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Yet again, the SEC was amongst college softball's most competitive conferences during the 2026 season.
With the eventual national champion coming from the conference for the second consecutive season, that will likely continue during the 2027 campaign as well, with many of the SEC's top programs from this past spring set to return multiple prominent names next year. Among those are multiple SEC softball award winners from the 2026 campaign, each of which are among the favorites to repeat in 2027.
Here are our early SEC softball power rankings for the 2027 season, starting with No. 15.
[IMG alt="Kentucky's Carly Sleeman (21) celebrates the third out of the inning against Mississippi State in the SEC Softball Tournament Tuesday.
May 5, 2026"]https://media.zenfs.com/en/roll_tid...es_214/ce0ded2757261aca96069416e7a0c7c7[/IMG]
Kentucky (26-29 overall, 1-23 SEC) missed the NCAA Tournament this past year following a rough run in conference action. The Wildcats' 2027 roster will feature returning Second Team All-SEC selection Carly Sleeman.
Despite a run in the SEC Tournament, Auburn (27-28, 4-20) missed the NCAA Tournament during the 2026 season. The Tigers' 2027 roster will be headlined by Alyssa Hastings, a Second Team All-SEC selection this past spring.
Missouri (28-29, 9-15) missed the NCAA Tournament this past spring. The Tigers will return one of the SEC's top defensive infielders in 2027, Abby Hay.
South Carolina (32-28, 7-17) reached the NCAA Tournament in 2026, but saw their season come to an end on the road in regionals. The Gamecocks are tasked with replacing First Team All-SEC selection Jori Heard.
The Rebels made a NCAA Tournament appearance in 2026, but fell in regionals. Ole Miss (36-26, 6-18) will return a pair of Second Team All-SEC selections next season in Madi George and Persy Llamas.
Despite a rough showing in Oklahoma City, the 2026 season was still a memorable one for Mississippi State (43-21, 9-15), reaching the WCWS after a super regional road upset of Oklahoma. Headlining the Bulldogs' roster is Second Team All-SEC selection Alyssa Faircloth.
LSU (40-19, 13-11) saw their season come to an end in Tuscaloosa with a NCAA Tournament super regional loss to Alabama. The Tigers will sport a talented roster in 2027 headlined by Kylee Edwards, Tori Edwards, and Alix Franklin.
Georgia (41-20, 12-12) fell short of Oklahoma City during the 2026 season, with the Bulldogs dropping both games in super regionals. The Bulldogs' 2027 roster will be headlined by the returning duo of Bailey Lindemuth and Randi Roelling.
Texas A&M (38-19, 16-8) made the NCAA Tournament this past spring, but did not advance past a regional which they hosted. The Aggies' roster will be headlined by returning First Team All-SEC selection Mya Perez.
Arkansas (47-13, 15-9) reached the WCWS during the 2026 campaign, and will likely have a team capable of doing the same next spring. Led by head coach Courtney Deifel, Arkansas is set to return the likes of Payton Burnham and Ella McDowell next season, both of which were Second Team All-SEC selections in 2026.
Florida (52-12, 17-7) missed the WCWS this past season, falling at home to eventual national runner-up Texas Tech in game three of super regionals. The Gators will be loaded yet again next season, and are likely expected to return to Oklahoma City in 2027 due to three First Team All-SEC selections returning in Keagan Rothrock, Taylor Shumaker, and Townsen Thomas.
Tennessee (49-12, 16-8) made a deep run in Oklahoma City during the WCWS, falling just short of an appearance in the national title series. The Volunteers' will return two First Team All-SEC picks next spring in Allanah Leach and Sage Mardjetko.
One of the most surprising results from this past season was Oklahoma (52-10, 20-4) missing the WCWS due to a game three loss at home in super regionals. The Sooners will be one of college softball's top preseason teams next spring, with Oklahoma's roster yet again set to be feature prominent names such as Gabbie Garcia, Kai Minor, Ella Parker, and SEC Freshman of the Year Kendall Wells, each of which were First Team All-SEC selections.
The Crimson Tide are coming off a memorable 2026 season which saw Alabama (56-9, 19-5) finish one win short of playing for a national title at the WCWS as the NCAA Tournament's No. 1 overall seed. Led by long-time head coach Patrick Murphy, the Crimson Tide will sport a loaded 2027 roster that is set to feature the likes of Jocelyn Briski and Brooke Wells, the former of which was the 2026 SEC Pitcher of the Year.
Sitting atop the way-too-early 2027 SEC softball power rankings is Texas (53-12, 16-8), who claimed their second-straight national championship this past spring. The Longhorns will be among the favorites to complete the three-peat next season, as Texas will return a loaded roster headlined by SEC Player of the Year Katie Stewart, Teagan Kavan, Kayden Henry, and Viviana Martinez.
Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.
This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Texas, Alabama headline early 2027 SEC softball power rankings
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With the eventual national champion coming from the conference for the second consecutive season, that will likely continue during the 2027 campaign as well, with many of the SEC's top programs from this past spring set to return multiple prominent names next year. Among those are multiple SEC softball award winners from the 2026 campaign, each of which are among the favorites to repeat in 2027.
Here are our early SEC softball power rankings for the 2027 season, starting with No. 15.
15. Kentucky Wildcats
[IMG alt="Kentucky's Carly Sleeman (21) celebrates the third out of the inning against Mississippi State in the SEC Softball Tournament Tuesday.
May 5, 2026"]https://media.zenfs.com/en/roll_tid...es_214/ce0ded2757261aca96069416e7a0c7c7[/IMG]
Kentucky (26-29 overall, 1-23 SEC) missed the NCAA Tournament this past year following a rough run in conference action. The Wildcats' 2027 roster will feature returning Second Team All-SEC selection Carly Sleeman.
14. Auburn Tigers
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Despite a run in the SEC Tournament, Auburn (27-28, 4-20) missed the NCAA Tournament during the 2026 season. The Tigers' 2027 roster will be headlined by Alyssa Hastings, a Second Team All-SEC selection this past spring.
13. Missouri Tigers
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Missouri (28-29, 9-15) missed the NCAA Tournament this past spring. The Tigers will return one of the SEC's top defensive infielders in 2027, Abby Hay.
12. South Carolina Gamecocks
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South Carolina (32-28, 7-17) reached the NCAA Tournament in 2026, but saw their season come to an end on the road in regionals. The Gamecocks are tasked with replacing First Team All-SEC selection Jori Heard.
11. Ole Miss Rebels
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The Rebels made a NCAA Tournament appearance in 2026, but fell in regionals. Ole Miss (36-26, 6-18) will return a pair of Second Team All-SEC selections next season in Madi George and Persy Llamas.
10. Mississippi State Bulldogs
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Despite a rough showing in Oklahoma City, the 2026 season was still a memorable one for Mississippi State (43-21, 9-15), reaching the WCWS after a super regional road upset of Oklahoma. Headlining the Bulldogs' roster is Second Team All-SEC selection Alyssa Faircloth.
9. LSU Tigers
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LSU (40-19, 13-11) saw their season come to an end in Tuscaloosa with a NCAA Tournament super regional loss to Alabama. The Tigers will sport a talented roster in 2027 headlined by Kylee Edwards, Tori Edwards, and Alix Franklin.
8. Georgia Bulldogs
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Georgia (41-20, 12-12) fell short of Oklahoma City during the 2026 season, with the Bulldogs dropping both games in super regionals. The Bulldogs' 2027 roster will be headlined by the returning duo of Bailey Lindemuth and Randi Roelling.
7. Texas A&M Aggies
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Texas A&M (38-19, 16-8) made the NCAA Tournament this past spring, but did not advance past a regional which they hosted. The Aggies' roster will be headlined by returning First Team All-SEC selection Mya Perez.
6. Arkansas Razorbacks
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Arkansas (47-13, 15-9) reached the WCWS during the 2026 campaign, and will likely have a team capable of doing the same next spring. Led by head coach Courtney Deifel, Arkansas is set to return the likes of Payton Burnham and Ella McDowell next season, both of which were Second Team All-SEC selections in 2026.
5. Florida Gators
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Florida (52-12, 17-7) missed the WCWS this past season, falling at home to eventual national runner-up Texas Tech in game three of super regionals. The Gators will be loaded yet again next season, and are likely expected to return to Oklahoma City in 2027 due to three First Team All-SEC selections returning in Keagan Rothrock, Taylor Shumaker, and Townsen Thomas.
4. Tennessee Volunteers
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Tennessee (49-12, 16-8) made a deep run in Oklahoma City during the WCWS, falling just short of an appearance in the national title series. The Volunteers' will return two First Team All-SEC picks next spring in Allanah Leach and Sage Mardjetko.
3. Oklahoma Sooners
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One of the most surprising results from this past season was Oklahoma (52-10, 20-4) missing the WCWS due to a game three loss at home in super regionals. The Sooners will be one of college softball's top preseason teams next spring, with Oklahoma's roster yet again set to be feature prominent names such as Gabbie Garcia, Kai Minor, Ella Parker, and SEC Freshman of the Year Kendall Wells, each of which were First Team All-SEC selections.
2. Alabama Crimson Tide
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The Crimson Tide are coming off a memorable 2026 season which saw Alabama (56-9, 19-5) finish one win short of playing for a national title at the WCWS as the NCAA Tournament's No. 1 overall seed. Led by long-time head coach Patrick Murphy, the Crimson Tide will sport a loaded 2027 roster that is set to feature the likes of Jocelyn Briski and Brooke Wells, the former of which was the 2026 SEC Pitcher of the Year.
1. Texas Longhorns
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Sitting atop the way-too-early 2027 SEC softball power rankings is Texas (53-12, 16-8), who claimed their second-straight national championship this past spring. The Longhorns will be among the favorites to complete the three-peat next season, as Texas will return a loaded roster headlined by SEC Player of the Year Katie Stewart, Teagan Kavan, Kayden Henry, and Viviana Martinez.
Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.
This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Texas, Alabama headline early 2027 SEC softball power rankings
Continue reading...
