Way-too-early SEC baseball power rankings for 2026 season
Similar to years past, the SEC was likely the premier conference across college baseball in 2025.
As to why, not only did the SEC have a majority of its' teams ranked within the Top 25 polls nationally throughout the season, but the conference also followed that up with a memorable postseason as well.
During the postseason, the SEC sent a total of 13 teams to the NCAA Tournament, but nine however saw themselves be eliminated in the regional round. As a result, only four advances to super regionals, as well as two to the College World Series in Omaha.
Both teams in Omaha would impress as well, one of which was the last team standing in college baseball to bring home the SEC's sixth consecutive national championship.
Looking ahead to 2026 however, the SEC is once again set to be college baseball's premier conference, chasing their seventh-straight national title. However, who are some of the SEC's top teams shaping up to be next season?
Here is a look at our way-too-early SEC baseball power rankings for the 2026 season.
16. Missouri Tigers
Missouri is coming off a rough 2025 campaign in which the Tigers finished with a 16-39 overall record, as well as a 3-27 mark in SEC play to finish at the bottom of the conference. The Tigers are also retaining head coach Kerrick Jackson this offseason, and will need a major bounce back campaign in order to be in SEC contention in 2026.
15. South Carolina Gamecocks
South Carolina struggled in year one under head coach Paul Mainieri, concluding the season with a 28-29 overall record, as well as a 6-24 mark in SEC play. Similar to Missouri previously, South Carolina will likely need a massive bounce back season in order to contend in the SEC in 2026.
14. Kentucky Wildcats
Led by head coach Nick Mingione, Kentucky made a regional appearance in the NCAA Tournament by going 31-26 overall, as well as 13-17 in SEC play. The Wildcats will likely be in contention to make the NCAA Tournament again next season.
13. Texas A&M Aggies
After entering this past season with a significant amount of hype, Texas A&M struggled in 2025 by finishing at 30-26 overall (11-19 in SEC) to miss the NCAA Tournament. The Aggies are also retaining head coach Michael Earley going into next season, but will need a bounce back campaign that will not be an easy task after likely losing Jace LaViolette, among others, to the MLB draft.
12. Oklahoma Sooners
Oklahoma's first season as a member of the SEC included a NCAA Tournament appearance in which the Sooners went 38-22 overall, as well as 14-16 in conference play. The Sooners should be positioned to make another NCAA Tournament appearance next season, even despite likely losing ace Kyson Witherspoon to the MLB draft.
11. Mississippi State Bulldogs
Mississippi State is the lone SEC team set to begin a new era in 2026, as Brian O'Connor takes over a Bulldogs team that made the NCAA Tournament at 36-23 overall, as well as 15-15 in conference play. O'Connor comes to Starkville from Virginia, and has already landed multiple impact additions so far this offseason through the transfer portal.
10. Florida Gators
Florida is coming off what was likely a down 2025 in which the Gators made the NCAA Tournament at 39-22 overall, as well as 15-15 in SEC play. As with every offseason, the Gators will reload, and Florida should be back in NCAA Tournament contention in 2025.
9. Alabama Crimson Tide
Led by head coach Rob Vaughn, Alabama is coming off a season in which the Crimson Tide went 41-18 overall (16-14 in SEC) to make the NCAA Tournament. The Crimson Tide are currently set to return one of the SEC's top players next season in shortstop Justin Lebron, and should be in NCAA Tournament contention.
8. Ole Miss Rebels
The Ole Miss Rebels had likely their best season in years during 2025, ending with a 43-21 overall record (16-14 in SEC) to make the NCAA Tournament. One of the SEC's surprise teams from this past season, all eyes will be on the Rebels again in 2025 to see if they can repeat their success.
7. Auburn Tigers
Auburn reached the super regionals of the NCAA Tournament this past season with a 41-20 overall record (17-13 in SEC). The Tigers will likely lose some key names off this past season's team such as Ike Irish, but should still be one of the top teams in the SEC.
6. Vanderbilt Commodores
The 2025 SEC Tournament champions, Vanderbilt had an early exit from the NCAA Tournament following earning the No. 1 overall seed, and as a result, ended the season at 43-18 overall (19-11 in SEC). Tim Corbin and Vanderbilt will reload once again this upcoming offseason, and will be back in NCAA Tournament in 2026.
5. Georgia Bulldogs
Georgia had a memorable 2025 season in which they went 43-17 overall, as well as 18-12 in SEC play, but saw an early exit occur in the regionals of the NCAA Tournament. Wes Johnson and the Bulldogs have been one of the top SEC winners in the transfer portal so far this offseason, and should be back among the top of the conference next year.
4. Arkansas Razorbacks
Arkansas made a deep run in the NCAA Tournament this past season, reaching the College World Series where the Razorbacks were one win away from the Finals, ending the year at 50-15 overall (20-10 in SEC). The Razorbacks should be back in the NCAA Tournament next season, despite some likely significant losses in Wehiwa Aloy, Zach Root, and Gage Wood, among others.
3. Tennessee Volunteers
Tennessee fell just short of Omaha this past season, falling in the super regionals to conclude the year at 46-19 overall (16-14 in SEC). Tony Vitello and the Volunteers will reload in the offseason to contend in 2026, even with likely departures to prominent names such as Liam Doyle, Gavin Kilen, and Andrew Fischer.
2. Texas Longhorns
The SEC regular season champions announced their entrance to the conference in a big way in 2025, finishing with a NCAA Tournament appearance at 44-14 overall, as well as a 22-8 mark in SEC play. Led by head coach Jim Schlossnagle, the Longhorns will be back among the SEC's best in 2025 led by returning Freshman of the Year Dylan Volantis.
1. LSU Tigers
LSU was college baseball's final team standing in 2025, winning the national championship after a perfect run at the Men's College World Series to end the season at 53-15 overall (19-11 in SEC). The Tigers' second title in the last three years, LSU will be back in title contention yet again in 2026, despite some likely key losses in Kade Anderson, Anthony Eyanson, and Jared Jones.
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