The SEC may not have matched its record-setting 14 NCAA Tournament bids from the year before, but make no mistake: this remains the deepest conference in college basketball. Florida enters the season as the defending SEC champion, Alabama and Arkansas look loaded once again, and Kentucky's addition of Iowa State transfer Milan Momcilovic has completely changed the conversation surrounding Mark Pope's third season in Lexington.
With most major transfer portal moves now complete, here's an updated look at how the SEC stacks up heading into the 2026-27 season.
16. South Carolina Gamecocks
Lamont Paris has done impressive work before in Columbia, but this roster still looks like one of the biggest rebuilding projects in the conference. The Gamecocks lost virtually all of their offensive production from a team that struggled to score consistently in SEC play.
Kory Mincy and Shane Blakeney should help stabilize the backcourt and wing positions, while Camden Hiede and Jakub Necas provide some toughness in the frontcourt. On paper, South Carolina may actually be better defensively than it was a season ago.
The problem is finding reliable scoring. Unless multiple newcomers outperform expectations, the Gamecocks appear destined for another difficult SEC season.
15. Mississippi State Bulldogs
Chris Jans has earned the benefit of the doubt after turning Mississippi State into a consistent winner, but last season exposed some significant roster limitations.
The Bulldogs desperately need more shot creation and offensive firepower. Jans will once again have a tough, physical group that defends at a high level, but modern college basketball requires more than simply grinding games into the mud.
Mississippi State feels like a team that could climb several spots if the right transfer emerges as a star. Right now, though, there are simply too many questions.
14. Ole Miss Rebels
Chris Beard rebuilt much of the roster through the portal once again, and there are pieces to like. Ilias Kamardine returning for another season was a massive development, while Adam Clark and Roman Siulepa provide proven production.
The concern is whether Ole Miss has a true SEC star. Many of the Rebels' best players project as excellent complementary options rather than go-to scorers.
Expect Ole Miss to be competitive most nights, but the ceiling appears limited compared to much of the conference.
13. Oklahoma Sooners
Porter Moser continues to field respectable teams, but Oklahoma remains stuck in the middle ground between NCAA Tournament hopeful and genuine contender.
The Sooners have enough talent to challenge for a postseason bid, yet they still lack the high-end playmakers found on the SEC's upper-tier rosters.
Until Oklahoma proves it can consistently beat the conference's elite teams, this feels like the appropriate range.
12. LSU Tigers
Will Wade is back in Baton Rouge, and that alone makes LSU one of the most fascinating teams in the country.
History suggests Wade will eventually win big at LSU. The question is how quickly the turnaround happens. The Tigers have added talent and should be much more competitive than they were a season ago.
Don't be surprised if LSU becomes one of the league's biggest risers by January.
11. Auburn Tigers
The Tigers missed the NCAA Tournament but salvaged the season by winning the NIT. Now Steven Pearl enters Year 2 looking to return Auburn to the upper half of the SEC.
Kevin Overton gives Auburn an experienced centerpiece, and the Tigers still possess enough athleticism to cause matchup problems.
A return to the NCAA Tournament feels realistic, but Auburn still appears a step behind the conference's true contenders.
10. Georgia Bulldogs
Mike White deserves credit for turning Georgia into a consistently competitive program. Consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances have changed expectations in Athens.
The Bulldogs continue to recruit well and play with confidence, but there remains a gap between Georgia and the SEC's elite.
A top-half conference finish is possible, though a breakthrough into championship contention still feels a year away.
9. Texas A&M Aggies
Bucky McMillan's first season exceeded expectations, and Year 2 could be even better.
The Aggies play with an aggressive style that creates problems for opponents, and continuity should help them take another step forward.
This feels like one of the conference's sneakiest NCAA Tournament teams entering the season.
8. Missouri Tigers
Dennis Gates landed another outstanding recruiting class led by Jason Crowe Jr. and Toni Bryant.
The talent level is undeniable. The challenge will be relying on freshmen and newcomers to immediately carry major responsibilities in a loaded SEC.
Missouri's upside is enormous. Their floor remains somewhat uncertain.
7. Texas Longhorns
Sean Miller made an immediate impact during his first season in Austin, leading Texas back to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament.
The Longhorns continue to recruit at a high level, and Austin Goosby headlines another promising class.
Texas has the talent to finish much higher than seventh if the newcomers develop quickly.
6. Vanderbilt Commodores
What Mark Byington has accomplished at Vanderbilt deserves far more national attention.
Back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances have transformed the Commodores from SEC afterthought to legitimate contender. Jason Edwards may be gone, but the culture and system remain intact.
Vanderbilt no longer sneaks up on anyone.
5. Tennessee Volunteers
Rick Barnes continues to prove why Tennessee remains one of the nation's most reliable programs.
The Volunteers should once again field one of college basketball's best defenses while mixing in enough offensive talent to compete for another deep NCAA Tournament run.
As long as Barnes is in Knoxville, Tennessee belongs near the top of the SEC.
4. Arkansas Razorbacks
John Calipari has quickly restored Arkansas into one of the conference's premier destinations.
Jordan Smith Jr. headlines another elite recruiting class, and the Razorbacks possess the kind of talent capable of reaching the Final Four.
Few teams in the country can match Arkansas from a pure athleticism standpoint.
3. Alabama Crimson Tide
Nate Oats continues to build one of college basketball's most explosive programs.
Qayden Samuels and Jaxon Richardson join a roster loaded with length, shooting and offensive firepower. Alabama's style creates matchup nightmares for opponents.
The Crimson Tide should once again enter the season with legitimate national championship aspirations.
2. Kentucky Wildcats
A month ago, Kentucky looked talented.
Now they look dangerous.
Mark Pope had already assembled one of the nation's deepest transfer classes, but the addition of Milan Momcilovic completely changes the Wildcats' ceiling.
Momcilovic brings proven scoring, elite perimeter shooting, NCAA Tournament experience and the ability to thrive against high-level competition. His presence should create more space for Kentucky's guards while giving Pope another reliable late-game option.
Most importantly, Kentucky suddenly has answers to questions that previously existed. The Wildcats have experience. They have shooting. They have size. They have versatility.
The pieces are finally starting to look like a roster capable of competing for both an SEC title and a No. 1 seed in March.
1. Florida Gators
Until somebody takes the crown, Florida remains the conference favorite.
Todd Golden has built one of the nation's most complete programs, and the Gators continue to recruit and develop talent at an elite level.
Boogie Fland headlines a roster that should once again contend for an SEC championship, and Florida's blend of depth, athleticism and experience keeps them narrowly ahead of Kentucky entering the summer.
The margin is much smaller than it was a few weeks ago, though. If Kentucky's roster comes together the way many expect, the Wildcats and Gators could spend the entire season battling for SEC supremacy.
Well, there are the changes for now. What will force the next change before the teams step on the cout later thisfall?
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