2026 Southeastern Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament Basics
Format
It’s a traditional four games per day 16-team bracket, with the top four teams earning byes to the quarterfinals and teams five through eight entering the fray in Thursday’s second round.
Site
Bridgestone Arena in downtown Nashville has established itself as the SEC Tournament’s usual home, as it is slated to host right through 2030.
Schedule
Downloadable PDF Bracket
First Round (Wed. 3/11)
SEC Network will air all four games.
Gm. 1: (16) LSU (15-16, 3-15) vs. (9) Kentucky (19-12, 10-8), 12:30 The Wildcats won 75-74 in Baton Rouge on 1/14. Gm. 2: (13) Mississippi
State (13-18, 5-13) vs. (12) Auburn (16-15, 7-11), 3* The Tigers won 91-85 in Starkville on 2/18. Gm. 3: (15) Mississippi (12-19, 4-14) vs. (10) Texas (18-13, 9-9), 7 The Longhorns won 79-68 in Austin on 2/7. Gm. 4: (14) South Carolina (13-18, 4-14) vs. (11) Oklahoma (17-14, 7-11), 9:30* The Gamecocks won 85-76 in Norman on 1/20.
Second Round (Thurs. 3/12)
SEC Network will air all four games.
Gm. 5: Gm. 1 winner vs. (8) Missouri (20-11, 10-8), 12:30
Gm. 6: Gm. 2 winner vs. (5) Tennessee (21-10, 11-7), 3*
Gm. 7: Gm. 3 winner vs. (7) Georgia (22-9, 10-8), 7
Gm. 8: Gm. 4 winner vs. (6) Texas A&M (21-10, 11-7), 9:30*
Quarterfinals (Fri. 3/13)
Gm. 9: Gm. 5 winner vs. (1) Florida (25-6, 16-2), 12:30 (ESPN)
Gm. 10: Gm. 6 winner vs. (4) Vanderbilt (24-7, 11-7), 3* (ESPN)
Gm. 11: Gm. 7 winner vs. (2) Alabama (23-8, 13-5), 7 (SECN)
Gm. 12: Gm. 8 winner vs. (3) Arkansas (23-8, 13-5), 9:30* (SECN)
Semifinals (Sat. 3/14)
ESPN will air both games.
Gm. 13: Gm. 9 winner vs. Gm. 10 winner, 1
Gm. 14: Gm. 11 winner vs. Gm. 12 winner, 3:30*
Championship (Sun. 3/15)
Gm. 15: Semifinal winners, 1 (ESPN)
Mayhem Potential
Data originally posted by Bob Vetrone Jr. on Twitter in 2020 with my own additions for the seasons beyond.
Since 2011, the No. 1 seed has won five of the 14 SEC Tournament titles that were up for grabs, with Florida’s 2025 title boosting the No. 2 seed’s total to four. No team seeded lower than fifth has won the crown since the conference scrapped divisions for the 2011-12 season.
- 1 seed (5): 2014, 2015, 2017, 2021, 2023
- 2 seed (4): 2011 (East), 2016, 2022k, 2025
- 3 seed (2); 2012, 2013
- 4 seed (2): 2018, 2024
- 5 seed (1): 2019
NCAA Bid Totals In The 68-Team Era
- 14 bids (1): 2025 (24-13, Florida national champion, 16 teams)
- 8 bids (3): 2018 (8-8 record, 14 teams), 2023 (9-8, 14), 2024 (8-8, 14)
- 7 bids (1): 2019 (12-7 record, 14 teams)
- 6 bids (2): 2021 (7-6 record, 14 teams), 2022 (5-6, 14)
- 5 bids (3): 2011 (7-5 record, 12 teams), 2015 (6-5, 14), 2017 (11-5, 14 )
- 4 bids (1): 2012 (10-3 record, Kentucky national champion, 12 teams)
- 3 bids (3): 2013 (4-3 record, 14 teams), 2014 (12-3, 14), 2016 (3-3, 14)
The SEC smashed the 2011 Big East’s record of 11 bids last season, but that lower total is the max the conference can expect in 2026. Plus, Florida is the only No. 1 seed threat, unlike the four last year.
Last Conference Tournament Titles
Florida: 2025 (2 seed)
Auburn: 2024 (4 seed)
Alabama: 2023 (1 seed)
Texas: 2023 (2 seed, Big 12)
Tennessee: 2022 (2 seed)
Kentucky: 2018 (4 seed)
Ole Miss: 2013 (3 seed)
Missouri: 2012 (2 seed, Big 12)
Vanderbilt: 2012 (3 seed)
Mississippi State: 2009 (West 3 seed)
Georgia: 2008 (East 6 seed)
Oklahoma: 2003 (3 seed, Big 12)
Arkansas: 2000 (West 3 seed)
Texas A&M: 1987 (8 seed, SWC)
LSU: 1980 (2 seed)
South Carolina: 1971 (2 seed, ACC)
Missouri, South Carolina, and Texas A&M have yet to win the SEC Tournament title, though all three have won championships in previous conferences.
