Massive roster spending has propelled the Southeastern Conference back to the top of the college basketball conference power rankings entering the 2026-27 season. The SEC leads all leagues with 30 players among the Top 101, 13 teams projected in preseason bracketology, and 13 programs spending $15 million or more on rosters.
SEC: Depth and Spending Power
Florida returns as the clear favorite after winning the SEC regular-season title by three games. Arkansas, Texas under second-year coach Sean Miller, and Tennessee with an overhauled offensive roster are also ranked in the preseason top 25. LSU, under returning coach Will Wade, takes an unconventional roster approach that could return the Tigers to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2022.
Big 12: Eligibility Boosts Contenders
The Big 12 places five teams in KenPom's preseason top 12, led by Arizona and Houston. Iowa State, Kansas, and Texas Tech benefit from eligibility lawsuits allowing potential fifth-year stars like Trey Kaufman-Renn, Tamin Lipsey, and Darrion Williams to return. Baylor, unranked after missing the 2026 tournament, impressed in exhibitions with wins over Florida and Illinois.
Big Ten: Questions Behind Illinois and Michigan State
Illinois and Michigan State give the Big Ten two prime national title contenders following Michigan's 2026 championship. However, the Wolverines lost their frontcourt and coach, Purdue's Braden Smith era has ended, and several programs are in transition under second-year coaches. USC enters year three under Eric Musselman, while Nebraska hopes star Pryce Sandfort can sustain last season's historic run.
Big East: Bounce-Back Expected
UConn and St. John's remain the standard-bearers, but the conference expects a stronger season after down years from Creighton and Marquette. New coaches Alan Huss at Creighton and Bryan Hodgson at Providence add intrigue, while Xavier aims to improve after finishing tied for last in Richard Pitino's first season.
ACC: Duke Leads, Fresh Coaching Blood Helps
Duke remains the class of the ACC, but Virginia (Ryan Odom), Miami (Jai Lucas), and Louisville offer Final Four potential. North Carolina reboots under former Denver Nuggets coach Mike Malone with muted expectations. The back half of the conference continues to drag down overall strength.
Pac-12: Multi-Bid League Role
No longer a high-major conference, the Pac-12 projects as a reliable multi-bid league akin to the old Mountain West. Gonzaga leads, with San Diego State, Utah State, Boise State, and Colorado State also harboring realistic NCAA Tournament hopes in the expanded 76-team field.
