“Now that everyone can pay players, the SEC isn’t as good.”
That’s been the rally cry for the anti-SEC crowd around the country over the last few years. There’s been plenty said from that crowd now that they’re out from under the iron fist of a two decade long reign from the SEC.
Good for them. Enjoy it. SEC programs and fanbases sure did during their run. Is that run over, though? Like, is that run truly over or is it just a blip on the radar and a mini drought before SEC teams, coaches, and maybe most importantly, boosters, figure out how to get back on top? Even if they do figure that out, will they stay there?
Only time will tell, but now even the things besides the actual championships are also starting to fall by the wayside. Case in point, Rivals put out their final five star rankings for the 2026 recruiting cycle. For the first time in six years, the SEC didn’t finish with the most of any conference. Rivals labels exactly 32 players every year with a five star distinction. In the previous four cycles, not only did the SEC have the most five star players signed, they had more than half of the 32 total.
Not anymore.
🚨NEW🚨 Final 2026 Rivals300 five-stars⭐️
Breakdown via @CharlesPower: https://t.co/diJ6ZDVC96 pic.twitter.com/V1P0Jw6tBg
— Rivals (@Rivals) January 27, 2026
Gone are the days of SEC stockpiling blue chip players for rosters full of former five stars on the second and third string just waiting for their chance to start. Gone also are the days of a handful of teams hoarding all the talent amongst themselves like my uncles do with the deviled eggs every Thanksgiving. We know you’re sneaking them, Terry. No one is fooled.
This year the SEC finished with just 11 five stars. Not only is that the fewest in the last six years, it’s also half of their total from just two years ago. Those 11 were dispersed between six different schools with Vanderbilt signing the highest ranked five star of everyone. What a time to be alive.
Here’s a look at the numbers and trend of Five Stars by Conferences over the last several years.
By the Numbers: SEC Five Stars Year by Year (since 2021)
2026 – 11 (34 percent)
2025 – 18 (56 percent)
2024 – 22 (69 percent)
2023 – 17 (53 percent)
2022 – 17 (53 percent)
2021 – 14 (44 percent)
By the Numbers: Five Stars by Conference
2026
Big Ten: 13
SEC: 11
Other: 5
Big 12: 3
ACC: 1
2025
SEC: 18
Big Ten: 11
ACC: 2
Other: 1
Big 12: 0
2024
SEC: 22
ACC: 5
Big Ten: 2
Big 12: 2
Other: 1
2023
SEC: 17
Big 12: 5
Pac 12: 5
Big Ten: 3
ACC: 1
Other: 1
2022
SEC: 17
Big Ten: 7
Big 12: 3
Other: 3
Pac 12: 2
ACC: 0
2021
SEC: 14
Big Ten: 8
Big 12: 3
ACC: 3
Pac 12: 3
Other: 1
