Arkansas
Auburn
Georgia
Kentucky
LSU
Miss State
Oklahoma
Ole Miss
Texas A&M
Vanderbilt
Lead Story: SEC Dominates Preseason AP Top 25, Florida Sits on Top
The preseason AP Top 25 for college basketball dropped Monday, and the SEC's grip on the sport shows no signs of loosening. Seven SEC teams earned rankings, headlined by Florida at No. 1 overall. Tennessee checks in at No. 8 and Arkansas at No. 12, giving the league three teams inside the top 12 before a single game tips off.
Missouri was the notable near-miss. The Tigers enter the season unranked but sit just one spot outside the poll with the most receiving votes of any team — a snub that could serve as fuel for what has been described as Missouri's most talented roster in recent years. The Tigers won't lack chances to prove the voters wrong: their nonconference schedule features No. 17 Kansas in the Border War and No. 3 Illinois in Braggin' Rights, with Nebraska, Saint Louis, Indiana, and Marquette all receiving votes as well.
The league slate offers no softer landing. Missouri draws both No. 8 Tennessee and No. 12 Arkansas twice in SEC play, and the Tigers host Texas A&M on Tuesday, January 5 in their conference home opener.
Quick Hits
- Auburn dismisses linebacker Xavier Atkins. According to ESPN, the Auburn Tigers have dismissed the star linebacker, who was suspended for Saturday's upset win over then-No. 1 Georgia. His status had been uncertain heading into the week, and the move leaves a significant hole in Auburn's defense.
- LSU's statement shutout. The LSU Tigers blanked Mississippi State 31-0 on Saturday, their first home shutout of an SEC opponent since 2006. Quarterback Sam Leavitt was surgical, completing 31 of 38 passes for 289 yards and four touchdowns without an interception as LSU built a 21-0 halftime lead. At 5-2 with losses to Ole Miss and Kentucky, the Tigers have little margin left in their CFP push.
- Georgia's Muoneke keeps collecting hardware. Senior outside hitter Bianna Muoneke was named SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week, her third conference weekly award this season. The Bulldogs, fresh off a five-set road win in Baton Rouge, sit at 14-3 overall and 6-1 in SEC play — firmly in position for a postseason run.
- Three Sooners punch NCAA tickets. Oklahoma women's tennis closed the ITA Central Regional Championships in Memphis with sophomore Laura Brunkel earning singles co-champion honors and the duo of junior Gloriana Nahum and freshman Sara Shumate claiming the doubles title, sending three Sooners to NCAA berths.
- Exhibition tune-ups. Texas women's basketball fell to UConn in an exhibition despite 23 points from Madison Booker, while Vanderbilt men's basketball handled UAB in its exhibition opener, with freshman guard Ant Brown Jr. and senior forward Berke Büyüktuncel among the Commodores drawing postgame attention.
Portal Watch
A quiet 12 hours on the transfer front — no new portal entries or commitments to report. With several football teams on bye weeks and basketball season approaching, expect activity to pick up as rosters crystallize.
Recruiting Buzz
The Georgia Bulldogs landed a major recruiting blow against an SEC rival. Christian Mays, the No. 1 JUCO defensive tackle in the nation out of Northwest Mississippi Community College, announced Monday he is flipping his commitment from Tennessee to Georgia, according to reports out of Athens. The Forsyth, Georgia native is coming home, and his pledge gives the Bulldogs commitments from both the No. 1 and No. 2 JUCO players in the country. The flip comes on the heels of Georgia's weekend commitment from versatile prospect Braylon Miller, capping a strong recruiting stretch even as the Bulldogs stew over Saturday's loss to Auburn.
Games to Watch
No SEC games are on the schedule today, but the calendar ahead has plenty circled. LSU travels to Auburn for a critical SEC showdown against a Tigers team fresh off its upset of Georgia — now navigating the Atkins dismissal. Missouri's trip to Arkansas on October 31 is officially set for a 6:45 p.m. CT kickoff on the SEC Network. On the hardwood, Georgia basketball continues preseason prep with an exhibition against Clemson, and the No. 14 Tennessee women's golf team continues its final fall tournament at the Abilene Christian Intercollegiate in Texas.
