2026-27 SEC College Basketball Preview: Bracketology, power rankings, more

The SEC has become one of college basketball’s dominant conferences in recent years, continuing to invest in the growth of the sport through coaching hires and roster-building each offseason. Now, the programs are set to battle once more against each other and attempt to separate themselves with a strong non-conference showing. The 2026-27 is almost underway with plenty big storylines already taking shape. One, which will follow the eligibility of fifth-year players caught in the middle of the NCAA’s latest rule change, continues to work its way through courtrooms across the country. Meanwhile, on the court we will again debate the impact of transfers, freshmen and returning talent as the driving forces for winning basketball. [ $19.99 gets you a FULL year of On3 | Rivals national coverage ] Here is an in-depth looks at the SEC entering the 2026-27 season, from the top players to the best incoming players and top coaches in the conference. You can also find a full power rankings as the season begins and a look at which teams project as NCAA Tournament contenders in the first bracketology projections of the year. Best players in the SEC On3 1. Thomas Haugh, FloridaThomas Haugh enters the season as one of the best-known commodities in not only the SEC but college basketball as a whole. He had ever opportunity to jump from the NBA Draft in either of the past two seasons, but again comes back to a loaded Florida frontcourt where his combination of size and athleticism on the wing make him difficult to slow down. Simply put, his combination of shot-making, basketball IQ and defensive versatility lead to wins. 2. Tyler Tanner, VanderbiltTyler Tanner blossomed into a star last season, becoming a two-way force for an emerging Vanderbilt program. Despite NBA Draft conversations, he chose to return for another year under Mark Byington, looking to repeat his combination of electric offensive production at the point guard spot with a lockdown defensive mentality which few can rival. 3. Rueben Chinyelu, FloridaRueben Chinyelu has transitioned from underrated cog to properly-rated force since transferring to Florida two seasons ago. His combination of strength and tenacity contribute to high rebounding rates and solid rim protection, but also help set the tone for everyone on the court to match energies. 4. Matas Vokietaitis, TexasMatas Vokietaitis developed into a devastating offensive force last season at Texas. By the end of the year, he helped control not only the Longhorns offense, but the flow of the game with his strength and positioning down low. What he lacks in defensive impact, he makes up for in efficiency and rebounding. 5. Juke Harris, TennesseeJuke Harris is one of the best scoring options in college basketball this season, opting to transfer to Tennessee after evaluating his options in the NBA Draft this summer. He has the type of versatile shot-making that the Volunteers have thrived at amplifying in recent memory, creating excitement for how impactful he could be this season. You can find the full list HERE by clicking and subscribing! Ranking top transfer in SEC On3 1. Juke Harris, Wake Forest > TennesseeJuke Harris was one of college basketball’s most improved players last season, turning into one of the top wing scorers in the country. After the season, he testing the NBA Draft process but ultimately decided to transfer from Wake Forest to Tennessee, where he will now fill a major role in the offense. Given the history of strong defensive units anchored by an elite scorer in recent seasons, it seems likely this fit will lead to big outputs. 2. Milan Momcilovic, Iowa State > KentuckyMilan Momcilovic was the best 3-point shooter in college basketball last season, leading him to go through the NBA Draft process before deciding his future. Ultimately, he made the move from Iowa State to Kentucky in the transfer portal. Now, he will look to show that he can score from a well-rounded offensive package which can ultimately make his outside shot even more dangerous. 3. Isaiah Johnson, Colorado > TexasIsaiah Johnson was one of the top scoring freshmen guards in college basketball last season, emerging as a starter at Colorado throughout the year. His ability to maintain efficiency with the ball in his hands made him a desirable transfer target for many teams, including a Texas roster which has the surrounding talent in the frontcourt to maximize a ball-in-hand scorer. 4. PJ Haggerty, Kansas State > Texas A&MPJ Haggerty brings All-American pedigree to the SEC, although he did not achieve the same honors as past seasons during his Kansas State tenure. Still an electric scoring threat, the winning last year did not match what he was able to do at Memphis, where he arrived after stints at TCU and Tulsa. Now at Texas A&M, he will look to use his ability to draw fouls and create space to spark team success. 5. David Punch, TCU > TexasDavid Punch is a high-level defensive player who showed last season that he can also put points on the board offensively, even without spacing the floor. His ability to cut through the lane, rebound and hold up anywhere on defense make him an easy fit into any lineup and a value winning piece. You can find the full list HERE by clicking and subscribing! Best SEC freshmen/international newcomers On3 1. Jordan Smith, ArkansasJordan Smith can play on the ball and off it, engaging as a solid defender while providing facilitation. His ability to impact winning by succeeding in the margins could make him an immediate impact player in college basketball. While the No. 3 recruit in the 2026 Rivals Industry Rankings does not offer an efficient 3-point shot at this point, he has gotten to his spots inside and could see more opportunities with floor-spacing around him. 2. Marcus Spears Jr., TexasMarcus Spears Jr. reclassified into the 2026 class, finishing No. 7 in his new rankings. He is a prototype forward with size and athleticism which creates big excitement over his trajectory as a two-way player. Making a leap up in competition, he will have the opportunity to lean on teammates early as he learns how to reach his spots against college competition, but offers high-end outcomes that make him an x-factor for Texas. 3. Brice Dessert, LSUBrice Dessert continues to await final confirmation whether he will be allowed to play college basketball this season, but is a major part of LSU’s roster-building process. He has established himself as a high-level rim protector at the professional level already, giving him the opportunity to provide immediate impact on the defensive end. 4. Saliou Niang, LSUSaliou Niang has been on radars for years while playing overseas, now awaiting confirmation whether the NCAA will allow him to play for LSU this season. He provides great size and strength at the forward position, a skillset which will be further highlighted if he moves to college basketball against younger competition. 5. Michael Ruzic, LSUMichael Ruzic is an international prospect who has been on NBA radars for multiple seasons, choosing to withdraw before committing to LSU this season. Already ruled eligible, he can now focus on integrating his game to this level, promising to provide floor-spacing at the forward spot with the versatility and size to cover minutes at center. You can find the full list HERE by clicking and subscribing! Top SEC coaches On3 1. Todd Golden, FloridaTodd Golden arrived at Florida in the 2022-23 season and has since gone 103-41 overall and 50-22 in conference play on the way to three NCAA Tournament appearances. The Gators lifted the 2025 national championship trophy, headlining his tenure to this point with a regular season SEC title also under his belt. 2. Nate Oats, AlabamaNate Oats has put together a 170-73 record at Alabama and an 87-38 mark in SEC play across seven seasons with a pair of regular season and conference tournament titles. He has also led the Crimson Tide to six consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Final Four appearance in 2024 and four more second-weekend runs. 3. John Calipari, ArkansasJohn Calipari is one of just two coaches in the SEC with a national title to his name, lifting the trophy for Kentucky in 2012. Now in Year Three at Arkansas, he is coming off back-to-back Sweet 16 runs, accumulating a 50-23 record and 21-15 mark in the SEC which included a second-place finish last season. Including his previous stop, he has been in the conference longer than any other coach. 4. Rick Barnes, TennesseeRick Barnes has led Tennessee to eight consecutive NCAA Tournaments, only missing out his first two seasons at the helm and the cancelled 2020 postseason. The past three seasons have all ended in the Elite Eight, with the season before ended in the Sweet 16. His 257-121 record overall and 122-73 conference record also show his sustained success in the the SEC. 5. Mark Byington, VanderbiltIn his first two seasons at Vanderbilt, Mark Byington has put together a 47-22 record and 19-17 mark in SEC play while reaching the NCAA Tournament twice, including a second round run last season. Even more impressive, he accomplished those feats after taking over a program which won nine games the year prior. Byington got the job off the back of an NCAA Tournament run with James Madison. You can find the full list HERE by clicking and subscribing! SEC Power Rankings On3 1. FloridaFlorida got the biggest head start to its roster-building process of any team in college basketball this season, retaining the full frontcourt for a second-straight season as Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu return to play under head coach Todd Golden again. The Gators rounded out the depth of the roster with international talent, but it is the ability to return most of the rotation beyond the stars as well which has them in position to lead the way early. Denzel Aberdeen also returns after one season at Kentucky. 2. TexasTexas did well in Year Two under Sean Miller to balance retention, the recruiting trail and transfer portal additions to build a roster which can compete for far more. By bringing in freshman Marcus Spears Jr. to the roster after reclassifying, they lift the ceiling even higher on what the season could produce. Matas Vokietaitis provides the anchor in the middle for the Longhorns, coming off a strong finish to the season. He will now be surrounded by even more talent, with Colorado transfer Isaiah Johnson and TCU transfer David Punch joining the lineup. 3. ArkansasArkansas brings in one of the top recruiting classes in the country, giving John Calipari the chance to coach potential one-and-done options like Jordan Smith and Miikka Muurinen after retaining Billy Richmond as a glue piece from last season’s roster to again help this group gel on both ends of the floor. The Razorbacks were able to alleviate some of the pressure on the young talent, landing Georgia transfer Jeremiah Wilkinson to offer a scoring punch. However, it is clear that the leap made by the young players will determine how far this lineup can go. 4. TennesseeTennessee enters the season with a unique roster under Rick Barnes, pursuing offensive playmakers at multiple positions while anchoring the team with strong defenders. That process further builds on the ideology of recent seasons with even more trust in the system to work. The Volunteers made big splashes in the transfer portal, landing Wake Forest wing Juke Harris and Notre Dame forward Jalen Haralson along with VCU guard Terrence Hill to provide plenty scoring to the lineup. 5. AlabamaAlabama retained guard Aden Holloway this offseason, alongside wing option Amari Allen to kickstart the roster-building process under Nate Oats. They then made a clear effort to improve the size and strength in the frontcourt, adding a number of interior options in the transfer portal. The Crimson Tide turned to Kentucky transfer Brandon Garrison and Boise State transfer Drew Fielder to overhaul the frontcourt this season with different play styles available. The investment could also put more pressure on the returning players to produce for themselves and others on offense. You can find the full list HERE by clicking and subscribing! Bracketology On3 In On3’s preseason bracketology projections, fans can get a look at how the new 76-team format could look for teams across the country. Before the season tips off, the SEC sees 14 teams in the bracket, which would top their record of 13 participants which came in the 68-team era. 1-seeds: Florida, Duke, UConn, IllinoisLast Four In: NC State, Utah State, SMU, Ole MissFirst Four Out: Marquette, Virginia Tech, Arizona State, Oklahoma State You can find the full bracketology projections HERE by clicking!