SEC Football: Way-too-early power rankings for 2023 season

INGLEWOOD, CA - JANUARY 09: Brock Bowers #19 of the Georgia Bulldogs runs with the ball against the TCU Horned Frogs in the first half ofthe College Football Playoff National Championship held at SoFi Stadium on January 9, 2023 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images)
INGLEWOOD, CA - JANUARY 09: Brock Bowers #19 of the Georgia Bulldogs runs with the ball against the TCU Horned Frogs in the first half ofthe College Football Playoff National Championship held at SoFi Stadium on January 9, 2023 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images)
1 of 7
SEC Football
Missouri Tigers quarterback Brady Cook (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images)

The 2022 SEC football season has now officially come to a close, meaning that the attention can now fully turn to 2023. So, with that thought in mind, let’s take a look ahead, and offer our way-too-early power rankings for the 2023 SEC football season. (Rosters as of Wednesday, January 11) 

Way-too-early SEC football power rankings for 2023 season

14. Vanderbilt Commodores

Notable Players Returning:

  • WR Will Sheppard 
  • QB AJ Swann 
  • WR Jayden McGowan 
  • LB CJ Taylor
  • LB De’Rickey Wright 

Finishing the year at 5-7 overall (2-6 in SEC), Vanderbilt and head coach Clark Lea compiled their highest win total since the 2018 season this past fall, and will likely return multiple key names off that same team in 2023. The Commodores will still however likely enter next season projected to finish last in the SEC, but there is no denying that Vanderbilt took a big step forward in 2022, and the 2023 campaign could potentially be one of the most anticipated in Nashville in recent years because of it.

13. Missouri Tigers

Notable Players Returning:

  • QB Brady Cook 
  • WR Luther Burden 
  • DB Jaylon Carlies 
  • LB Ty’ron Hopper 
  • DB Joseph Charleston 

In what was year three under head coach Eli Drinkwitz, Missouri finished with a 6-7 overall record (3-5 in SEC) for the second consecutive year this past fall, while also dropping their second bowl game in as many years. The Tigers looking ahead are likely among the bottom of the SEC at the moment once again next season, but could also be a potential surprise team as well, assuming Missouri continues to make splashes in the transfer portal similar to adding former Oklahoma wide receiver Theo Wease.