One 12 months after sending a document 14 groups to the 2025 NCAA Event and producing its first nationwide champion since 2012, the SEC returned from the stratosphere in 2026. Although it could not match the heights of its historic 2024-25 dominance, it nonetheless landed in a great place.
The SEC led school basketball with 10 NCAA Event bids in 2026 and represented 1 / 4 of the Candy 16 earlier than it was boxed out of the Remaining 4. Now, because the 2026-27 season approaches, the convention is — on many ranges — operating it again.
Just one college made a training change, and LSU‘s new head man is not precisely new. It is former coach Will Wade, whose first stint with the Tigers ended simply 4 and a half years in the past. Of the 15 gamers who earned All-SEC honors final season, seven are again. Within the switch portal period, that is a big quantity of returning manufacturing.
Nowhere is the theme stronger than at Florida. The Gators return 4 starters from final 12 months’s squad, which earned a No. 1 seed within the NCAA Event. Moreover, Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu every performed pivotal roles on this system’s 2024 nationwide title crew. So did Denzel Aberdeen, who has returned to Gainesville following a one-year cease at Kentucky.
Our panelists unanimously picked Florida to win the league. Right here is the total rundown of how we see issues enjoying out within the SEC through the 2026-27 season.
CBS Sports activities SEC Preseason Participant of the Yr
Thomas Haugh | SF | Florida
Florida flexed Haugh from the 4 to the three throughout his junior season, and the versatile ahead tailored effectively to a perimeter-heavy position as he led the Gators in scoring at 17.1 factors per sport. His place change allowed coach Todd Golden to begin his 5 greatest gamers, and it made an amazing rebounding crew much more dominant on the glass. Haugh may have been a first-round decide within the NBA Draft however is returning to doubtlessly push the Gators to dynastic standing. If he can enhance his 32.6% 3-point taking pictures mark from final season, it might go a great distance towards addressing one among Florida’s solely weaknesses (perimeter taking pictures) from final season.
CBS Sports activities SEC Freshman of the Yr
Jordan Smith | SG | Arkansas
Goodbye, Darius Acuff Jr. Hi there, Jordan Smith Jr. Changing the SEC’s main scorer and No. 7 decide within the NBA Draft is a tall job, however with Smith, Arkansas coach John Calipari has one other one-and-done stud on his arms. Smith possible will not contact Acuff’s scoring tlevels, however there may be actual dimension to his sport. He completed with 20 factors, 11 assists, 11 rebounds and 4 steals throughout a summer season exhibition win within the Bahamas. If Arkansas wants Smith to attain, he can. However he will not all the time want the ball in his arms to make a optimistic impression.
4 extra gamers to look at
Tyler Tanner | PG | Vanderbilt
Tanner earned third-team All-American honors from CBS Sports activities after a breakout sophomore season. The undersized native product may have gone wherever — together with the NBA Draft — however opted for a return to a Vanderbilt program within the midst of a renaissance below third-year coach Mark Byington. Amongst returning SEC gamers, solely Mississippi State‘s Josh Hubbard averaged extra factors than Tanner, who put up 19.5 per sport together with 5.1 assists and a pair of.4 steals. He is an amazing finisher on the rim for his measurement and may solely be higher after including muscle to his body through the offseason.
Milan Momcilovic | SF | Kentucky
After a number of high-profile swings and misses through the roster development course of, Kentucky couldn’t afford to overlook on Momcilovic. It didn’t. Now it is time for the previous Iowa State marksman to carry up his finish of the cut price. Momcilovic led the nation with 136 made 3s final season and likewise led the nation in 3-point share at 48.7%. Whether or not you get it to him in transition, off a display screen or from a handoff, Momcilovic is nails from the skin. Simply do not count on him to create pictures for himself.
Juke Harris | SF | Tennesse
Harris is the No. 8 ranked switch of the cycle after ending third within the ACC in scoring with 21.4 factors per sport at Wake Forest final season. The dynamic 6-foot-7 wing may very well be the fourth straight switch to guide Tennessee in scoring. The earlier three led the Volunteers to the Elite Eight. Can Harris be the one who takes them to their first-ever Remaining 4?
PJ Haggerty | SG | Texas A&M
The one Massive 12 participant to common extra factors per sport final season than Haggerty was No. 1 general draft decide AJ Dybantsa. Although he was toiling in obscurity for a foul Kansas State crew, Haggerty proved as soon as once more that he’s a strolling bucket by averaging 23.4 factors. Now on his fifth college in 5 years, the contact-seeking guard is primed to turn out to be the offensive engine for Texas A&M. Haggerty just isn’t a high-volume 3-point shooter, however preserving him off the foul line is a chore.
SEC predicted order of end
1. Florida
Breakdown: After incomes a No. 1 seed in back-to-back seasons for the primary time in program historical past, the Gators are primed to do it once more and to contend for a second nationwide title in a three-year span. In a transfer-crazed sport, the Gators stand out for what they did not do. The one incoming switch is Denzel Aberdeen, who was a key rotation piece on the 2025 Florida title crew earlier than spending final season at Kentucky.
Florida struggled with perimeter taking pictures final season, rating 321st in 3-point share at 31.2%. The Gators want somebody aside from City Klavzar to step up and constantly knock down 3s at a 35% clip or higher. If Boogie Fland and/or Thomas Haugh can test that field, then be careful. An entire new stage of dominance may very well be coming for a crew that’s assured to be nice defensively and on the glass.
2. Texas
Breakdown: Texas made a shock run to the Candy 16 in coach Sean Miller’s first season after dropping 5 of its ultimate six video games earlier than Choice Sunday and barely squeaking into the First 4. Now, after a 12 months on the job, Miller is leveling the Longhorns up with a large expertise infusion. When combining highschool recruiting and switch lessons, the Longhorns’ incoming haul ranks No. 1, per 247Sports.
5-star freshmen Marcus Spears and Austin Goosby are attention-grabbers. However UT’s riches are so grand that these two might not even begin. The lone returner is a possible all-SEC performer at heart in Matas Vokietaitis. TCU switch David Punch will play subsequent to him as a rugged winner at energy ahead. At guard, Colorado switch Isaiah Johnson is a top-15 switch within the sport with three years of eligibility remaining, and Mikey Lewis from Saint Mary’s brings upside as effectively.
3. Arkansas
Breakdown: John Calipari is welcoming one other top-ranked recruiting class because the Razorbacks change final 12 months’s freshman studs Darius Acuff and Meleek Thomas. No. 2-ranked prospect Jordan Smith Jr. is the headliner, and the 6-foot-2 guard will do so much for the Razorbacks. JJ Andrews (a five-star wing) and Miikka Muurinen (a Finnish 7-footer) are two extra freshmen to know. However as Arkansas seeks to transcend the Candy 16 after stalling there in Calipari’s first two seasons, it’ll have some veterans within the combine.
The important thing returner is junior wing Billy Richmond III, a dynamic two-way wing who will probably be an NBA scout’s dream if he can begin making greater than 25.9% of his 3-pointers. Georgia switch Jeremiah Wilkinson is a high-volume 3-point shooter who averaged 17.4 factors final season. Furman switch Cooper Bowser is poised to bruise on the block after averaging 13.8 factors for the Paladins. This appears to be like like the right combination of vets and newbies.
4. Tennessee
Breakdown: Tennessee has ranked among the many prime 15 defenses at KenPom every of the previous six seasons. It has by no means completed among the many prime 15 offenses in that span. Is that this the season that modifications? Rick Barnes, 72, went all-in on offense with the nation’s No. 3 switch haul. The headliner is Wake Forest switch Juke Harris, who averaged 21.4 factors per sport final season. However that is just the start.
Dai Dai Ames (16.9 PPG at Cal), Terrence Hill Jr. (15.0 PPG at VCU), Jalen Haralson (16.2 PPG at Notre Dame) and Tyler Lundblade (15.6 PPG at Belmont) carry ample offensive pop as effectively. This needs to be Barnes’ greatest offense since 2019. If he can coax elite protection from this roster as effectively? Look out.
5. Alabama
Breakdown: Alabama‘s 2026 season was outlined partially by distraction. The Crimson Tide introduced again a middle from the G League after he’d been away from this system for 2 and a half years. Then, star guard Aden Holloway bought hit with felony drug fees earlier than the NCAA Event. Did we point out that coach Nate Oats is now married to a former Crimson Tide staffer who’s rejoining this system? The Crimson Tide nonetheless gained 25 video games and reached the Candy 16.
OK, again to basketball. With Holloway again and sophomore wing Amari Allen poised to turn out to be a 2027 lottery decide, this is not a complete rebuild. One other sophomore wing, London Jamison, is poised to take a step ahead as effectively. Boise State switch Drew Fielder matches the Bama archetype of a stretch 4, and in-conference transfers Brandon Garrison (Kentucky) and Jamarion Davis-Fleming (Mississippi State) carry the muscle down low. This crew will go so far as the Holloway-Allen-Jemison trio can take it.
6. Kentucky
Breakdown: After level guard accidents restricted the potential of his first two Kentucky groups and sometimes left the Wildcats with no pure facilitator, Mark Pope seems poised to begin two of them collectively. Transfers Zoom Diallo (Washington) and Alex Wilkins (Furman) averaged 4.5 and 4.7 assists, respectively, final season.
One in all their chief duties at UK will probably be to get Iowa State switch Milan Momcilovic the basketball in rhythm. The nation’s greatest 3-point shooter introduced a sigh of aid to Massive Blue Nation when he dedicated to the Wildcats. Momcilovic’s dedication and sophomore heart Malachi Moreno‘s choice to spurn the NBA Draft restored some religion on this crew’s potential after Pope missed on some high-profile targets. One wild card to look at on this roster is Senegalese 7-footer Ousmane N’Diaye. If he is prepared for this stage of competitors, there may be interesting versatility in his talent set.
7. Vanderbilt
Breakdown: Vanderbilt’s two-year turnaround below Mark Byington is a sight to behold after he inherited a 9-23 crew following the 2023-24 season. He’s 47-22 with a pair of NCAA Event appearances and seems to have one other robust crew. All of it begins with junior guard Tyler Tanner.
The native product did all of it for the Commodores final season and can once more this season, however with a distinct supporting solid. Washington State switch Ace Glass III and extremely touted freshman Gabe Nesmith will present scoring assist on the perimeter. Vandy has been chronically undersized below Byington. Seven-footer Bangot Dak could also be his greatest rim protector but after blocking 1.6 pictures per sport at Colorado final season. However he’ll want to remain wholesome and out of foul hassle until the ‘Dores need to roll with Nebraska switch Berke Buyuktuncel as a small-ball 5.
8. Missouri
Breakdown: Missouri‘s outlook hinges to an extent on whether or not fifth-year ahead Mark Mitchell can get eligible after main the Tigers in scoring the previous two seasons. Getting the two-time All-SEC ahead again can be a present. If it does not pan out, that simply means freshman guard Jason Crowe Jr. will carry a fair larger share of the offensive load.
The five-star California product is Mizzou’s second-highest rated dedication in program historical past and can orchestrate the assault for fifth-year coach Dennis Gates. Even when Mitchell is not cleared, the Tigers may have loads of measurement. Rugged and well-traveled ahead Jaylen Carey is a bruiser who has confirmed himself at Vanderbilt and Tennessee. Kansas switch Bryson Tiller is one other large with talent.
Meet Jason Crowe Jr., essentially the most prolific scorer in highschool hoops, who may change Missouri’s fortunes
Cameron Salerno
9. Texas A&M
Breakdown: Texas A&M coach Buck McMillan proved his up-tempo “Buckyball” model can work within the SEC final season as his first crew completed 11-7 within the league and reached the second spherical of the NCAA Event. That crew featured a balanced group of scorers. This offense will possible skew towards PJ Haggerty.
The 6-foot-3 Kansas State switch has averaged 21+ factors per sport at three totally different colleges over the previous three seasons and was a second-team All-American at Memphis in 2025. If fifth-year gamers Rylan Griffen (returner) and Jordan Pope (Texas) keep eligible, it’ll give McMillan the taking pictures he must maintain the ground spaced round Haggerty, who likes to drive and draw contact. The Aggies are mild on inside heft, however Tennessee switch Cade Phillips will probably be a lob risk on Haggerty’s slashes, and returner Zach Clemence is a 6-foot-11 floor-spacer.
10. Auburn
Breakdown: The teaching handoff from Bruce Pearl to son Steven Pearl may have gone higher because the Tigers missed the NCAA Event in 2026 following a dismal second half of league play. Auburn did rally to win the NIT, nevertheless, and the Tigers have reloaded getting into 2026-27.
Beginning guards Tahaad Pettiford and Kevin Overton are again after ending second and third on the crew in scoring. That 1-2 punch will probably be complemented by a few high-volume 3-point shooters transferring in from close by mid-majors. Thomas Dowd (Troy) and Adam Olsen (South Alabama) are each 6-foot-8 marksmen who will maintain the ground spaced. Auburn’s ceiling could also be decided by how French 7-footer Narcisse Ngoy and Creighton switch Owen Freeman pan out within the paint. After a foul season for the Tigers’ protection, they want Ngoy to be an amazing rim protector.
11. Georgia
Breakdown: Georgia earned a No. 8 seed within the NCAA Event final season — its greatest since 2002 — after posting a profitable document in convention play for the primary time in a decade. Now, the Bulldogs are operating it again with three of their prime 4 scorers.
Guards Marcus Millender and Blue Cain mix with ahead Kanon Catchings to provide fifth-year coach Mike White a robust nucleus. Changing the shot-swatting duo of Somto Cyril and Justin Abson may very well be tougher after Georgia ranked No. 3 nationally with six blocks per sport final season. Transfers James Scott (Ole Miss) and Andrew Osasuyi (St. Bonaventure) will tackle that problem after proving themselves to be good rim protectors at their prior stops.
12. LSU
Breakdown: The saga over who will probably be eligible for coach Will Wade in his return to LSU is constant by way of the preseason because the Tigers await NCAA clearance for a handful of worldwide gamers and authorized cowl for fifth-year transfers like Skyy Clark and Donovan Dent.
If all the pieces pans out in LSU’s favor, the Tigers may have their greatest crew since Wade’s firing amid a recruiting scandal simply earlier than the 2022 NCAA Event. But when Wade cannot get overseas professionals like Saliou Niang, Gilad Levy, Brice Dessert and Michael Ruzic eligible, this will probably be a lean roster that struggles to maintain up in an SEC that has improved since Wade’s first stint within the league.
Monitoring Will Wade’s ‘unconventional’ roster at LSU: Who’s eligible and who’s on the skin trying in?
Cameron Salerno
13. Oklahoma
Breakdown: Had the NCAA Event been 76 groups final season, Oklahoma would have made it after the Sooners staged a livid late rally which left them simply on the unsuitable facet of the bubble. Whether or not the 2026-27 crew makes it may very well be decided by the eligibility fates of two key transfers.
Fifth-year hopefuls B.J. Edwards (SMU) and Duke Brennan (Villanova) are counting on the judicial system for eligibility and may very well be important distinction makers. Brennan averaged 12.4 factors and 10.3 rebounds on 65.8% taking pictures final season whereas Edwards averaged 12.7 factors, 5.9 rebounds, 4.9 assists and a pair of.3 steals final season. If sixth-year coach Porter Moser is ready to mix Edwards with returning guard Xzayvier Brown and Texas A&M switch Pop Isaacs, it’ll give OU one of many league’s higher again courts.
14. Ole Miss
Breakdown: After dropping 12 of its ultimate 13 regular-season video games, Ole Miss gained three straight on the SEC Event and took Arkansas to extra time within the semifinals earlier than bowing out. When most groups would have mailed it in, the Rebels saved combating. But it surely nonetheless went down as the primary dropping season of coach Chris Beard’s profession.
What’s being performed to repair it? The addition of Seton Corridor switch Adam “Budd” Clark at level guard offers the offense a extra pure origination level. He loves to the touch the paint, which is able to permit returning guards Ilias Kamardine and Patton Pinkins the possibility to unfold out across the arc for 3-point alternatives. Essentially the most attention-grabbing newcomer is wing Ben Henshall, a 22-year outdated veteran of Australia’s NBL who could also be gifted sufficient to get The Rebels proper again within the NCAA Event hunt.
15. Mississippi State
Breakdown: Josh Hubbard is the face of Mississippi State basketball and is quickly to be this system’s all-time main scorer. The 6-foot guard enters his fourth season needing simply 196 factors to surpass Jeff Malone’s present mark of two,142 factors. After averaging a career-best 22.1 factors final season, it should not take Hubbard lengthy to get there.
The query is whether or not Mississippi State’s supporting solid will probably be ok to get the Bulldogs again to the Massive Dance after they missed it for the primary time in Chris Jans’ tenure. Now getting into Yr 5, Jans overhauled the roster with some higher taking pictures after the Bullies ranked 273rd nationally in 3-point share at 32.4% and 356th (out of 365) in free-throw taking pictures at simply 66%. RJ Johnson hit 42.3% of his 3-pointers at Kennesaw State final season whereas Kendyl Sanders (Utah) and TJ Simpkins (Seton Corridor) have been every high quality perimeter shooters for high-major applications.
16. South Carolina
Breakdown: Over the previous 22 seasons South Carolina has made the NCAA Event solely twice. Fifth-year coach Lamont Paris is answerable for a kind of journeys. However the highs of a 26-win 2023-24 marketing campaign really feel more and more distant after the Gamecocks totaled simply 25 victories over the previous two seasons. One other dropping 12 months would come as no shock until a motley group of transfers can punch above its weight.
Ex-Purdue and Texas sharpshooter Camden Heide has been across the block and performed significant roles on good groups. Wisconsin switch Aleksas Bieliauskas has some breakout potential after beginning for the Badgers as a freshman and stretching the ground as a 6-10 ahead. George Mason switch Kory Mincy led South Carolina in scoring throughout a two-game August exhibition tour, however he isn’t the type of program-changing expertise the Gamecocks must rediscover the magic of three seasons in the past.
SEC skilled picks
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