Preseason SEC basketball power rankings entering 2026-27 season

The SEC certainly appears to be one of college basketball's deepest conferences yet again this season.

A year ago, the SEC was well represented in the NCAA Tournament, sending 10 teams to the big dance. Many of the SEC's tournament teams also went on to make runs to the second weekend, with one reaching the Elite Eight.

Many of those same teams are also expected to be among the conference's best once again this season, headlined by the likes of Florida, Alabama, and Arkansas, among others. A big reason for this is the talent each has returning, with each of those teams entering the season with multiple All-SEC caliber players, leaving reason to believe that a number of those same teams could end up competing for a SEC and national championship

later this season.

Let's take a look at where each SEC team sits in the conference's power rankings entering the 2026-27 season.

16. South Carolina Gamecocks

Feb 28, 2026; Athens, Georgia, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Lamont Paris reacts on the sideline during the game against the Georgia Bulldogs during the second half at Stegeman Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Lamont Paris begins his fifth season at South Carolina coming off a missed NCAA Tournament appearance at 13-19 overall (4-14 SEC). The Gamecocks have an entirely new-look roster entering this season.

15. Mississippi State Bulldogs

Dec 13, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs guard Josh Hubbard (12) brings the ball up the court against the Utah Utes during the first half at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images

Chris Jans enters his fifth season at Mississippi State coming off his first missed NCAA Tournament at 13-19 (5-13). The Bulldogs return one of the SEC's top players in guard Josh Hubbard, who averaged 22.1 points per game a year ago.

14. LSU Tigers

LSU Tigers head coach Will Wade points to his players to throw the ball in. The Florida State Seminoles lead the LSU Tigers 38-31 at the half of an exhibition game held in the Tucker Civic Center on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026.

One of the SEC's biggest unknowns entering the 2026-27 season, Will Wade returns as the head coach at LSU this year, the same program he led for five seasons from 2017-21. Wade inherits a Tigers team which missed the NCAA Tournament a year ago at 15-17 (3-15), and has a roster loaded with new faces that include Mo Dioubate and Skyy Clark.

13. Ole Miss Rebels

Feb 21, 2026; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi Rebels head coach Chris Beard talks with guard Patton Pinkins (23) during the second half against the Florida Gators at The Sandy and John Black Pavilion at Ole Miss. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Ole Miss begins the fourth season under head coach Chris Beard after missing the NCAA Tournament a year ago at 15-20 (4-14). The Rebels' returning roster is headlined by Ilias Kamardine and Patton Pinkins.

12. Oklahoma Sooners

Mar 7, 2026; Austin, Texas, USA; Oklahoma Sooners forward Tae Davis (13) dribbles during the second half against the Texas Longhorns at Moody Center. Mandatory Credit: Dustin Safranek-Imagn Images

Porter Moser enters his sixth season at Oklahoma after missing the NCAA Tournament last year at 21-16 (7-11). The Sooners' roster returns two of their top scorers from a year ago in Xzayvier Brown and Tae Davis.

11. Auburn Tigers

Feb 14, 2026; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Auburn Tigers guard Tahaad Pettiford (0) dribbles during the second half against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Bud Walton Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images

Auburn enters year two of the Steven Pearl era having missed the NCAA Tournament a year ago at 22-16 (7-11), but the Tigers did however win the NIT in postseason play. The Tigers also return two of their top players from last year in Tahaad Pettiford and Kevin Overton.

10. Georgia Bulldogs

Feb 17, 2026; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Georgia Bulldogs guard Marcus Millender (4) handles the ball during the second half against the Kentucky Wildcats at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

Georgia enters year five of the Mike White era coming off a second-straight NCAA Tournament appearance at 22-11 (10-8), though both have ended in the first round. The Bulldogs' roster is headlined by a pair of returning guards in Blue Cain and Smurf Millender.

9. Texas A&M Aggies

Feb 7, 2026; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies head coach Bucky McMillan looks on during the first half against the Florida Gators at Reed Arena. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

Bucky McMillan enters year two in College Station off a NCAA Tournament last season, reaching the second round. The Aggies, who finished 22-12 (11-7) last season, and sport a roster headlined by a list of newcomers that include transfers PJ Haggerty and Jordan Pope.

8. Missouri Tigers

Missouri Tigers guard Jason Crowe Jr. (5) drives the ball against Kansas State Wildcats during the exhibition game inside Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, Kansas on Oct. 23, 2026.

Dennis Gates enters his fifth season at Missouri coming off a second-straight NCAA Tournament appearance, both of which have been first round exits. The Tigers, who ended last season at 20-13 (10-8), have a talented group of newcomers headlined by star freshman Jason Crowe Jr..

7. Vanderbilt Commodores

Mar 13, 2026; Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores head coach Mark Byington talks with guard Tyler Tanner (3) during a break in action against the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

Vanderbilt enters year three under head coach Mark Byington off a second round NCAA Tournament appearance at 27-9 (11-7). The Commodores return one of the SEC's top overall players in guard Tyler Tanner.

6. Kentucky Wildcats

Oct 16, 2026; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Milan Momcilovic (22) drives to the basket against Little Rock Trojans guard Jah'Likai King (2) during the second half at Rupp Arena Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

Mark Pope enters his third season in Lexington coming off a second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance at 22-14 (10-8), reaching the second round. The Wildcats return one of the SEC's top post players in Malachi Moreno, while also having added newcomers headlined by top transfer Milan Momcilovic.

5. Tennessee Volunteers

Tennessee basketball coach Rick Barnes talks with guard Juke Harris (2) during a college basketball exhibition game against Xavier on Oct. 15, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Rick Barnes enters season No. 12 at Tennessee coming off a sixth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance that saw the Volunteers make the Elite Eight for the third-straight year. The Volunteers, who finished last season 25-12 (11-7), have a number of newcomers to the roster this season that should make an impact, headlined by top transfer Juke Harris.

4. Alabama Crimson Tide

Jan 27, 2026; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide guard Aden Holloway (2) dribbles against Missouri Tigers guard T.O. Barrett (5) during the second half at Coleman Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: David Leong-Imagn Images

Nate Oats enters his eighth season at Alabama coming off his seventh NCAA Tournament appearance with the Tide, ending last season at 25-10 (13-5) with a trip to the Sweet 16. The Crimson Tide return two of the SEC's top players in Aden Holloway and Amari Allen off a Crimson Tide team which led college basketball a year ago with an average of 91.2 points scored per game.

3. Arkansas Razorbacks

Mar 21, 2026; Portland, OR, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks forward Billy Richmond III (24) drives in the first half against the High Point Panthers during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images

John Calipari enters year three at Arkansas coming off two consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, with each ending in the Sweet 16. The Razorbacks ended last season at 28-9 (13-5), and have reloaded led by elite freshman Jordan Smith Jr., while also returning others such as Billy Richmond III.

2. Texas Longhorns

Oct 25, 2026; New York, NY, USA; Texas Longhorns forward Marcus Spears Jr. (31) dunks past St. John's Red Storm guard Quinn Ellis (4) and forward Ruben Prey (17) in the first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Sean Miller enters his second season at Texas coming a Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA Tournament, as well as a 21-15 (9-9) record in year one. Texas returns one of the SEC's top frontcourt players in Matas Vokietaitis, while also bringing in a loaded group of newcomers headlined by the likes of David Punch and Marcus Spears Jr..

1. Florida Gators

Jan 24, 2026; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators forward Thomas Haugh (10) dribbles the ball against the Auburn Tigers during the second half at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

Florida enters year five of the Todd Golden era coming off their third-straight NCAA Tournament appearance which included a shocking second round exit, capping a 27-8 (16-2) season. The Gators are loaded yet again in 2026-27 headlined by the returning trio of Thomas Haugh, Rueben Chinyelu, and Alex Condon, making Florida one of the top preseason favorites to win the national championship.

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This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Preseason SEC basketball power rankings entering 2026-27 season