With Opening Day just over two weeks away, the excitement has reached a fever pitch. What's the order of hierarchy in a talent rich SEC? I do my very best to power rank the SEC's best ball clubs. Let the banter begin.

1. Florida

One of if not the most complete teams in the country coming into the 2024 campaign, led by one of the top power hitting lineups in the nation.

That lineup is centered around Jac Caglianone who we compare to Shohei Ohtani and rightfully so. His fastball reaches triple digits, exit velo is north of 100 as well, and he lead the country in home runs last season with 33. Supporting him is a deep cast of guys who can mash in Cade Kurland, Luke Heyman, Alabama transfer Colby Shelton, and Virginia Tech transfer Brody Donay.

Kevin O’Sullivan and staff are big on Donay and believe he’s got close to Caglianone level raw power. On the hill in support is elite closer Brandon Neely and freshman Liam Peterson (PG 10, 2022 PG All-American, #3 RHP in FL and #8 in the nation) who will seriously contend for being one of the SEC’s best freshman arms and he owned the fall, charging his way into an expected weekend rotation spot.

The Gators roll into the season as the conceivable favorite in the SEC.

2. Arkansas

The Razorbacks enter the season with the best and most complete pitching staffs in the country, neck-and-neck with Wake Forest.

The starting rotation of Hagen Smith, Brady Tygart, and Texas Tech transfer Mason Molina should sit atop the weekend rotations in the SEC. Smith could be one of the best aces in the country this season and has the experience and arsenal to go with it; a 100mph fastball with a new splitter and slider. Tygart has dealt with injuries over his first two seasons but is electric when healthy with a mid-90s fastball and an elite breaking ball. Molina was Texas Tech’s Friday night starter and brings a great four-pitch mix to this staff with a low 90s fastball, slider, curve, and a changeup.

Veteran Will McEntire will be a key piece to the staff and has been great in every role he's played for the Razorbacks. Expect Dave Van Horn to lean on him and be a go-to guy all season with some other younger guys in the pen, Gage Wood, Ben Bybee, Christian Foutch, and Parker Coil who all run it up in the mid to upper 90s. In the box, there are a lot of new faces but junior outfielder Kendall Diggs will lead the way as the veteran who hits for power, average and great plate discipline.

Around him will be Sacramento State transfer and freshman All-American, Wehiwa Aloy, who brings a big bat with him. 

3. LSU

The Defending National Champions will look to defend their title with a different team this season after Paul Skenes & Dylan Crews went #1, #2 overall, along with Ty Floyd, Grant Taylor, Tre Morgan, Gavin Dugas, etc. to the draft. There are definitely some big shoes to fill.

However, Jay Johnson brings in Nate Yeskie from Texas A&M who he reunites with from successful time together at Arizona. Yeskie loves left handed pitching and puts in emphasis on it.

The pitching staff is strong and deep. The weekend rotation will be comprised of Thatcher Hurd, Alabama transfer Luke Holman, UCLA transfer Gage Jump who was injured in 2023, and Nate Ackenhausen who put himself on the map in Omaha last season. The bullpen is loaded with talent and various angles. Freshman, Cam Johnson will be a massive piece of the group. He’s the #1 LHP in FL, #2 LHP nationally, and #11 overall prospect. Transfer LHP Justin Loer from Xavier dealt in the Big East and should make a lot of noise too. Time will tell how he does vs SEC lineups.

The offensive side is led by the sensation that is Tommy White, who hit .377 with 24 homers and 105 RBIs. The Tigers brought in another big bat in Arizona transfer, Mac Bingham who batted .360 with 10HR and 51 RBIs. Other names include Jared Jones, Paxton Kling, and key freshman outfielder, Jake Brown who’s an all-around tools guy with some pop in the box and wheels to go with it.

Time will tell if LSU can repeat as national champions but they have all the guys to do so.

4. Vanderbilt

The Commodores surge into the 2024 campaign with a loaded pitching staff, headlined by Carter Holton, Greysen Carter, Devin Futrell, and Andrew Dutkanych IV. Holton will lead the squad and has the ace arsenal to do so as he projects to be a high draft prospect with plus stuff. He’s racked up 153Ks and a 3.51ERA in 130.2IP and two summers with the USA Collegiate National Team.

The rest of the pitching staff is filled out by veterans Sam Hiboki, Ryan Ginther, Bryce Cunningham, Air Force transfer Sawyer Hawks, and highly-talented freshman Ethan McElvain who’s reached 95mph, (PG 10, #1 overall in TN, #5 LHP in nation and #49 overall). McElvain is another name that could be atop of the best freshman in the SEC.

Eyes will be on the offensive side with the uncertainties that surround it. RJ Schreck was the center of this lineup but with him in the pros, Tim Corbin will need guys like Chris Maldonado and Davis Diaz to step up and produce more than last year. Maldonado showed out in the Cape last summer batting .296AVG  against the best talent. Freshman infielder Braden Holcomb (PG 10, #% SS in FL, #38 overall in the nation) will be a bat to keep an eye on as he steps on campus with maybe the most raw power in the box, however, he has some maturing to do.

This team will need to produce more runs and long balls to reach Omaha and not have to constantly rely on their stellar arms and great defense.

5. Texas A&M

The Aggies come into the season with some additional power and production in the lineup thanks to the transfer portal. Adding projected starters and upper classmen Ted Burton (1B from Michigan) who batted .301 with 13HRs, Ali Camarillo (SS from CSUN) who mashed .371 with 15 doubles, Hayden Schott (OF from Columbia) who batted .333 with 16 doubles, and Braden Montgomery (OF from Stanford) who batted .336 with 61RBI.

The list of awards for Montgomery is extensive, including 2022 John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year semifinalist! Yeah, he can sling it on the mound as well so keep an eye out for him to toss the rock in Aggieland. Adding those pieces to an already strong lineup sets them up well.

This lineup is loaded and has all the potential to be deadly in the SEC and beyond. The pitching staff is where they’re vulnerable and will draw a lot of attention and concern after being near-bottom of the SEC in ERA last year. The key arms will be LHP Justin Lampkin and RHP Chris Cortez, along with Tanner Jones (RHP from Jacksonville State).

Lampkin got a ton of experience as a freshman and that should serve him well entering the Friday night role, most likely. Cortez has elite stuff with a 98-99 mph fastball and a filthy slider to pair with it. Command and walks have been his kryptonite, walking 40 guys in 41.2IP. The Transfer, Jones, should plug into the rotation immediately with his 96mph heater and could be great in the SEC.

Texas A&M got one of the biggest boosts from the portal and have the pieces to go far. How well the arms do in addition to new pitching coach Max Weiner, will dictate that.

6. Tennessee

Riches of power stack up and down this Vols lineup. From returners Christian Moore (17HR) and Blake Burke (16HR), to transfers Billy Amick (Clemson - 13HR) and Cannon Peebles (NC State - 12HR). Dylan Dreilings also has to pop to easily blast double digit dingers. This lineup is stacked with guys near that .300AVG and some that could end with .350 as well.

Moore’s ceiling is SEC Player of the Year as he has 5 tools to play with. The caliber of player Moore is will be seen taken high in the upcoming summer draft. Tony Vitello’s squad will produce a lot of runs and home runs all season, being the backbone of their game and team.

On the mound, the Vols return one of the most veteran arms in the nation in Drew Beam who will bolster down the Friday night role. He could easily end up on the All-SEC first team at the end of the year. AJ Causey, a weekend starter at Jacksonville State transferred in and should plug into a weekend role. Other than him, it’ll be some former relievers and younger guys filling the other starts so there’s an opportunity for someone to make a name for themselves there.

The Vols have all the tools to return to Omaha with championship aspirations and talent.

7. Alabama

Tuscaloosa was a landing spot for a lot of starter level transfers, most notably Ian Petrutz from Maryland (.270AVG, 14HR, 56RBI), Evan Sleight (Rutgers: .315AVG, 12HR, 44RBI),TJ McCants (Ole Miss: .232AVG 27RBI), Greg Farone (Louisville LHP: 5.33ERA in 50.2IP), and other JUCO transfers.

Staying on the mound, the Tide is loaded with power arms and big play stuff, headlined by Ben Hess, Aiden Moza, Riley Quick, and Alton Davis who will give them a chance every weekend that can matchup vs nearly anyone. Hess, an All-American caliber player and day one draft profile guy, will lead this group after 8 impressive starts last season (4-0, 3.22ERA, 49:8 K:B) before missing the second half of the season with elbow soreness issues. In the fall, he looked to be back in stride with a mid 90s heater and several stellar off speed pitches to mix through.

A Freshman All-American in Davis could either hold down the end of the pen or turn into a stellar starter with his four-pitch mix and how it plays, giving Alabama some versatile depth. Roles will need to be sorted out in the bullpen more as well as Moza transitioning to a starting role.

The lineup got quite the shakeup with 8 men on the move and the aforementioned transfers plugging in. 1st year coach Rob Vaughn did a great job of bringing in these solid pieces, but time will tell how they all fit together, support each other, and prove themselves in the SEC and in general.

It could all click and potentially host a regional or be a dogfight in the bottom third of the SEC.

8. South Carolina

The Gamecocks strengths lie in the lineup where they have a solid and difficult group to face throughout with power.

Veteran names like Gavin Casas (19HR, 53RBI), All-American Cole Messina (.306AVG, 17HR, 65RBI), and Talmadge LeCroy (.289AVG, 41 RBI) lead the charge. One of the best freshman in the nation last year, Ethan Petry, established himself with authority vs LSU and the whole season (.376AVG, 23HR, 75RBI)., so Carolina will be looking to rely on him to duplicate his stellar first season. Two transfer plug-ins will be veteran Vandy transfer, Parker Noland (.277AVG, 39RBI) with a ton of experience and postseason runs, as well as Kennedy Jones from UNCG (.355AVG, 14HR 43RBI) will need to translate to the SEC. Every inning will be full of tough, grinded out at bats.

All the questions will surround the pitching as the Gamecocks don’t have any real perennial star power or elite caliber arms. The depth however, is extensive. Juniors Eli Jones and Matthew Becker will lead the rotation, both of which had alright sophomore campaigns but will need to make a big jump to lead this club to the postseason and deep. After losing 4 of their biggest arms (Sanders, Mahoney Hall, and Hicks) there’s definitely a lot of guys that will need to step up and prove themselves with lots of opportunity to do so. Roman Kimbrell should surface as a main name after being out last season with Tommy John surgery.

Also, keep an eye on freshman Jevarra Martin who dominated in the fall. A PG grade 9, #4 LHP in GA and #41 nationally. He’s got a low-mid 90s fastball with good off speed mixed in that has the chance to play very well in the SEC. Expect the offense however, to mash right out the gates in non conference play again.

This team is undoubtedly lead by the offense, the pitching quality and depth are what will either hold this team back or propel it forward during conference play and into the postseason. 

9. Auburn

Auburn looks to carryover hosting a regional at Plainsman Park into the 2024 season behind some returning bats and some new starting pieces via the transfer portal.

Leading the way with the bats will be Ike Irish (2023 Freshman All-American & SEC teams, .361AVG [led team], 86H, 24 doubles [Auburn freshman record], 50RBI.) Irish is set to have an even bigger season after his national breakout freshman campaign. With him is Bobby Peirce (.343AVG. 43R, 62H) who is a veteran in the locker as a former JUCO now 5th year player. Peirce excelled in SEC play as well and will be a core of the offense as well as Cooper McMurray did too. McMurray is another leading piece in the box after slashing .272AVG, 14HR, and 49RBI last season. Incoming transfers, headlined by Miami-Ohio/Coastal Carolina SS Cooper Weise ((Freshman All-American at Coastal & 2023MAC DPOY).

On the pitching side, the bullpen will be the strength over the starting rotation but if Chase Allsup (5.47ERA, 49K in 49.1IP) can sharpen his arsenal, he could turn into a solid starter. If Joseph Gonzalez can stay healthy all season (miss 2nd half of 2023 season with continuing shoulder soreness), he’s got a great chance to dominate. Gonzalez was a USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List member in 2023 and #28 college prospect in the MLB Draft. Butch Thompson has a solid squad of returners.

If some new pieces & guys can gel & step up, they can make a run back to another regional hosting opportunity.

10. Kentucky

Coming off of a Super Regional appearance last season, the Wildcats have plans to get to Omaha this year and have a squad that gives them a chance to.

Bringing back key pieces in Devin Burkes (MVP of the Lexington Regional and batted .291AVG, 18 doubles, 53RBI in 2023), Emilien Pitre (.318AVG, 51R, 35:42 K:B ratio, .342OBP in the Cape Cod League), Grant Smith (2022 Gold Glove SS Finalist, .281AVG, 8 doubles & homers), and Ryan Waldschmidt (Lexington All-Regional Team, .290AVG, 14 doubles, 37RBI) to name a few. To go with those names, Kentucky adds a very talented shortstop from Texas, Mitchell Daly who can be a huge piece of this squad (freshman All-American 2nd-team and all-conference, .262AVG with 98R, 52 extra-base hits and 90RBI in 189 games at Texas).

On the mound, the Wildcats return several big time arms: Travis Smith (#72 overall MLB Draft prospect for 2024) who had a 4.84ER in 13 starts last season and Mason Moore (2023 Lexington All-Regional team) who had a 1.80ERA in 55IP allowing .164OBA.

Skipper Nick Mingione has a solid ball club with a lot going for them as they look to host another regional and beyond.

11. Ole Miss

The Rebels has a surprisingly ugly season in 2023 and are looking to flip the script upside down this year.

Mike Bianco has reloaded big time through the transfer portal, something Lane Kiffin on the Ole Miss football side does well too. The Rebels picked up four big impact players that’ll hit in the top half of the order; those being: sophomore Luke Hill (SS from Arizona State [.314AVG, 42RBI, PG 9.5 #2 player from Louisiana, #100 SS nationally.]). Andrew Fischer (3B from Duke [2023 PG 2nd-team All-American, .289AVG, 11HR, PG 9.5, #2 3B in NJ and #17 nationally]) 1B Jackson Ross (115 games played at FAU, 14HR, 58RBI, 26 multi-hit game in 2023).

On the pitching side, the Rebels dealt wit ha lot of injuries and guys not stepping up last season. There’s a lot of talent on the mound for this team with JT Quinn, Xavier Rivas, Grayson Saunier, and Kyler Carmáck who hopefully have healthy seasons and take the next step forward, starting with lowering the first three guys ∼6.54ERAs.

IF Bianco’s squad can fill some key roles, stay healthy, and he makes the most of/best uses the arms he’s got, these Rebels could have a substantial bounce back season from 6-24 in SEC play and missing the postseason completely.

12. Mississippi State

Hail State heads into 2024 looking to make strides from a poor 2023 campaign as well, where they went 9-21 in the SEC and a game above .500 overall.

There are a lot of really good athletes and ball players on this team. The infield will improve a lot, comprised of Memphis transfer 3B Logan Kohler (.330 11HR, 13 2B) who started 52 games, SS will be decided between David Mershon (.280, 12SB in 20 games) and the highest profile recruit in State’s 2023 group, Dylan Cupp who turned down serious draft interest, wanting to play in college and at Hail State.

Head Coach Chris Lamonis and staff will find a way to play and utilize Cupp whether its at SS or somewhere else. 2B Amani Larry will hold down that spot after batting .297AVG, 19SB, 59R last year. Dakota Jordan headlines the outfield and the power in the lineup after batting .307AVG (.333 8HR in SEC) 10 monster HRs, 9 doubles. Jordan looks to be a leader in the clubhouse and has all the potential to be an All-SEC team player.

On the pitching side of things, BOTH-handed pitcher, Jurrangelo Cijntje, should lead the way after being the most consistent starter (50IP, 63K (both lead team), .238OBA). Cijntje is an exciting player to watch throw from both sides. Behind him will hopefully be Colby Holcombe who struggled with command last year but has the arsenal to play well in the SEC with a mid-upper 90s fastball and several high whiff off speed pitches. Look for how new pitching coach Justin Parker (prev at South Carolina) improves these arms with other names like JUCO transfer, Cam Schuelker.

He’s been a stud reliever over the last couple seasons (2.09ERA, 86K, 60.1IP) and shoved in the Cape Cod League (0.81ERA in 22.1IP in 2022 [Cape Reliever of the Year] and 3.16ERA, 48K, 37IPin 2023). Schuelker will be one of the most interesting arms to watch with his 3 arm slots and plus stuff.

The rest of the roles will need to be more established and step up for Hail State to have a big turnaround year.

13. Georgia

The Bulldogs enter the year with new head ball coach, Wes Johnson was hired this past summer and was an incredible hire for Georgia.

Johnson comes from LSU as the pitching coach and winning the national championship with the Tigers in 2023. He was the first pitching coach in MLB history to jump from college (Arkansas) to the Minnesota Twins pitching coach (2019-2022), then jumped to LSU’s pitching coach. Johnson will have his hands full as there will be a lot of guys who can and need to step up in roles throughout the team.

The centerpiece will be Charlie Condon who had a monstrous freshman year (.386AVG, 25HR, 67RBI and team Triple Crown), named national Freshman of the Year and 1st-Team All-American, and more. Fernando Gonzalez is a veteran behind the dish and will be a rock solid piece on and off the field. The Bulldogs got a ton of talent from the portal this offseason (6 expected every day players).

One is transfer Dillon Carter (OF from Texas Tech) who’s got 4 seasons of Big XII ball under his belt and who the coaching staff seems to be a true leader despite just arriving. Carter should lock down the outfield with his speed, arm, and experience with the potential to be one of the top Bulldogs. Losing guys like Conner Tate and Parks Harber is a tough blow considering they were their other best hitters.

Also losing some of UGA’s most innings in Liam Sullivan, Jaden Woods, and Dalton Rhadans. Chandler Marsh has a huge opportunity to step into a weekend starting role. Marsh has the stuff for sure to do so, with a 94-99mph fastball, tallying 46Ks in 28IP from the pen. Leighton Finley returns and looks to continue to dominate after a 0.00ERA in 17.1IP with 20:5 K:BB ratio against the best collegiate talent in the Cape Cod League last summer. Finely has a low to mid 90s fastball with a plus mid 80s slider and upper 80s change. Keep an eye on him on the mound.

Charlie Goldstein should also be a main piece of the pitching staff (5.03ERA, 47K, 48.1IP in 2023) and who will surround him could shift until Johnson finds what he likes best.

14. Missouri

A team that’s lead now by new head coach, Kerrick Jackson, who came from Memphis (1 season, 29-28).

Jackson was the President of the MLB Draft League from 2020-22. The Tigers started out hot last season but finished 30-24 despite conference struggles at 10-20 and on the road primarily. Mizzou has a brutal conference schedule (toughest in SEC) but what seems to be a lighter non-conference (RPI 191.3, DSR 196.8) to help balance. All 30 SEC games are Quad 1 games (RPI: 16.1, DSR 14.3).

The Tigers have some depth on the mound but no true experienced studs, however, Logan Lunceford has the potential to be an solid starter in the SEC despite the low 90s fastball and mid 70s off speed with 6.00ERA, 68K in 54IP last season. Behind him seems to be recovering injury guys, Carter Rustad (San Diego transfer) and Javyn Pimental who hope to have a big bounce back season. New pitching coach Tim Jamieson will have to get the most out of his arms.

One big name transfer they have is INF Danny Corona from Wake Forest (.285AVG, 13HR, 45RBI). Another key newcomer is transfer catcher Jedier Hernandez from Seton Hall who’s a cousin of Yadier Molina. Hernandez is a plus catcher behind the dish and could really be a core guy for the club. The Tigers best player, however, is the senior veteran 2B/LF, Trevor Austin. Austin is the top returning bat (.312, 8HR, 59H, 32BB, 36RBI).

Turning around a program in the SEC is anything but easy or quick, especially when you don’t have the rich tradition that other schools have or the top of the conference facilities. Expect it to take some time for Mizzou and Jackson to build and establish a culture over the next 3+ years to try and get into the upper half of SEC programs.

Someone has to finish last in the conference, so for now, Mizzou looks to end up there.