SEC tournament 2026: Men’s bracket, scores, schedule, seed list, and more

Mar 11, 2026 - 14:30

AUSTIN, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 25: Alex Condon #21 of the Florida Gators is introduced as a starter before a game against the Texas Longhorns at Moody Center on February 25, 2026 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Scott Wachter/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The SEC was by far the best conference in men’s college basketball last season. While that’s not quite the case this year, the SEC is still loaded with a national championship front-runner and a big group of teams that can dream about making the second weekend of March Madness.

The Florida Gators won the national championship last season, and now they’re trying to go back-to-back. After a slow start, Florida has been rolling lately behind one of the country’s great front courts, led by returning stars Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon, and Rueben Chinyelu. The Gators lost their guards from last season (including NCAA tournament MOP Walter Clayton Jr.), and new-look backcourt of Boogie Fland and Xaivian Lee will have to deliver to get Florida to where it wants to go.

The rest of the SEC is ready to rock. The Alabama Crimson Tide have one of the country’s great guards in Labaron Philon, plus an emergent freshmen star in Amari Allen on the wing. Arkansas has been led by Darius Acuff, who has quickly become one of John Calipari’s most productive guards ever. Vanderbilt has been reborn behind guards Tyler Tanner and Duke Miles. Somehow, Kentucky spent $22 million on its roster to only finish No. 9 in the conference.

The 2026 men’s SEC tournament is coming to Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena to kick-start March Madness. The championship game will give out an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament on the day of Selection Sunday. There’s so much at stake in this conference tournament. Find the full bracket and schedule below:

SEC men’s tournament 2026 scores and schedule

All times ET

First Round — Wednesday, March 11

Game 1: No. 9 Kentucky vs. No. 16 LSU, 12:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network
Game 2: No. 12 Auburn vs. No. 13 Mississippi State, 25 minutes after Game 1, SEC Network
Game 3: No. 10 Texas vs. No. 15 Ole Miss, 7 p.m., SEC Network
Game 4: No. 11 Oklahoma vs. No. 14 South Carolina, 24 minutes after Game 3, SEC Network

Second Round — Thursday, March 12

Game 5: No. 8 Missouri vs. Game 1 winner, 12:30 p.m., SEC Network
Game 6: No. 5 Tennessee vs. Game 2 winner, 25 minutes after Game 5, SEC Network
Game 7: No. 7 Georgia vs. Game 3 winner, 7 p.m., SEC Network
Game 8: No. 6 Texas A&M vs. Game 4 winner, 25 minutes after Game 7, SEC Network

Quarterfinals — Friday, March 13

Game 9: No. 1 Florida vs. Game 5 winner, 1 p.m., ESPN
Game 10: No. 4 Vanderbilt vs. Game 6 winner,25 minutes after Game 9, ESPN
Game 11: No. 2 Alabama vs. Game 7 winner, 7 p.m., SEC Network
Game 12: No. 3 Arkansas vs. Game 8 winner, 25 minutes after Game 11, SEC Network

Semifinals — Saturday, March 14