There are just over eight months left until the 2026 early signing period in December. In the middle of spring ball with summer recruiting on the horizon teams are beginning to put together their full court press for the top targets on their recruiting board.
In the Wild Wild East(?) that is SEC recruiting, a number of teams have already positioned themselves ahead of the pack in team recruiting rankings for the 2026 cycle. But the teams that typically finish in the top three, Georgia, Alabama, and Texas, are just getting started.
On3 likes Texas a lot more than the other three major recruiting sites. On3 has the Longhorns at No. 6 but the other three sites we looked at had Texas at No. 11. On3 also likes Alabama a lot more than the consensus, with the Crimson Tide coming in at No. 3 but No. 9 with the other three sites. There are some big disparities between sites, like Arkansas ranking No. 11 in the SEC according to On3 but No. 1, according to ESPN.
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Here’s a look at how the SEC ranks in team recruiting rankings on an average of the rankings from 247Sports, On3, Rivals, and ESPN.
Sep 28, 2024; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; LSU Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier (13) talks to head coach Brian Kelly during warmups before a game against the South Alabama Jaguars at Tiger Stadium.
The LSU Tigers lead the way in recruiting as we close out the end of March. They have nine total commitments and eight of them are four or five-star players. They lead the way in three of four recruiting services.
Top Rated Player: Tristen Keys, 5-Star Wide Receiver
Blue Chip Ratio: 88%
Texas A&M has been on a roll on the recruiting trail, most recently landing four-star quarterback Jonathan Hatton. Hatton chose the Aggies over Oklahoma in a down to the wire recruiting battle.
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Top Rated Player: Jordan Carter, 4-Star Defensive End
Blue Chip Ratio: 100%
Top Rated Player: Faizon Brandon, 5-Star Quarterback
Blue Chip Ratio: 62.5%
Josh Heupel has done a great job recruiting quarterbacks during his time at Tennessee. He has Nico Iamaleava as his starter and next spring will welcome the top quarterback in the class in Faizon Brandon.
Hugh Freeze and the Tigers have one of the higher blue-chip ratios in the SEC. They’ll need to find a way to succeed on the field to keep the 2026 recruiting class together.
Top Rated Player: Hezekiah Harris, 4-Star Defensive End
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Blue Chip Ratio: 83.3%
Sep 28, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback Taylen Green (10) throws past Texas A&M Aggies defensive back BJ Mayes (20) during the second half at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
It was a bit of a resurgence in 2024 for Sam Pittman and the Arkansas Razorbacks, but he’s still riding the hot seat in Fayetteville. They’re off to a strong start in 2026 but like Auburn need to win to keep it all together and fend off a late cycle flip or two.
Top Rated Player: Colton Yarborough, 4-Star Defensive End
Blue Chip Ratio: 18%
The Georgia Bulldogs only have six players committed to the class at this time, but you know they’ll finish the cycle among the top in the nation.
Top Rated Player: Zach Fort, 4-Star Safety
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Blue Chip Ratio: 66.7%
Nick Saban may have retired but Kalen DeBoer is still pulling in elite talent, recently earning a commitment from five-star cornerback Jaden Edmonds. They’re one of three SEC teams that currently have a 100% blue-chip ratio.
Top Rated Player: Jaden Edmonds, 5-Star Cornerback
Blue Chip Ratio: 100%
8. South Carolina Gamecocks
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – NOVEMBER 09: Head Coach Shane Beamer of the South Carolina Gamecocks celebrates after a victory against Vanderbilt at FirstBank Stadium on November 09, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)
South Carolina has built off of a nine-win 2024 season with a great start in the 2025 recruiting cycle. Shane Beamer’s done a great job on the recruiting trail over the last few years.
Top Rated Player: J’Zavien Currence, 4-Star Cornerback
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Blue Chip Ratio: 66.7%
Jeff Lebby is getting more buy in but he’ll have to win some games this year to get a bump in his blue-chip ratio moving forward. Adding a four-star defensive tackle in the class will help shore up the defense.
Top Rated Player: Emanuel Tucker, 4-Star Defensive Tackle
Blue Chip Ratio: 14.2%
10. Texas Longhorns
Texas may be low at this point in the cycle, but you can bet they’ll be among the top three teams in the conference on National Signing Day.
Top Rated Player: Dia Bell, 4-Star Quarterback
Blue Chip Ratio: 100%
Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables walks on the field during an Oklahoma (OU) football practice at the Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., on Tuesday, March 25, 2025.
The Sooners only have commitments on the offensive side of the ball at this point in the cycle, but the defense will take care of itself.
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Top Rated Player: Jaden O’Neal, 4-Star Quarterback
Blue Chip Ratio: 50%
12. Florida Gators
If Billy Napier can build on the finish to the 2024 season with a good year led by D.J. Lagway, it’ll do wonders for his recruiting efforts in 2026.
Top Rated Player: Izayia Williams, 4-Star Linebacker
Blue Chip Ratio: 66.7%
13. Ole Miss Rebels
Lane Kiffin has the transfer portal thing figured out, but he hasn’t quite reached the same heights on the recruiting trail. It’s still very early for the Rebels, but Ole Miss hasn’t finished higher than ninth in the SEC in recruiting since 2021.
Top Rated Player: Ja’Michael Jones, 3-Star Running Back
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Blue Chip Ratio: 0%
Nov 9, 2024; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia (2) breaks the tackle of South Carolina Gamecocks defensive tackle T.J. Sanders (90) during the second half at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
It was a resurgent year for the Vanderbilt Commodores and have an intriguing quarterback option coming to campus next year in dual-threat Michael Mitchell, Jr.
Top Rated Player: Michael Mitchell, Jr, 3-Star Quarterback
Blue Chip Ratio: 0%
15. Missouri Tigers
The Missouri Tigers only have one player committed in the class, but he’s a four-star prospect in the 247Sports Composite rankings but just a three-star according to 247Sports in Anthony Kennedy Jr. Eli Drinkwitz has done well on the recruiting trail, but he’ll need to continue that momentum.
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Top Rated Player: Anthony Kennedy, Jr., 3-Star Defensive Tackle
Blue Chip Ratio: 100%
16. Kentucky Wildcats
Kentucky is the only team in the conference that doesn’t have a player committed in the cycle. Mark Stoops will go into 2025 on the hot seat after a let down season in 2024.
Top Rated Player: NA
Blue Chip Ratio: N/A
2026 SEC Team Recruiting Rankings
|
Rank |
Team |
247Sports |
On3 |
Rivals |
ESPN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. |
LSU |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
2. |
Texas A&M |
2 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
|
3. |
Tennessee |
3 |
5 |
3 |
4 |
|
4. |
Auburn |
5 |
4 |
4 |
7 |
|
5. |
Arkansas |
4 |
11 |
6 |
1 |
|
6. |
Georgia |
6 |
9 |
5 |
6 |
|
7. |
Alabama |
9 |
3 |
9 |
9 |
|
8. |
South Carolina |
7 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
|
9. |
Mississippi State |
8 |
12 |
7 |
5 |
|
10. |
Texas |
11 |
6 |
11 |
11 |
|
11. |
Oklahoma |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
|
12. |
Florida |
12 |
7 |
12 |
12 |
|
13. |
Ole Miss |
13 |
13 |
13 |
13 |
|
14. |
Vanderbilt |
14 |
14 |
14 |
14 |
|
15. |
Missouri |
15 |
15 |
15 |
15 |
|
16. |
Kentucky |
16 |
16 |
16 |
16 |
This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: SEC Team Recruiting Rankings at the end of March
