SEC tops preseason conference rankings as roster spending reaches 30 players

The SEC enters the 2026-27 college basketball season ranked as the sport's top conference, driven by roster spending that no other league matches. The Big 12, Big Ten, Big East, ACC and Pac-12 follow in that order in the preseason conference power rankings published Oct. 30, 2026.

The rankings include three data points per conference: players added through the transfer portal, a count of teams returning players from the prior season, and preseason top-25 appearances. The SEC recorded 30 additions, 1.88 per team across its 16 members, with 13 of 16 teams returning players and 13 teams in the preseason top 25. The Big 12 posted 17 additions at 1.06 per team, with 9 of 16 teams returning players and 6 in the top 25. The Big Ten recorded 23 additions at 1.28 per team across 18 teams, with 10 returning players and 5 in the top 25.

Behind Florida, which returned production from a team that won the SEC regular-season title by three games, the conference includes seven preseason top-25 teams. Arkansas is ranked No. 12, Texas No. 7, and Tennessee No. 8. Texas is entering its second season under coach Sean Miller. Tennessee is working with a retooled roster built to generate more offense after a difficult exhibition stretch.

The Big 12 holds five of the top 12 spots in KenPom's preseason ratings, with Arizona and Houston leading that group. Arizona returns two starters from a Final Four run. Houston remains under coach Kelvin Sampson. Iowa State, Kansas and Texas Tech are also positioned near the top of those ratings, with Trey Kaufman-Renn at Kansas, Tamin Lipsey at Iowa State and Darrion Williams at Texas Tech available for a potential fifth season of eligibility while related litigation proceeds. Baylor, which missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018 and is unranked, beat No. 1 Florida and No. No. 3 Illinois in exhibition games under coach Scott Drew.

Illinois and Michigan State give the Big Ten two title-caliber options as the league follows Michigan's 2026 championship. Michigan lost its front court and its coach. Purdue's Braden Smith era has ended. Indiana, Maryland and Minnesota are in year two of new coaching tenures, and Iowa must replace All-American point guard Bennett Stirtz after coach Ben McCollum's first season.

The Big East sent three of its 11 teams to the 68-team NCAA Tournament last season. UConn and St. John's remain the conference's standard-bearers, and Creighton is under new coach Alan Huss. Villanova reached the tournament in Kevin Willard's first season. The ACC moved from four NCAA Tournament teams in 2025 to eight in 2026; Ryan Odom won 30 games in his first season at Virginia, and Miami went from seven wins to 26 under first-year coach Jai Lucas.

The Pac-12 fields nine teams, four additions at 0.44 per team, with three returning players and one team in the preseason top 25. Gonzaga leads that group, joined by San Diego State, Utah State, Boise State and Colorado State as programs targeting the 76-team NCAA Tournament field.