SEC Win Totals: Surprise, Surprise Georgia and Alabama Lead the Way in Power Packed SEC

Plenty of New Quarterbacks Set to Shine in 2023 in the SEC

With five of the top 10 picks in the 2023 NFL Draft coming out of the SEC, there are some big names who won’t be returning to the best conference in college football.

Still, two-time defending champion Georgia and Alabama remain the NCAAF teams to beat heading into the 2023 season, according to the SEC win totals.

Ten of the top 14 transfers according to the 247sports.com database are either are coming in or leaving the SEC.

When taking a look at the 2022 college football standings, nine SEC teams had winning records. Will there be more of the same in 2023?

Some of the more intriguing Week 1 matchups in the SEC include the Florida-Utah, South Carolina-North Carolina, Virginia-Tennessee and LSU-Florida State tilts. The SEC teams are favored in three of those matchups, according to the college football picks.

Here’s a look at some numbers to consider among the 14 SEC teams heading into the 2023 NCAAF season.

The big question is who will take over for two-time national championship-winning quarterback Stetson Bennett. Whoever wins the job will be throwing the ball to tight end Brock Bowers early and often. The Bulldogs added receivers Dominic Lovett and Rara Thomas from Missouri and Mississippi State.

The defense will need to replace defensive tackle Jalen Carter and some other key contributors who headed to the NFL. Still, the SEC win totals are projecting another special season for Georgia.

Six of the top seven tacklers from the 2022 defense were either sophomores or freshmen so the future looks bright.

Alabama saw quarterback Bryce Young, edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. and running back Jahmyr Gibbs go in the first round of April’s NFL Draft so that is plenty of talent heading out the door.

JC Latham could be the best offensive linemen in the country and most of the pass catchers return.

Dallas Turner will be asked to produce even more following the departure of Anderson.

While many of the contenders in the SEC have to find a new starting quarterback, LSU returns Jayden Daniels. Will that be enough for LSU to exceed expectations when it comes to the SEC win totals?

The Tigers will be looking for some running backs to step up and complement Daniels, the leading rusher for LSU in 2022. Malik Nabers could be one of the SEC’s top pass catchers.

While there are some holes to fill on defense, keep an eye on Harold Perkins Jr. as he has 8.5 sacks as a freshman.

It would harder to find a more disappointing team in college football than the 2022 Aggies. Head coach Jimbo Fisher brought in a star-studded recruiting class to a talented group of returnees. All that talent resulted in two SEC wins.

Quarterback Conner Weigman got to play in the second half of the season and finished with eight touchdowns and no interceptions. The numbers figure to be pretty good, especially with receivers Evan Stewart and Ainais Smith coming back.

The top 15 tacklers last season combined to miss 28 games so a healthy group could improve things on defense.

Quarterback Hendon Hooker, as well as top receivers Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman, are off to the NFL. Bru McCoy leads the list of returning pass catchers for Joe Milton to throw to in 2023 for the Volunteers.

Tennessee will need to improve its pass defense to be in contention for the SEC title.

The talk about the 2023 Rebels has to start with dynamic running back Quinshon Judkins after he ran for more than 1,500 yards and 16 touchdowns as a freshman.

Quarterback Jaxson Dart is also back. However, he is facing competition to be the starting QB.

The defense will be led by defensive linemen Jared Ivey, Cedric Johnson and JJ Pegues.

KJ Jefferson could be the most talented quarterback in the conference and might figure into the Heisman Trophy conversation. Add in running back Raheim Sanders (1,443 rushing yards, 6.5 yards per carry) and this could be a fun offense to watch.

The defense not only lost the top two tacklers (Drew Sanders and Bumper Pool) to the NFL, but also were hurt by outgoing transfers.

Auburn opened a few eyes with the hiring of the controversial Hugh Freeze. The Tigers are clearly in win-at-all-costs mode with a hire like that.

Quarterback Robby Ashford will need to show improvement in the passing game.

If the defensive line comes together, there is enough talent at linebacker and in the secondary to improve from the 2022 numbers.

Things will look much different at Mississippi State following the death of head coach Mike Leach.

Will Rogers is back at quarterback, but don’t be surprised to see the Bulldogs run the ball a little more often in 2023. Seeing receiver Rara Thomas is a big blow.

The front seven on defense has some proven producers and if the secondary comes together, this could be a team to keep an eye on.

Quarterback Spencer Rattler is back to lead the offense and he will connect with receiver Antwane Wells. The addition of former Arkansas tight end Trey Knox will help the passing game.

There are plenty of returnees on defense. Is that good news based on how the Gamecocks played in 2022?

Anthony Richardson’s talent never really translated into on the field success at Florida. Still, his loss is a big one. Twelve freshmen or sophomores had catches in 2022 so that could be a plus when breaking in a new quarterback.

On defense, 17 of the top 21 tacklers a season ago were either freshmen or sophomores.

With quarterback Will Levis now with the NFL’s Tennessee Titans, the Wildcats will turn to former North Carolina State QB Devin Leary to lead the offense. Kentucky also used the transfer portal to address the offensive line.

Kentucky will miss running back Chris Rodriguez. The Wildcats did play five games without him in 2022.

Six of the 16 players with at least 20 tackles in 2022 for the Wildcats were either freshmen or sophomores and they will be building blocks on defense.

There are questions about who will be the starting quarterback. There will be some talented pass catchers to lead the offense.

This defense could be one of the best in the conference led by linebacker Ty’Ron Hopper, safety Jaylon Carlies and cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine.

Is there another Power-5 Conference job as challenging as the one at Vanderbilt?

Quarterback AJ Swann showed some potential as a freshman. Most of his top receivers, led by Will Sheppard, are also back.

There are some holes to fill on defense. Leading tackler Anfernee Orji is among the departed players.

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