2026 SEC Tournament bracket: Schedule, seeds, teams and players to know in Nashville

Championship week has arrived in the Southeastern Conference.

The 2026 SEC men’s basketball tournament will be played March 11 - 15 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, where all 16 teams in the conference will compete for the championship and the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

Florida enters the tournament as the No. 1 seed after finishing the regular season with a 16-2 SEC record and a 24-6 overall mark. The Gators also come into Nashville as the defending SEC tournament champion and the reigning national champion under Todd Golden, making them the clear team to beat this week.

Behind Florida, the field includes several contenders such as Alabama and Arkansas, while teams like Auburn and Oklahoma could use a strong run in the bracket to help their NCAA tournament chances.

Below is everything to know about the 2026 SEC tournament bracket, including the schedule, seeds, team records and the top players to watch.

SEC tournament seeds and team records

1. Florida: 24-6 (16-2 SEC)
2. Alabama: 23-8 (13-5 SEC)
3. Arkansas: 23-8 (13-5 SEC)
4. Vanderbilt: 23-7 (11-7 SEC)
5. Tennessee: 21-10 (11-7 SEC)
6. Texas A&M: 21-10 (11-7 SEC)
7. Georgia: 21-9 (10-8 SEC)
8. Missouri: 20-11 (10-8 SEC)
9. Kentucky: 19-12 (10-8 SEC)
10. Texas: 18-13 (9-9 SEC)
11. Oklahoma: 17-14 (7-11 SEC)
12. Auburn: 16-15 (7-11 SEC)
13. Mississippi State: 13-18 (5-13 SEC)
14. South Carolina: 13-18 (4-14 SEC)
15. Ole Miss: 12-19 (4-14 SEC)
16. LSU: 15-16 (3-15 SEC)

The top four teams in the standings receive a double bye into the quarterfinals, while seeds five through eight begin play in the second round. Seeds nine through sixteen start the tournament on Wednesday.

2026 SEC Tournament schedule

All games will be played at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.

First round - Wednesday, March 11

Game 1
LSU vs Kentucky
12:30 PM ET - SEC Network

Game 2
Mississippi State vs Auburn
Approximately 25 minutes after Game 1 - SEC Network

Game 3
Ole Miss vs Texas
7:00 PM ET - SEC Network

Game 4
South Carolina vs Oklahoma
Approximately 25 minutes after Game 3 - SEC Network

Second round - Thursday, March 12

Game 5
Missouri vs LSU/Kentucky winner

Game 6
Tennessee vs Mississippi State/Auburn winner

Game 7
Georgia vs South Carolina/Oklahoma winner

Game 8
Texas A&M vs Ole Miss/Texas winner

Quarterfinals - Friday, March 13

Game 9
Florida vs Game 5 winner

Game 10
Vanderbilt vs Game 6 winner

Game 11
Alabama vs Game 7 winner

Game 12
Arkansas vs Game 8 winner

Semifinals - Saturday, March 14

Game 13
Winner of Game 9 vs Winner of Game 10

Game 14
Winner of Game 11 vs Winner of Game 12

Championship game - Sunday, March 15

Winner of Game 13 vs Winner of Game 14
1:00 PM ET - ESPN

Teams to watch in Nashville

Florida has been the most consistent team in the conference this season and enters the tournament with momentum. Coach Golden has built a deep and balanced roster that can score from multiple positions and control the glass.

Alabama is another serious contender heading into the tournament. Nate Oats’ teams are known for their fast-paced offense and perimeter shooting, and the Crimson Tide once again have one of the most explosive attacks in the conference.

Arkansas also finished near the top of the standings and has plenty of talent. In his second season with the Razorbacks, John Calipari has a roster capable of making a deep run if the team finds consistency in Nashville.

Vanderbilt quietly put together one of the best seasons in the conference. Mark Byington’s team finished with 23 wins and enters the tournament with a double bye into the quarterfinals.

Tennessee, led by veteran coach Rick Barnes, will also be a team to watch. The Volunteers are typically one of the best defensive teams in the conference and have the experience to handle tournament play.

Top players to watch in the SEC tournament

Several of the conference’s top scorers and playmakers will be on the floor during the tournament.

Josh Hubbard of Mississippi State leads the SEC in scoring with more than 21 points per game and is capable of carrying his team offensively.

Alabama guard Labaron Philon Jr. has been one of the most dynamic players in the conference this season. He averages over 21 points per game while also contributing nearly five assists.

Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr. has had an outstanding freshman season as well. He averages more than 21 points per game and leads the conference in assists.

Auburn forward Keyshawn Hall is another top scorer in the league, while Vanderbilt guard Tyler Tanner has been one of the most complete guards in the conference this season.

Florida also has several standout players including Alex Condon and Thomas Haugh, while center Rueben Chinyelu leads the SEC in rebounding.

What’s at stake this week

The SEC has been one of the strongest conferences in college basketball this season and could send several teams to the NCAA tournament.

For teams near the top of the standings like Florida, Alabama and Arkansas, the tournament is about building momentum and improving NCAA tournament seeding.

For teams on the bubble, a strong run in Nashville could make the difference between hearing their name called on Selection Sunday or missing the tournament altogether.

By Sunday afternoon, one team will cut down the nets at Bridgestone Arena and earn the SEC’s automatic bid to March Madness.