2026 SEC Basketball Tournament: Schedule, Bracket, TV Channels & How to Watch

March Madness^® runs deeper than the 64-team bracket. It starts the moment teams begin fighting for their seasons just to get a ticket there.

And in the SEC, where there are five top 25 teams on the men’s side and five top 10(!) teams on the women’s side, the conference tournament is a spectacle all its own.

From March 4th through March 15th, 16 teams from the Southeastern Conference will battle to be SEC Tournament Champion and earn an automatic bid to their respective NCAA tournaments. For some, it may even be a number one seed.

Stream Conference Tournaments & March Madness for less with DIRECTV’s MySports^® Genre Pack^®!

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Skip to: How to Watch | Tournament Schedule | Seeding | Tournament Bracket | Teams to Watch

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When is the 2026 SEC Basketball Tournament?

• The 2026 SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament runs from March 4 to March 8 at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina.
• The 2026 SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament runs from March 11 to March 15 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.

How to Watch the 2026 SEC Basketball Tournament Live

Looking for the SEC Tournament TV schedule or live streaming options? Here’s how to watch every 2026 SEC Basketball Tournament game on TV or online.

SEC basketball fans can watch every conference tournament game live on TV, either on the SEC Network or ESPN. On DIRECTV, find SEC Network on channel 611 and ESPN on 206.

If you don’t currently have access to SEC Network, you can fix that by signing up for one of several DIRECTV packages. Customers can get ESPN, SEC Network and a variety of other sports-centric channels with these packages:

• CHOICE™ Streaming TV Plan: Get 125+ channels for $79.99/mo. + taxes & fees
• MySports^® Genre Pack^®: Get 25+ sports networks and ESPN+ for $69.99/mo.

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2026 SEC Basketball Tournament Schedule

Here is the complete 2026 SEC Basketball Tournament schedule, including game times, matchups and TV channels for both the men’s and women’s tournaments.

2026 SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament Schedule

Below is the complete 2026 SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament schedule, including game times and TV channels.

First Round – Wednesday, March 4, 2026

Game	Time	Matchup	TV
1	11:00 a.m.	No. 9 Kentucky vs No. 16 Arkansas	SECN
2	1:30 p.m.	No. 12 Florida vs No. 13 Mississippi State
3	6:00 p.m.	No. 10 Texas A&M vs No. 15 Auburn
4	8:30 p.m.	No. 11 Alabama vs No. 14 Missouri

Second Round – Thursday, March 5, 2026

Game	Time	Matchup	TV
5	11:00 a.m.	No. 8 Georgia vs Winner of Game 1	SECN
6	1:30 p.m.	No. 5 Oklahoma vs Winner of Game 2
7	6:00 p.m.	No. 7 Ole Miss vs Winner of Game 3
8	8:30 p.m.	No. 6 Tennessee vs Winner of Game 4

Quarterfinals – Friday, March 6, 2026

Game	Time	Matchup	TV
9	12:00 p.m.	No. 1 South Carolina vs Winner of Game 5	ESPN
10	2:30 p.m.	No. 4 LSU vs Winner of Game 6
11	6:00 p.m.	No. 2 Vanderbilt vs Winner of Game 7	SECN
12	8:30 p.m.	No. 3 Texas vs Winner of Game 8

Semifinals – Saturday, March 7, 2026

Game	Time	Matchup	TV
13	4:30 p.m.	Winner of Game 9 vs Winner of Game 10	ESPN2
14	7:00 p.m.	Winner of Game 11 vs Winner of Game 12

Championship – Sunday, March 8, 2026

Game	Time	Matchup	TV
15	3:00 p.m.	Winner of Game 13 vs Winner of Game 14	ESPN

2026 SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament Schedule

Below is the complete 2026 SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament schedule, including game times and TV channels.

First Round – Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Game	Time	Matchup	TV
1	11:30 a.m.	No. 9 vs No. 16	SECN
2	25 mins after Game 1	No. 12 vs No. 13
3	6:00 p.m.	No. 10 vs No. 15
4	25 mins after Game 3	No. 11 vs No. 14

Second Round – Thursday, March 12, 2026

Game	Time	Matchup	TV
5	11:30 a.m.	No. 8 vs Winner of Game 1	SECN
6	25 mins after Game 5	No. 5 vs Winner of Game 2
7	6:00 p.m.	No. 7 vs Winner of Game 3
8	25 mins after Game 7	No. 6 vs Winner of Game 4

Quarterfinals – Friday, March 13, 2026

Game	Time	Matchup	TV
9	12:00 p.m.	No. 1 Florida vs Winner of Game 5	ESPN
10	25 mins after Game 9	No. 4 vs Winner of Game 6
11	6:00 p.m.	No. 2 vs Winner of Game 7	SECN
12	25 mins after Game 11	No. 3 vs Winner of Game 8

Semifinals – Saturday, March 14, 2026

Game	Time	Matchup	TV
13	12:00 p.m.	Winner of Game 9 vs Winner of Game 10	ESPN
14	25 mins after Game 13	Winner of Game 11 vs Winner of Game 12

Championship – Sunday, March 15, 2026

Game	Time	Matchup	TV
15	12:00 p.m.	Winner of Game 13 vs Winner of Game 14	ESPN

2026 SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament Seedings (as of March 2, 2026)

The SEC tournament is a single-elimination format where the rankings are determined by regular-season conference records. The current seeding as of March 2 is listed below:

Rank	Team	Conference	PCT	Overall	PCT
No. 5	Florida	14–2	.875	23–6	.793
No. 16	Alabama	12–4	.750	22–7	.759
No. 20	Arkansas	11–5	.688	21–8	.724
—	Missouri	10–6	.625	20–9	.690
No. 23	Tennessee	10–6	.625	20–9	.690
—	Kentucky	10–6	.625	19–10	.655
No. 24	Vanderbilt	9–7	.563	22–7	.759
—	Texas A&M	9–7	.563	19–10	.655
—	Texas	9–7	.563	18–11	.621
—	Georgia	8–8	.500	20–9	.690
—	Auburn	6–10	.375	15–14	.517
—	Oklahoma	5–11	.313	15–14	.517
—	Mississippi State	5–11	.313	13–16	.448
—	Ole Miss	4–12	.250	12–17	.414
—	LSU	3–13	.188	15–14	.517
—	South Carolina	3-13	.188	12-17	.414

2026 SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament Seedings (as of March 2, 2026)

The SEC tournament follows a win-or-go-home structure where the rankings are determined by regular-season conference records. The current seeding as of March 2 is listed below:

Rank	Team	Conference	PCT	Overall	PCT
No. 3	South Carolina	15–1	.938	29–2	.935
No. 4	Texas	13–3	.813	28–3	.903
No. 5	Vanderbilt	13–3	.813	27–3	.900
No. 6	LSU	12–4	.750	26–4	.867
No. 7	Oklahoma	11–5	.688	23–6	.793
No. 22	Georgia	8–8	.500	22–8	.733
No. 17	Kentucky	8–8	.500	21–9	.700
No. 24	Ole Miss	8–8	.500	21–10	.677
—	Tennessee	8–8	.500	16–12	.571
—	Alabama	7–9	.438	21–9	.700
—	Texas A&M	7–9	.438	14–11	.560
—	Mississippi State	5–11	.313	18–12	.600
—	Florida	5–11	.313	17–14	.548
—	Missouri	4–12	.250	16–15	.516
—	Auburn	3–13	.188	14–16	.467
—	Arkansas	1–15	.063	12–19	.387

2026 SEC Basketball Tournament Bracket

The 2026 SEC Basketball Tournament bracket includes all 16 SEC teams in a single-elimination format. The top four seeds receive a double bye into the quarterfinals, while seeds 5–8 receive a bye into the second round. The winner earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

SEC Women’s Tournament Bracket

The 2026 SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament bracket begins on Wednesday, March 4. Seeds 9–16 play in the first round, while the top four seeds (South Carolina, Texas, Vanderbilt and LSU) advance directly to the quarterfinals.

The bracket narrows each day until the championship game on Sunday, March 8, in Greenville, South Carolina.

View or Download the Women’s Bracket here.

SEC Men’s Tournament Bracket

The 2026 SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament bracket tips off Wednesday, March 11 in Nashville, Tennessee. Like the women’s tournament, the format is single elimination, with the top four seeds earning a double bye into Friday’s quarterfinals.

Florida enters as the No. 1 seed and will begin play in the quarterfinal round on Friday, March 13.

The championship game is set for Sunday, March 15.

View or Download the Men’s Bracket here.

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Top Teams in the 2026 SEC Basketball Tournament

SEC Men’s Basketball: Teams to Watch

Here are the top contenders in the 2026 SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament and their path to a championship.

#5 Florida Gators

Florida enters the SEC tournament as the number one seed in conference, going 14-2 in conference play and 23-6 overall. The defending national champions are the only SEC team in the top 10 nationally and have won nine straight, including ranked conference matchups against Arkansas, Kentucky and Alabama.

Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu have found their groove at just the right time.

#16 Alabama Crimson Tide

The number two seed in the SEC tournament, the Crimson Tide went 12-4 in conference play and 22-7 overall. They too enter the conference tournament on a winning streak, having won their last eight. Their last loss came to Florida in a 100 to 77 blowout, which means a chance at revenge in this tournament.

Head coach Nate Oats has already led Alabama to two of its best seasons in decades and has them on the cusp of another.

#20 Arkansas Razorbacks

Arkansas is headed for the tournament ranked 20th nationally, though they arrive with back-to-back devastating losses to Florida and Alabama. On the road in Tuscaloosa, they fell 117 to 115 in double overtime. Then a few weeks later, with a chance to pull off an upset in Gainesville, they were blown out 111 -77.

This is a young team with elite scoring talent. True freshman Darius Acuff Jr. dropped 31 in a win against Auburn before following it up with 49 in double overtime against Alabama. And Trevon Brazile, the transfer from Missouri, has been an all-around menace, shooting 40% from three while averaging 12.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game.

Arkansas has hovered around the top 20 all season and might not carry the same attention as other threats in the SEC tournament, but they have the kind of upside that can win them any game.

#23 Tennessee Volunteers

Tennessee has gone through back-to-back frustrating losses: a four-point loss to unranked Missouri on the road followed four days later by a two-point loss to #17 Alabama at home. Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Nate Ament have been so good all season, and just six points separate them from possibly cracking the top 10.

A strong close to the regular season would do wonders as they look for an upset in the SEC tournament.

#24 Vanderbilt Commodores

Vanderbilt enters at 22-7 overall, but all seven losses have come in the SEC and all seven have come since the new year. This was a team that took advantage of a relatively light schedule to open the year and has had mixed results when going up against the stiffer competition of their own conference and the nation’s best. The quest for any postseason championship is a chance to turn the page, and the Commodores need a fresh start heading into the Madness.

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SEC Women’s Basketball: Teams to Watch

There are plenty of top contenders in the SEC Women’s Tournament that could take it all the way. Here they are.

#3 South Carolina Gamecocks

At #3 in the AP Poll, South Carolina enters the tournament as the SEC’s number one seed with a 15-1 record in conference play and 29-2 overall. They have won 10 in a row, including wins against Vanderbilt, Tennessee, LSU, Alabama, Ole Miss and Kentucky.

The only losses have come against the recent Big 12 transfers in Oklahoma and Texas.

Madina Okot has been a double-double machine, collecting double-digit rebounds in seven straight games. After losing in last year’s national championship, Dawn Staley and company are ready for another shot at the title. And no matter how many times the Gamecocks take home the SEC championship, they are going to play like it’s their first.

South Carolina is sprinting directly toward a fourth straight SEC championship game.

#4 Texas Longhorns

Texas finished 13-3 in conference play and 28-3 overall. Their three losses have come against LSU, South Carolina and Vanderbilt. Madison Booker, Breya Cunningham, Rori Harmon and Kyla Oldacre have led Texas to a 9-1 record over their last 10, with wins against Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, LSU and Oklahoma.

Having already beaten South Carolina earlier in the season, this is a Longhorns team with plenty of well-placed confidence as they seek their first SEC championship.

#5 Vanderbilt Commodores

Vanderbilt has gone 7-2 against top 25 teams since the new year, including wins over LSU, Michigan and Texas. They can hang with the very best, and that is thanks to Mikayla Blakes, who has led the team in scoring in 11 straight games. In seven of those she scored 30 or more points and is averaging more than 30 points per game over her last 10.

Game-changing scoring can make the difference in tournament play where everyone is fighting for their life, and Blakes is exactly that kind of scorer.

#6 LSU Tigers

LSU enters the tournament 12-4 in conference play and 26-4 overall. They have won four straight entering the tournament, but two losses to South Carolina and Texas in early February will loom large over their quest for their first SEC tournament championship.

Flau’jae Johnson, Mikaylah Williams and South Carolina transfer MiLaysia Fulwiley have been a triple threat for this team over the last 10 games. And with Kim Mulkey on the bench, this is a team that will always be ready to fight.

#7 Oklahoma Sooners

Oklahoma is 11- 5 in conference play and 23-6 overall. They are winners of six straight, including ranked wins against Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee. That is a strong end to the season after starting February with back-to-back losses on the road to Texas and Vanderbilt.

Raegan Beers, Payton Verhulst and Aaliyah Chavez have led the way for this Sooners team that has already established themselves as one of the heavyweights in the SEC.

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2026 SEC Basketball Teams

Here is the complete list of all 16 SEC basketball teams competing in the 2026 SEC Tournament:

• Alabama Crimson Tide
• Arkansas Razorbacks
• Auburn Tigers
• Florida Gators
• Georgia Bulldogs
• Kentucky Wildcats
• LSU Tigers
• Mississippi State Bulldogs
• Missouri Tigers
• Oklahoma Sooners
• Ole Miss Rebels
• South Carolina Gamecocks
• Tennessee Volunteers
• Texas A&M Aggies
• Texas Longhorns
• Vanderbilt Commodores

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Watch College Basketball on DIRECTV

From March 4th through March 15th, 16 teams from the Southeastern Conference will battle to be SEC Tournament Champion and earn an automatic bid to their respective NCAA tournaments.

Stream Conference Tournaments & March Madness for less with DIRECTV’s MySports^® Genre Pack^®!