Way-too-early SEC basketball power rankings for 2025-26 season

USA Today

17-04-2025

Way-too-early SEC basketball power rankings for 2025-26 season
After a phenomenal 2024-25 season from the conference, one question now dominates the headlines surrounding the looming 2025-26 campaign. Can the SEC do it again?
Yes, the 2024-25 season for the SEC was truly historic, as the conference sent 14 teams to the NCAA Tournament, a March Madness record. Once in the NCAA Tournament as well, the conference then saw seven teams reach the Sweet 16, and was followed by four in the Elite Eight, as well as two in the Final Four.
Not to mention the conference also won its' first national championship since 2012, as the Florida Gators were the very last team standing in the NCAA Tournament following a thrilling run concluding in a win over Houston.
Let's turn the page however and now take a look ahead, listing our way-too-early SEC basketball power rankings for the 2025-26 season.
These rankings' factor in 2025-26 roster outlook that is current as of Wednesday, April 17
16. South Carolina Gamecocks
After returning to the NCAA Tournament the season prior, South Carolina missed out on March Madness this past year by posting a 12-20 overall record that featured a 2-16 mark in SEC play. Entering year four in Columbia, head coach Lamont Paris and the Gamecocks will have to replace numerous pieces such as star Collin Murray-Boyles, but do however bring in others such as former guard Meechie Johnson.
15. LSU Tigers
LSU missed the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive season this past year, finishing with a 14-18 record, as well as a 3-15 mark in SEC play. Entering year four in Baton Rouge, LSU head coach Matt McMahon could now find himself on the hot seat in 2025-26 should the Tigers not have a bounce back season, and will be relying on a big transfer portal class headlined by forward Marquel Sutton.
14. Oklahoma Sooners
Oklahoma's first season as a member of the SEC saw the Sooners return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2021, finishing the year with a 20-14 overall record that included a 6-12 mark against conference opponents. Falling in the first round of March Madness, the Sooners will be entering year four of the Porter Moser era sporting a roster headlined by transfer guard Nijel Pack.
13. Vanderbilt Commodores
Vanderbilt returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2017 in year one of the Mark Byington era, ending the season at 20-13 overall, as well as 8-10 in SEC play. The Commodores will now have to replace some key production off a team that lost in the round of 64 a year ago such as guard Jason Edwards.
12. Texas A&M Aggies
Texas A&M is set to begin a new era in 2025-26, as Bucky McMillan takes over as head coach of the Aggies for the departed Buzz Williams. McMillan will inherit an Aggies team that went 23-11 overall (11-7 in SEC) a year ago to make their third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, one that will however be without star guard Wade Taylor IV.
11. Missouri Tigers
After one of the worst seasons in program history the year prior, Missouri bounced back in a big way in 2024-25 to make a NCAA Tournament appearance, but fell in the first round to end the season at 22-12 overall. Also owning a 10-8 record in SEC play after going winless against conference foes the year prior, Missouri will enter year four of the Dennis Gates era in 2025-26 tasked with replacing key production through the likes of Tamar Bates and Caleb Grill.
10. Mississippi State Bulldogs
Mississippi State made their third-straight NCAA Tournament appearance in as many seasons under head coach Chris Jans, but however failed to make it past the first round once again, which they last did in 2008. Ending the season at 21-13 overall, as well as 8-10 in SEC play, the Bulldogs' roster now awaits a decision from star Josh Hubbard.
9. Georgia Bulldogs
Georgia returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2015 this past season, making an appearance in the first round to conclude one of their better seasons in recent memory at 20-13 overall, as well as 8-10 in SEC play. The Bulldogs will now enter year four of the Mike White era tasked with replacing multiple prominent names such as Asa Newell and Silas Demary Jr..
8. Texas Longhorns
The Texas Longhorns are set to begin a new era in 2025-26, as Sean Miller takes over as head coach in Austin for Rodney Terry. Coming from Xavier, Miller will inherit a Texas team that made their fifth-straight NCAA Tournament appearance this past season, finishing 19-16 overall (6-12 in SEC) to reach the First Four in their first season as a member of the conference, but will also lose star Tre Johnson.
7. Ole Miss Rebels
The Ole Miss Rebels returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019 this past season, reaching the Sweet 16 to end the year at 24-12 overall, as well as 10-8 in SEC play. Ole Miss will enter year three of the Chris Beard era expected to make the NCAA Tournament once again with a talented roster featuring transfer AJ Storr.
6. Arkansas Razorbacks
Arkansas returned to the NCAA Tournament in year one of the John Calipari era, making a Sweet 16 appearance for the first time since 2023 to conclude the season at 22-14 overall, as well as 8-10 in SEC play. As with Calipari teams' of the past, Arkansas will likely lose a significant amount of production to the NBA this offseason, but are also set to bring in one of the SEC's top recruiting classes that features the five-star duo of Meleek Thomas and Darius Acuff Jr..
5. Tennessee Volunteers
For the second consecutive season, Tennessee reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament this past season, ending the year with a 30-8 overall record that included a 12-6 mark in SEC play. Tennessee, as with every other team, is set to lose some production this offseason, but have also added talent through players such as transfer Ja'Kobi Gillespie.
The Alabama Crimson Tide reached the Elite Eight for the second consecutive season this past year, finishing 2024-25 with a 28-9 overall record that included a 13-5 mark in SEC play. Nate Oats' Crimson Tide will have to replace a notable amount of production this offseason, headlined by the duo of Mark Sears and Grant Nelson, but should still be one of the SEC's top teams next season even despite the multiple prominent departures.
3. Kentucky Wildcats
Kentucky made their fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance in year one of the Mark Pope era, going 24-12 overall to make the program's first Sweet 16 since 2019. Also owning a 10-8 record in SEC play, Kentucky will be deep once again in year two under Pope, led by a roster that will bring in talented newcomers such as transfer portal additions Jayden Quaintance and former Alabama forward Mouhamed Dioubate, as well as freshman guard Jasper Johnson.
2. Auburn Tigers
Auburn is coming off one of their best seasons in program history in 2024-25, as the Tigers not only won the SEC regular season title at 15-3 in conference play, but also made their second Final Four appearance in which they fell in the national semifinals, ending the year at 32-6 overall. The Tigers are now set to lose multiple prominent names headlined by SEC Player of the Year Johni Broome, but could also return both of Tahaad Pettiford and Chad Baker-Mazara.
1. Florida Gators
The Florida Gators returned to the top of the college basketball mountain this past season, winning what was their third national championship in program history, as well as the first since 2007. Ending the season with a 36-4 overall record, as well as a 14-4 mark in conference play, the defending national and SEC Tournament champions will reload this offseason, and should be back as a contender in 2025-26 with players such as Reuben Chinyelu and Thomas Haugh back.
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