The 2026 SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament schedule is underway at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN (March 11–15). After a wild opening round where No. 15 Ole Miss, No. 12 Auburn, and No. 11 Oklahoma all pulled upsets, the field moves to the Second Round on Thursday, March 12. No. 1 seed Florida and other top-tier teams like Alabama and Arkansas await in Friday’s quarterfinals.
🏀 Follow the SEC into the Big Dance!
Free Printable PDF
2026 SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament Schedule, Times, and TV Channels
Wednesday, March 11: First Round Results
Tonight’s action saw three double-digit seeds advance, ending the seasons for LSU, Mississippi State, Texas, and South Carolina.
| Game | Matchup | Result | Status |
| 1 | No. 9 Kentucky vs. No. 16 LSU | UK 87, LSU 82 | Kentucky Advances |
| 2 | No. 12 Auburn vs. No. 13 Miss. State | AUB 79, MSU 61 | Auburn Advances |
| 3 | No. 10 Texas vs. No. 15 Ole Miss | OM 76, TEX 66 | Ole Miss Advances |
| 4 | No. 11 Oklahoma vs. No. 14 S. Carolina | OU 86, USC 74 | Oklahoma Advances |
SEC Tournament Daily Schedule (All Times Eastern):
- Wednesday, March 11 (First Round): Four games starting at 12:30 PM (SEC Network)
- Thursday, March 12 (Second Round): Four games starting at 12:30 PM (SEC Network)
- Friday, March 13 (Quarterfinals): Four games starting at 1:00 PM (ESPN / SEC Network)
- Saturday, March 14 (Semifinals): Two games starting at 1:00 PM (ESPN)
- Sunday, March 15 (Championship): 1:00 PM (ESPN)
Expert Note from the Sports Brackets Analyst: The 16-team expansion has turned the SEC into a gauntlet of depth. Unlike the Big Ten, which is playing 18 teams in Chicago, the SEC’s 16-team format in Nashville means the ‘bubble’ teams (seeds 7-10) have a significantly harder path, as they likely have to face a rested top-4 seed on Friday. Watch for teams like Alabama, Tennessee, or Florida to dominate the late-round fatigue battle due to those double-byes.
Selection Sunday Preview: Will the SEC dominate the top seeds? Track the latest bracketology and kickoff times in our 2026 Selection Sunday Guide.
On the Bubble? See if your team is currently projected for the field in our Live 2026 March Madness Bubble Watch.
Gemini said
Tonight was a high-stakes “Elimination Wednesday” in Nashville. With three major upsets in the first four games, the SEC bracket has completely opened up for the heavy hitters entering on Thursday and Friday.
Here is the updated content for your SEC Tournament hub.
2026 SEC Tournament Schedule: Updated Bracket, Scores, and Thursday Matchups
The Atomic Answer: The 2026 SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament is underway at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN (March 11–15). After a wild opening round where No. 15 Ole Miss, No. 12 Auburn, and No. 11 Oklahoma all pulled upsets, the field moves to the Second Round on Thursday, March 12. No. 1 seed Florida and other top-tier teams like Alabama and Arkansas await in Friday’s quarterfinals.
2026 SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament Schedule (Thursday)
The “Bubble” teams are back in action tomorrow. Oklahoma and Auburn specifically need these wins to keep their NCAA Tournament hopes alive.
| Game | Time (ET) | Matchup | TV |
| 5 | 12:30 PM | No. 8 Missouri vs. No. 9 Kentucky | SEC Network |
| 6 | 3:00 PM | No. 5 Tennessee vs. No. 12 Auburn | SEC Network |
| 7 | 7:00 PM | No. 7 Georgia vs. No. 15 Ole Miss | SEC Network |
| 8 | 9:30 PM | No. 6 Texas A&M vs. No. 11 Oklahoma | SEC Network |
Listen: SEC Tournament Deep Dive & Upset Prediction
2026 SEC Basketball Tournament Schedule and TV Broadcasts (Confirmed)
The 2026 SEC basketball tournament schedule takes place from March 11-15, 2026. We have SEC regular season basketball schedules and more posted up for you to enjoy too.
All times are Central Time (CT).
Friday, March 13 (Quarterfinals)
- Game 9: #1 Florida vs. Winner Game 5 | 12:00 p.m. | ESPN
- Game 10: #4 Vanderbilt vs. Winner Game 6 | ~2:30 p.m. | ESPN
- Game 11: #2 Alabama vs. Winner Game 7 | 6:00 p.m. | SEC Network
- Game 12: #3 Arkansas vs. Winner Game 8 | ~8:30 p.m. | SEC Network
Saturday, March 14 (Semifinals)
- Game 13: Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10 | 12:00 p.m. | ESPN
- Game 14: Winner Game 11 vs. Winner Game 12 | ~2:30 p.m. | ESPN
Sunday, March 15 (Championship)
- Game 15: Winner Game 13 vs. Winner Game 14 | 12:00 p.m. | ESPN
Past SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament Champions
The following are the past SEC men’s basketball tournament champions since 2014.
| YEAR | CHAMPION |
| 2025 | Florida Gators |
| 2024 | Auburn Tigers |
| 2023 | Alabama Crimson Tide |
| 2022 | Tennessee Vols |
| 2021 | Alabama Crimson Tide |
| 2020 | None |
| 2019 | Auburn Tigers |
| 2018 | Kentucky Wildcats |
| 2017 | Kentucky Wildcats |
| 2016 | Kentucky Wildcats |
| 2015 | Kentucky Wildcats |
| 2014 | Florida Gators |
Printable SEC Basketball Tournament Bracket
If you are looking for an early, printable 2026 SEC Men’s basketball tournament bracket, we have a blank one for you here. The SEC updates the primary bracket for you here in printable PDF format. The team who wins the SEC tournament will earn the conference’s automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Basketball Tournament. If you are looking for a printable, blank 2026 March Madness bracket, we have one posted as well as a March Madness schedule. You can also checkout our odds converter and our parlay calculator too.
Who is the #1 seed in the 2026 SEC Tournament?
The Florida Gators are the #1 seed after finishing the regular season 15–2 in conference play.
Who does Kentucky play in the 2026 SEC Tournament?
Kentucky is the #9 seed and will open the tournament on Wednesday, March 11, at 11:30 a.m. CT against #16 LSU. The winner of that game faces #8 Missouri on Thursday.
Which teams have a double-bye in 2026?
The top four seeds-Florida (#1), Alabama (#2), Arkansas (#3), and Vanderbilt (#4)-have earned double-byes and will not play until the Quarterfinal round on Friday, March 13.
Where is the 2026 SEC Basketball Tournament being played?
The tournament returns to Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.
What channel is the SEC Tournament on?
Coverage is split between the SEC Network (Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday evening) and ESPN (Friday afternoon, Saturday, and Sunday). All games can be streamed via the ESPN app.
Is Texas out of the NCAA Tournament?
After losing to Ole Miss, the Longhorns (18-14) are firmly on the bubble and will have to wait for Selection Sunday to see if their NET ranking is high enough for an at-large bid.
Where is the 2026 SEC Tournament being held?
The tournament is being played at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.
Who is the favorite to win the 2026 SEC Title?
Florida enters as the No. 1 seed and the heavy favorite after a 16-2 conference record, though Alabama and Arkansas are close behind in recent projections.
