beat the same team 63-10 on the road a year ago. The question that needs to be asked is, has Clark Lea’s team regressed or has Hawaii improved that much?

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.