Way-too-early SEC basketball power rankings for 2026-27 season
· Yahoo Sports
The anticipation is already starting to build surrounding the 2026-27 college basketball season.
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Once again, the SEC appears on their way to be one of college basketball's premier conferences in 2026-27, with a few teams in particular looking like potential national championships contenders. Many of these made deep runs in the NCAA Tournament this past season, with some of those same teams reaching at-least the Sweet 16.
Looking ahead to next season, each of the SEC's 16 teams are likely set to undergo a significant amount of roster change in the coming days and weeks, whether that be from the NCAA transfer portal or the upcoming 2026 NBA draft.
As a result, it might be difficult to judge just what each team's roster might end up looking like, but based on what each team has at the moment, why not take a look ahead and offer some early power rankings for the SEC overall?
Following are the way-too-early 2026-27 SEC basketball power rankings.
16. South Carolina Gamecocks
South Carolina (13-19 overall, 4-14 SEC) recorded their second consecutive losing season this past year, missing the NCAA Tournament. As a result, the Gamecocks need a bounce back 2026-27 season with head coach Lamont Paris likely entering the year on the hot seat.
15. Mississippi State Bulldogs
Mississippi State (13-19, 5-13) missed the NCAA Tournament last season for the first time under head coach Chris Jans, while the Bulldogs' losing record was also their first since the 2015-16 campaign. The Bulldogs now enter an important offseason for the program, one which certainly needs a bounce back 2026-27 campaign.
14. Ole Miss Rebels
Ole Miss (15-20, 4-14) took a big step back during the 2025-26 campaign by missing the NCAA Tournament in what was the first losing season of the Chris Beard era. The Rebels will likely see roster turnover this offseason, and will look to bounce back in 2026-27.
13. Oklahoma Sooners
Oklahoma (21-16, 7-11) recorded their highest win total in a season since the 2015-16 campaign, but was one where the Sooners missed the NCAA Tournament. The Sooners will look to make their second NCAA Tournament under head coach Porter Moser in 2026-27.
12. LSU Tigers
LSU (15-17, 3-15) begins a new era in 2026-27, as former head coach Will Wade returns to Baton Rouge to takeover in place of Matt McMahon. The Tigers will likely see a significant amount of roster change, but even despite that, a potential NCAA Tournament appearance in year one under Wade would not surprise, as he previously led LSU to the big dance in three of his five seasons in Baton Rouge before.
11. Auburn Tigers
Auburn (22-16, 7-11) missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2021 during year one of the Steven Pearl era, but still made a postseason run that resulted in winning the NIT. The Tigers will hope to return to the big dance next season with a roster headlined by returning guard Kevin Overton.
10. Georgia Bulldogs
Georgia (22-11, 10-8) you could certainly say took a small step forward in year two of the Mike White era by making a NCAA Tournament appearance for the second-straight season, falling in the first round. The Bulldogs will look to make yet another jump after posting that 22-win total, their highest in a season since 2001-02.
9. Texas A&M Aggies
Texas A&M (22-12, 11-7) made the NCAA Tournament during year one of the Bucky McMillan era, with the Aggies reaching the second round for the third consecutive season. The Aggies will likely continue to improve in year two under McMillan, and could be a potential sleeper SEC team to watch in 2026-27.
8. Missouri Tigers
Missouri (20-13, 10-8) make a NCAA Tournament appearance for the second consecutive season this past year, but were eliminated in the first round. The Tigers and head coach Dennis Gates will likely be expected to go dancing yet again this upcoming season, as the roster will be headlined by one of the SEC's top recruiting classes featuring the duo of Jason Crowe Jr. and Toni Bryant.
7. Texas Longhorns
Texas (21-15, 9-9) reached the NCAA Tournament for the sixth-straight season during year one under Sean Miller, a postseason run which saw the Longhorns reach the Sweet 16. There is a chance for the Longhorns to take an even bigger step forward in 2026-27, with a talented recruiting class headlined by Austin Goosby a reason as to why.
6. Vanderbilt Commodores
Vanderbilt (27-9, 11-7) took an even larger step ahead during year two under head coach Mark Byington, advancing to the NCAA Tournament second round. The Commodores appear to have cemented themselves as one of the best teams in the SEC under Byington, and will be expected to make a third-straight NCAA Tournament appearance next season.
5. Kentucky Wildcats
Kentucky (22-14, 10-8) one could argue took a small step back this past season in year two of the Mark Pope era, a campaign which resulted in a NCAA Tournament second round appearance. The Wildcats will likely add a number of players in the transfer portal this offseason, and should be among the SEC's most talented in 2026-27.
4. Tennessee Volunteers
Tennessee (25-12, 11-7) made a NCAA Tournament appearance for the sixth consecutive season this past year, with the Volunteers reaching the Elite Eight for the third time in the last three years. Rick Barnes' Volunteers will yet again be predicted to make the NCAA Tournament next season headlined by impact newcomers such as Tyler Lundblade.
3. Arkansas Razorbacks
Arkansas (28-9, 13-5) took a step forward during year two under head coach John Calipari, making an appearance in the Sweet 16 for a second consecutive season. The Razorbacks should be among the SEC's top teams yet again next season, in part due to a loaded incoming recruiting class headlined by elite guard Jordan Smith Jr..
2. Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama (25-10, 13-5) made a sixth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance this past season under head coach Nate Oats, reaching the Sweet 16 for a fourth-straight year. The Crimson Tide will likely make yet another trip to the big dance next season, with Alabama's roster set to be headlined by a recruiting class which features the likes of Qayden Samuels and Jaxon Richardson.
1. Florida Gators
Florida (27-8, 16-2) dominated during conference play to win the SEC's regular season title, but saw a disappointing end to their campaign when the Gators were upset in NCAA Tournament second round as a No. 1 seed. Todd Golden and the Gators will likely be back among the SEC's elite in 2026-27, with returning guard Boogie Fland among those headlining the roster.
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This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Florida, Alabama headline early 2026-27 SEC basketball power rankings