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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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.