SEC Baseball Power Rankings: LSU stays on top, several teams impress
By Joe Cox
Published:
The SEC baseball season is off to a roaring start, with 7 teams still undefeated heading into the second weekend of the season.
The competition in nonconference play can be deeply uneven, but we should at least be a little sharper on who is up and down in the SEC.
Here’s where the 16 teams stand as of Friday, February 20, 2026:
16. Missouri (2-2)
A 34-3 win was nice, but losses to Mount St. Mary’s and Florida Atlantic suggest that it’s going to be a long season. Of concern is that Mizzou scored just 12 runs in its 3 games other than the 34-run explosion.
15. South Carolina (4-1)
The Gamecocks don’t have a bad record, but eking out close wins over lower-tier competition won’t count for much in the long run. USC has just 1 stolen base so far, tied for last in the SEC.
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14. Alabama (4-1)
The good news is that 4-1 record. The bad news is a .214 team batting average and 2-1 and 3-2 wins against Samford and Alabama State. Time to wake up the bats.
13. Vanderbilt (3-2)
Vandy took 2 opening weekend losses, with the 11-1 loss to Oklahoma State being more than a bit concerning. Surprisingly, the Commodores have been sharp at the plate, already slugging 16 homers. Brodie Johnston already has 5 and only 2 players on Vandy’s team hit 7+ homers all season last year (and Johnston was one of them). But the 4.70 ERA (second worst in the league) is a little concerning.
12. Kentucky (3-1)
Two problems for the Wildcats: the serious one is the loss of shortstop Tyler Bell in the opening game to a shoulder injury. The less serious (but still concerning) one is a loss to in-state Morehead State, which suggests some issues on the mound and at the plate.
11. Texas A&M (4-0)
Hitting .394 for the year gets the Aggies a bump. Caden Sorrell opened up on fire. With every win by 5 or more runs, A&M hasn’t been challenged yet… which could be bad or could show how good this team can be.
10. Oklahoma (4-0)
The Sooners are another team on the rise — hitting .320 and averaging 10.5 runs per game so far. The starting pitching was a pleasant surprise, and if it stays this good, Oklahoma can sneak into the top handful of teams in the league.
9. Ole Miss (5-0)
The Rebels opened up well, posting a 1.98 ERA while hitting .344. The Rebels weren’t tested much, but this is still an encouraging opening look. Note 2 homers from Judd Utermark on Wednesday.
8. Georgia (3-1)
Mixed bag for UGA, with 3 easy wins, but also a 3-run loss to Wright State. An impressive 58 strikeouts in 34 innings pitched by the UGA pitching staff suggests some major potential on the mound.
7. Florida (4-1)
After a first-game loss to UAB, Florida bounced back by winning the next 4 games by 5 or more runs. The Gators have hit 11 homers and allowed just 1, which makes a nice first impression.
6. Auburn (3-1)
Not sure what to make of this team yet. A 1-run squeaker, a pair of easy victories, and then an 8-0 beatdown by Cincinnati. Auburn has hit just 2 homers so far and has the next-to-worst slugging percentage in the league.
5. Tennessee (4-0)
The pitching from the Vols set a nice opening tone. Tennessee held opponents to a .165 batting average and has a team 1.64 ERA. Hitting .355 was a nice bit of icing on the cake. Tennessee hasn’t been challenged yet.
4. Arkansas (3-1)
The fighting Dave Van Horns haven’t been electrifying yet. Arkansas’s loss was to No. 9 TCU by a run, but 2 of its wins came by a combined 3 runs. A .252 team batting average looks pretty suspect in the early going.
3. Mississippi State (5-0)
After a couple of nailbiters last weekend against Hofstra, the Bulldogs won their last 2 by a 30-7 combined margin. State is second in the SEC in strikeouts on the mound, and looks like a team built for postseason play.
2. Texas (4-0)
A 2-run win and 3 blowouts leave the Longhorns near the top. Dylan Volantis was sharp and Texas is holding opponents to a .179 team batting average. There’s plenty to like here.
1. LSU (5-0)
The good news: a .355 team batting average and 12.6 runs per game. The bad news: the worst ERA in the SEC (5.05) and the most home runs allowed (6). It’s too early to be too certain, but LSU might have to outslug some people this year. The good news is this looks like a team that can win however it needs to do so.
Joe Cox is a columnist for Saturday Down South. He has also written or assisted in writing five books, and his most recent, Almost Perfect (a study of baseball pitchers’ near-miss attempts at perfect games), is available on Amazon or at many local bookstores.
