Feb. 8, 2026, 11:00 a.m. ET
It is no secret that the SEC is the premier conference in college baseball.
Just a year ago, the conference once again send a majority of its’ 16 teams to the NCAA Tournament, and for what was the sixth-straight season, the eventual national champion came from the SEC.
Taking a look ahead to this season also, the SEC once again seems positioned to have multiple teams contend for a national championship, with nine teams from the conference currently ranked in the preseason USA TODAY Sports College Baseball Coaches Poll.
Many more are also likely expected to make the NCAA Tournament once again this season as well, setting the stage for what could be another memorable season in the SEC.
Following are the preseason power rankings entering the 2026 SEC baseball season.
Need a news break? Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!16. Missouri Tigers
We begin with the Missouri, as the Tigers and head coach Kerrick Jackson missed the NCAA Tournament a year ago following a rough season which included a 16-39 overall record (3-27 SEC). The Tigers roster returns the outfield duo of Pierre Seals and Kaden Peer, among others.
15. South Carolina Gamecocks
South Carolina will be hoping for a bounce back season coming off a 2025 campaign where the Gamecocks missed the NCAA Tournament at 28-29 overall (6-24 SEC). Entering year two of the Paul Mainieri era, South Carolina will be led by returning names such as first baseman Beau Hollins and right-handed pitcher Brandon Stone.
14. Oklahoma Sooners
Oklahoma’s first season in the conference featured a 38-22 overall record (14-16 SEC) that saw the Sooners make a regional appearance. The Sooners and head coach Skip Johnson will return a roster headlined by the infield duo of Jaxon Willits and Kyle Branch.
13. Kentucky Wildcats
The Kentucky Wildcats and head coach Nick Mingione made a regional appearance last season, finishing the year at 31-26 overall (13-17 SEC). Kentucky’s roster is headlined by returning shortstop Tyler Bell.
12. Ole Miss Rebels
Ole Miss is coming off a strong 2025 season that saw the Rebels make a regional appearance at 43-21 overall (16-14 SEC). The Rebels and head coach Mike Bianco return potentially one of the SEC’s top pitchers in right-hander Cade Townsend.
11. Texas A&M Aggies
Texas A&M was one of the SEC’s more surprising teams a year ago, missing the NCAA Tournament entirely at 30-26 overall (11-19 SEC) in year one of the Michael Earley era. The Aggies will be searching for a bounce back season led by a talented roster featuring returning outfielder Caden Sorrell, third baseman Gavin Grahovac, and pitcher Shane Sdao, as well as Maryland transfer shortstop Chris Hacopian.
Alabama and head coach Rob Vaughn are coming off a 2025 season which resulted in a regional appearance at 41-18 overall record (16-14 SEC). The Crimson Tide return one of the SEC’s top players in shortstop Justin Lebron.
9. Florida Gators
Florida made a regional appearance a year ago, finishing the season with a 39-22 overall record (15-15 SEC). Led by head coach Kevin O’Sullivan, the Gators return one of the SEC’s top pitchers in right-hander Liam Peterson.
8. Vanderbilt Commodores
Vanderbilt and head coach Tim Corbin are coming off a season that featured a 43-18 overall record (19-11 SEC), as well as a regional appearance. The Commodores are talented yet again, headlined by right-handed pitcher Austin Nye and infielder Braden Holcomb.
7. Georgia Bulldogs
The Georgia Bulldogs and head coach Wes Johnson made a regional appearance last season, finishing the year at 43-17 overall (18-12 SEC). Georgia returns the likes of Tre Phelps and Kolby Branch, while also having added a few newcomers such as Stanford transfer pitcher Joey Volchko.
6. Mississippi State Bulldogs
A new era begins in Starkville this season, as Brian O’Connor takes over at Mississippi State after a lengthy tenure at Virginia. O’Connor inherits a Bulldogs team which made a regional appearance at 36-23 overall (15-15 SEC), and will be headlined by returning third baseman Ace Reese.
5. Tennessee Volunteers
The Tennessee Volunteers begin a new era in 2026, as Josh Elander takes over the role of head coach in the place of Tony Vitello. Elander takes over a Volunteers team which made a super regional appearance a year ago at 46-19 overall (16-14 SEC), and has a roster headlined by Virginia transfer outfielder Henry Ford, as well as returning pitcher Tegan Kuhns.
4. Auburn Tigers
The Auburn Tigers and head coach Butch Thompson fell in the super regionals last season, ending the year with a 41-20 overall record (17-13 SEC). Auburn’s roster features a number of returning players from a year ago such as second baseman Chris Rembert.
3. Arkansas Razorbacks
Arkansas and head coach Dave Van Horn are coming off yet another strong season that included a College World Series appearance at 50-15 overall (20-10 SEC). The Razorbacks will be one of the SEC’s most talented teams in 2026, headlined by an elite pitching staff featuring Gabe Gaeckle, Hunter Dietz, and Carson Wiggins, as well as catcher Ryder Helfrick.
2. Texas Longhorns
Texas enjoyed a solid first season in the SEC where the Longhorns went 44-14 overall (22-8 SEC), making a regional appearance in year one of the Jim Schlossnagle era. Led by returning names such as infielder Ethan Mendoza and left-handed pitcher Dylan Volantis, the Longhorns will likely be back among the SEC’s best once again in 2026.
1. LSU Tigers
Having won two of the last three national championships, LSU sits atop the SEC preseason power rankings coming off a season that included a 53-15 overall record (19-11 SEC). The defending champion Tigers and head coach Jay Johnson are loaded once again in 2026, headlined by the outfielder duo Derek Curiel and Jake Brown.
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