BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The New Year has arrived, and with it, the Southeastern Conference basketball schedule has officially descended into its annual state of beautiful, high-octane chaos. If the non-conference slate was a polite dinner party, SEC play is the moment someone kicks over the table and starts a food fight with $100 steaks.
As of Jan. 5, 2026, the SEC remains the deepest pool in college basketball. It is a league where the “bottom” teams possess enough NBA-caliber talent to ruin a blue-blood’s weekend and the “top” teams are currently rearranging the national landscape. Vanderbilt, long the conference’s academic sweetheart but competitive afterthought, has transformed into a buzzsaw under first-year leadership. Meanwhile, the traditional powers in Tuscaloosa and Fayetteville are proving that in the NIL era, “reloading” is a process that takes about fifteen minutes and a very large checkbook.
Through the first weekend of January, the analytics tell a story of extreme offensive efficiency. Georgia leads the conference in scoring at a blistering 99.0 points per game, while Tennessee continues to play defense like they’re protecting a state secret, holding opponents to just 63.7 points per contest.
Here is the definitive SEC Power Ranking as we dive into the heart of the 2025-26 season.
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1. Vanderbilt (14-0, 1-0 Conference)
Yes, you read that correctly. The Commodores are the lone unblemished team in the conference. After dispatching Auburn 104-100 in an overtime thriller to open league play, Vandy has proven its 13-0 non-conference start was no fluke. Freshman Tyler Tanner has operated the offense with the poise of a ten-year veteran, orchestrating a unit that ranks fourth in the SEC in scoring (94.2 ppg). They aren’t just winning; they are winning with a margin of 23.5 points. If they keep this up, the Memorial Gym “fog” might become a permanent weather pattern.
2. Alabama (11-3, 1-0 Conference)
Nate Oats does not rebuild; he simply upgrades the software. Despite losing Mark Sears to the professional ranks, the Crimson Tide look terrifyingly familiar. Aden Holloway, a transfer who seems to have found his soul in Tuscaloosa, tied a career-high with 26 points in a clinical 89-74 demolition of Kentucky. Alabama leads the conference in three-pointers made, and their “Lullaby” defense — sleeping through the first ten minutes before suffocating you — remains intact. They lead the SEC in scoring average over the last two years and show no signs of slowing down.
3. Arkansas (11-3, 1-0 Conference)
John Calipari’s second act in the SEC is off to a roaring start. The Razorbacks signaled their intent with an 86-75 win over Tennessee, fueled by an 18-5 second-half run. Freshmen Darius Acuff Jr. and D.J. Wagner are a terrifying backcourt duo, combining for high-level playmaking that has Arkansas averaging 90.5 points per game. Calipari has traded the bluegrass for the Ozarks, but the results remain the same: five-star talent playing with a massive chip on its shoulder.
4. Georgia (13-1, 0-1 Conference)
The Bulldogs are the most confusing elite team in the country. They lead the SEC in scoring (99.0 ppg) and scoring margin (+27.0), yet they stumbled in their SEC opener against Auburn. Still, the metrics love them. They have been nearly unbeatable at home (10-0) and possess a depth that wears teams down by the under-four timeout. If they can find a way to win on the road, they are a legitimate SEC contender.
5. Tennessee (10-4, 0-1 Conference)
Rick Barnes has built a fortress in Knoxville, but the offense occasionally forgets the passcode. The Vols are the best defensive team in the league, ranking first in points allowed (63.1 ppg historically this cycle). However, the loss to Arkansas exposed some scoring droughts. Ja’Kobi Gillespie has been a godsend as a transfer, but the Vols need more consistency from the wing and 5 star recruit Nate Ament to keep pace with the league’s track stars.
6. Oklahoma (11-3, 1-0 Conference)
Welcome to the SEC, Porter Moser. The Sooners have adjusted to their new home by playing a rugged, physical brand of basketball. Their 86-70 win over Ole Miss showcased a defense that tightened the screws in the second half, holding the Rebels to abysmal shooting percentages. With a 15.0 scoring margin, Oklahoma is no longer a “new kid” to be bullied; they are the ones doing the shoving.
7. Texas A&M (11-3, 1-0 Conference)
The Aggies play basketball like a choreographed bar fight. They aren’t always pretty, but they are incredibly effective. Rashaun Agee’s 15-point, 11-rebound double-double in a win over LSU epitomizes the Buzz Williams era: toughness over everything. They rank second in the SEC in offensive rebounding and second in points per game (96.2) during this hot start.
8. Missouri (11-3, 1-0 Conference)
The Tigers are the ultimate “don’t look now” team. After a narrow 76-74 win over Florida, Missouri has established itself as a squad that wins the close ones. Anthony Robinson II has emerged as a legitimate star, tallying 19 points and eight rebounds in the win over the Gators. They may not have the flashy five-stars of Alabama or Arkansas, but they have the chemistry of a team that’s been together for a decade.
9. LSU (12-2, 0-1 Conference)
Matt McMahon has the Tigers back in the conversation. They were 12-1 entering conference play before a heartbreaking three-point loss to Texas A&M. With a scoring average of 89.0 points and a defensive unit that ranks in the top half of the league, LSU is a dangerous out every single night.
10. Florida (9-5, 0-1 Conference)
The Gators have the talent to be in the top three, but the consistency isn’t there yet. Boogie Fland (15.1 ppg) and Xaivian Lee are a dynamic backcourt, but Florida has struggled in close road games. Their 76-74 loss to Missouri was a microcosm of their season: brilliant in flashes, but prone to late-game lapses.
11. Kentucky (9-5, 0-1 Conference)
It is strange to see the Wildcats this low, but the Mark Pope era is still in its “Ikea furniture” phase — the instructions are there, but a few pieces are still missing. The 89-74 loss to Alabama showed that while Kentucky can score (84.9 ppg), they struggle to stop elite perimeter teams. Once big man Jayden Quaintance returns to full health, expect this ranking to skyrocket.
12. Auburn (9-5, 0-1 Conference)
Auburn is the best “bad” team in the country. All five of their losses have come against Top 25 opponents. They pushed Vanderbilt to the brink in a 104-100 overtime loss, proving they can score with anyone. Bruce Pearl’s squad is currently ranked 14th in the SEC in defense, which is the only thing keeping them from the top tier.
13. Mississippi State (9-5, 1-0 Conference)
Josh Hubbard is a human flamethrower. His 38 points in an overtime win against Texas was the performance of the week. The Bulldogs are scrappy and well-coached, but they lack the depth to survive the Saturday-Tuesday grind of the SEC without Hubbard playing like an All-American every night.
14. Texas (9-5, 0-1 Conference)
The Longhorns have faced a brutal schedule, losing to the likes of Duke and UConn. However, their 101-98 loss to Mississippi State at home was a bitter pill. Texas has the athletes, but they haven’t yet found a defensive identity in a league that requires one.
15. Ole Miss (8-6, 0-1 Conference)
Chris Beard has a talented roster, but the jelling process is taking longer than expected. After an 86-70 loss to Oklahoma, the Rebels find themselves searching for answers. They are second in the SEC in scoring defense (66.5 ppg), but their offense (74.6 ppg) is the second-worst in the conference.
16. South Carolina (9-5, 0-1 Conference)
The Gamecocks are competitive — all of their losses have been by single digits — but they lack the “knockout punch” required in this league. Ranking 14th in scoring (81.0 ppg), they often find themselves stuck in mud while the rest of the SEC is driving Ferraris.
The beauty of the SEC this season is that these rankings are written in pencil. By mid-February, Vanderbilt could be the No. 1 seed in the country, or they could be fighting for their lives in the middle of the pack. What is certain, however, is that if you aren’t watching SEC basketball right now, you aren’t watching the best show on hardwood.
The pace is frantic, the scores are high, and the stakes are even higher. In a conference where the scoring average is approaching triple digits, defense might be optional for some, but entertainment is guaranteed for all.
