2025–26 Southeastern Conference men's basketball season

The 2025–26 Southeastern Conference men's basketball season began with practices in October 2025. The season officially started on November 3, 2025, as part of the 2025–26 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Conference play is scheduled to begin on January 3, 2026, and conclude on March 7, 2026. The 16 member teams will then participate in the 2026 SEC men's basketball tournament, scheduled for March 11–15, 2026, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.

This is the second season with 16 members, as Texas and Oklahoma joined the conference in 2025.

Previous season The Florida Gators, the tournament champions, received the conference’s automatic bid to the 2025 NCAA tournament. They went on to win the national title with a 65–63 championship victory over the Houston Cougars. The league set a record for the most schools sent to the NCAA tournament, with 14 out of its 16 members earning bids.

Coaches

Coaching changes

+CoachSchoolReasonReplacementRodney TerryTexasFiredSean MillerBuzz WilliamsTexas A&MAccepted coaching position at MarylandBucky McMillan

Head coaches

Notes: Records shown are through the end of the 2024–25 season, before the start of the 2025–26 season. NCAA tournament appearances, Final Fours, and championships include achievements earned at other schools.

Team Head coach Previous job Seasons at school Record at school SEC record SEC titles NCAA tournaments NCAA Final Fours NCAA ChampionshipsAlabama Nate Oats Buffalo 7th 145–63 () 75–33 () 2 5 1 0Arkansas John Calipari Kentucky 2nd 22–14 () 8–10 () 6 24 6 1Auburn Steven Pearl N/A 1st 9-6 () 0–2 () 0 0 0 0Florida Todd Golden San Francisco 4th 76–33 () 34–20 () 1 3 1 1Georgia Mike White Florida 4th 56–46 () 20–34 () 0 5 0 0Kentucky Mark Pope BYU 2nd 24–12 () 10–8 () 0 3 0 0LSU Matt McMahon Murray State 4th 45–48 () 14–35 () 0 3 0 0Oklahoma Porter Moser Loyola Chicago 5th 74–59 () 6–12 () 0 3 1 0Ole Miss Chris Beard Texas 3rd 44–24 () 17–19 () 0 5 1 0Mississippi State Chris Jans New Mexico State 4th 63–40 () 24–30 () 0 6 0 0Missouri Dennis Gates Cleveland State 4th 55–46 () 20–32 () 0 3 0 0South Carolina Lamont Paris Chattanooga 4th 49–49 () 19–35 () 0 2 0 0Tennessee Rick Barnes Texas 11th 232–109 () 111–66 () 2 29 1 0Texas Sean Miller Xavier 1st 0–0 () 0–0 () 0 13 0 0Texas A&M Bucky McMillan Samford 1st 0–0 () 0–0 () 0 1 0 0Vanderbilt Mark Byington James Madison 2nd 20–13 () 8–10 () 0 2 0 0 Notes: SEC records, conference titles, etc. are based on time at the current school, and are through the end of the 2025–26 season. NCAA tournament appearances, NCAA Final Fours, and championships also include achievements earned while at other schools.

Off-season

Recruiting classes + Rankings Team ESPNOn3 Recruits247 SportsSigneesAlabama No. 19 No. 6 No. 10 4Arkansas No. 3 No. 4 No. 4 6Auburn No. 11 No. 18 No. 14 6Florida No. 22 No. 7 No. 47 2Georgia No. 23 No. 28 3LSU No. 29 No. 23 4Kentucky No. 6 No. 16 No. 7 4Missouri No. 37 No. 76 2Mississippi State No. 12 No. 17 No. 19 5Oklahoma No. 43 No. 42 4Ole Miss No. 15 No. 12 No. 12 4South Carolina No. 49 No. 41 5Tennessee No. 7 No. 8 No. 8 6Texas No. 51 No. 36 3Texas A&M No. 81 No. 61 2Vanderbilt No. 78 No. 57 3

Pre-season Preseason watchlists Below is a table of notable preseason watch lists. PlayerWoodenNaismithOlsonRobertsonCousyWestErvingMalone Abdul-JabbarDarius Acuff Jr., ArkansasNate Ament, TennesseeAlex Condon, FloridaMalique Ewin, ArkansasBoogie Fland, FloridaJa'Kobi Gillespie, TennesseeKeyshawn Hall, AuburnThomas Haugh, FloridaJosh Hubbard, Mississippi StateKarter Knox, ArkansasXaivian Lee, FloridaJaland Lowe, KentuckyDuke Miles, VanderbiltMark Mitchell, MissouriFelix Okpara, TennesseeOtega Oweh, KentuckyTahaad Pettiford, AuburnLabaron Philon Jr., AlabamaJayden Quaintance, KentuckyDerrion Reid, OklahomaDailyn Swain, TexasD.J. Wagner, Arkansas

Preseason All-American teams PlayerAPESPN 2nd TeamESPN 3rd TeamSI 2nd TeamSI 3rd TeamCBS Sports 2nd teamBlue Ribbon 1st teamBlue Ribbon 2nd teamBlue Ribbon 3rd teamSN 1st TeamSN 3rd TeamNate AmentAlex CondonThomas HaughOtega OwehTahaad PettifordLabaron Philon Jr.

Preseason polls/ratings

AP Blue Ribbon CBS Sports Coaches ESPN Fox Sports KenPom NCAA Sports SportsIllustratedAlabama 15 11 13 16 17 22 23 20 27Arkansas 14 15 19 15 11 10 29 17 14Auburn 20 13 26 22 14 15 31 27 16Florida 3 1 11 3 2 16 2 5 3Georgia – – 54 – – – 44 – 65Kentucky 9 8 3 9 9 8 4 8 10LSU – – 60 – – – 56 – 71 Missouri RV – 42 RV – – 28 32 34Mississippi State RV – 37 – – – 26 36 54Oklahoma RV – 28 – – – 58 – 37Ole Miss RV – 36 RV – – 24 26 48South Carolina – – 80 – – – 86 – 101Tennessee 18 7 17 17 23 13 9 12 17Texas RV 24 34 RV – – 39 28 51Texas A&M – – 56 – – – 35 37 32Vanderbilt RV – 44 RV – – 19 – 42

SEC media days The SEC conducted its 2025 SEC Media Days in Birmingham, Alabama, in October 2025, broadcast on the SEC Network.

Teams and representatives attending were as follows:

TeamCoachPlayerAlabama Nate Oats Arkansas John Calipari AuburnBruce PearlFloridaTodd GoldenGeorgiaMike WhiteKentuckyMark PopeLSUMatt McMahonMississippi StateChris JansMissouriDennis GatesOklahomaPorter MoserOle MissChris BeardSouth CarolinaLamont ParisTennesseeRick BarnesTexasSean MillerTexas A&MBucky McMillanVanderbiltMark ByingtonReference:

SEC preseason coaches poll The SEC preseason coaches poll was released in October 2025. All awards were voted on by the league's 16 head coaches, however they could not vote for their own team/players.

+Men's Basketball Preseason Poll Place Team Points 1. Florida 2. Kentucky 3. Alabama 4. Tennessee 5. Arkansas 6. Auburn 7. Missouri 8. Ole Miss 9. Mississippi State 10. Texas 11. Oklahoma 12. Texas A&M 13. Vanderbilt 14. Georgia 15. LSU 16. South Carolina Reference: (#) first-place votes

SEC Preseason All-Conference All-SEC Preseason First team

Player School Pos. Yr. Ht., Wt. Hometown (Last School)Labaron Philon Jr.AlabamaGSo.6' 4", 185Mobile, ALTahaad PettifordAuburnGSo.6' 1", 170Jersey City, NJAlex CondonFloridaCJr.6' 11", 236Perth, AustraliaOtega OwehKentuckyGSr.6' 4", 220Newark, NJJosh HubbardMississippi StateGJr.6' 0", 190Madison, MS All-SEC Preseason second team Player School Pos. Yr. Ht., Wt. Hometown (Last School)Boogie FlandFloridaGSo.6' 3", 185Bronx, NYMalik DiaOle MissFSr.6' 9", 250Murfreesboro, TNMark MitchellMissouriFJr.6' 9", 230Kansas City, KSNate AmentTennesseeFFr.6' 10", 207Manassas, VAJa’Kobi GillespieTennesseeGSr.6' 1", 188Greeneville, TN All-SEC Preseason third team Player School Pos. Yr. Ht., Wt. Hometown (Last School)Aden HollowayAlabamaGJr.6' 1", 180Charlotte, NCDarius Acuff Jr.ArkansasGFr.6' 3", 190Detroit, MIKarter KnoxArkansasGSo.6' 6", 220Tampa, FLD.J. WagnerArkansasGJr.6' 4", 190Camden, NJThomas HaughFloridaFJr.6' 9", 215New Oxford, PA

Regular season The schedule was released in late October. Before the season, it was announced that for the seventh consecutive season, all regular-season conference games and conference tournament games would be broadcast nationally by the ESPN Inc. family of networks, including ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, and the SEC Network.

The conference matchups for each school had yet to be announced.

+KeyScheduleHome & Away Conference Schedule Home (H) & Away (A) Home Only (H) Away Only (A)

 AlabamaArkansasAuburnFloridaGeorgiaKentuckyLSUMississippi StateMissouriOklahomaOle MissSouth CarolinaTennesseeTexasTexas A&M Vanderbiltvs. Alabama—vs. Arkansas—vs. Auburn—vs. Florida—vs. Georgia—vs. Kentucky—vs. LSU—vs. Mississippi State—vs. Missouri—vs. Oklahoma—vs. Ole Miss—vs. South Carolina—vs. Tennessee —vs. Texas—vs. Texas A&M—vs. Vanderbilt—

Conference matrix   AlabamaArkansasAuburnFloridaGeorgiaKentuckyLSUMississippi StateMissouriOklahomaOle MissSouth CarolinaTennesseeTexasTexas A&MVanderbiltvs. Alabama—0–10–21–01–00–10–10–10–20–10–10–11–11-00–11–0vs. Arkansas1–0—1–11–01–01–00–20–10–20–10–10–10–10–10–10–1vs. Auburn2–01–1—0–11–00–10–11–01–01–01–10–11–00–11–01–0vs. Florida0–10–11–0—0–20–20–10–11–00–10–10–20–10–10–10–1vs. Georgia0–10–10–12–0—0–10–10–10–11–01–00–21–01–11–01–0vs. Kentucky 1–00–11–02–01–0—0–10–11–00–10–10–10–20–10–11–1vs. LSU1–02–01–01–01–01–0—1–00–11–00–11–11–01–02–01–0vs. Mississippi State2–01–00–11–01–01–00–1—2–00–11–11–01–00–11–01–0vs. Missouri1–02–00–10–11–00–11–00–2—1–11–00–10–11–00–10–1vs. Oklahoma1–01–00–11–00–11–00–11–01–1—0–11–01–01–12–00–1vs. Ole Miss1–01–01–11–00–11–01–01–10–11–0—1–01–01–01–02–0vs. South Carolina1–01–01–02–02–01–01–10–11–00–10–1—1–01–01–01–0vs. Tennessee 1–11–00–11–00–12–00–10–11–00–10–10–1—0–10–11–1vs. Texas0–11–01–01–01–11–00–11–00–11–10–10–11–0—1–10–1vs. Texas A&M1–01–00–11–00–10–10–20–11–00–10–20–11–01–1—1–0vs. Vanderbilt0–11–00–11–00–11–10–10–11–01–00–20–11–11–00–1—Total13-513-57-1116-210-810-83-155-1310-87-114-144-1411-79-911-711-7 Thru Mar. 2026.

Points scored

TeamForAgainstDifferenceAlabama2,8562,591265Arkansas2,7972,479318Auburn2,5892,487102Florida2,7192,222497Georgia2,8022,457345Kentucky2,5182,285233LSU2,5242,42599Mississippi State2,4232,539-116Missouri2,4772,333144Oklahoma2,5652,402163Ole Miss2,3342,354-20South Carolina2,3242,361-37Tennessee2,4822,152330Texas2,6152,382233Texas A&M2,7442,463281Vanderbilt2,6952,329366 Note: Thru March, 2026

Multi-team tournaments

Team Tournament FinishAlabama Players Era Festival7thArkansas−−AuburnPlayers Era Festival12thFlorida Rady Children's Invitational3rdGeorgiaCharleston Classic2ndKentucky −−LSUEmerald Coast Classic1stMissouri−−Mississippi StateHall of Fame Classic4thOklahoma−−Ole MissAcrisure Classic4thSouth CarolinaGreenbrier Tip-Off4thTennesseePlayers Era Festival4thTexasMaui Invitational5thTexas A&M−−VanderbiltBattle 4 Atlantis1st

ACC–SEC Challenge

Date Visitor Home Site Significance Score Conference record December 2nd, 2025 Texas A&M Pittsburgh Petersen Events Center ACC-SEC Challenge Texas A&M 81-73 1-0 December 2nd, 2025 Virginia Tech South Carolina Colonial Life Arena ACC-SEC Challenge Virginia Tech 86-83OT 1-1 December 2nd, 2025 No. 13 Tennessee Syracuse JMA Wireless Dome ACC-SEC Challenge Syracuse 62-60 1-2 December 2nd, 2025 Oklahoma Wake Forest LJVM Coliseum ACC-SEC Challenge Oklahoma 86-68 2-2 December 2nd, 2025 No. 15 Florida No. 4 Duke Cameron Indoor Stadium ACC-SEC Challenge No. 4 Duke 67-66 2-3 December 2nd, 2025 Miami (FL) Ole Miss SJB Pavilion ACC-SEC Challenge Miami (FL) 75-66 2-4 December 2nd, 2025 Georgia Florida State Donald L. Tucker Civic Center ACC-SEC Challenge Georgia 107-73 3-4 December 2nd, 2025 Missouri Notre Dame Joyce Center ACC-SEC Challenge Notre Dame 76-71 3-5 December 2nd, 2025 No. 16 North Carolina No. 18 Kentucky Rupp Arena ACC-SEC Challenge No. 16 North Carolina 67-64 3-6 December 3rd, 2025 LSU Boston College Conte Forum ACC-SEC Challenge LSU 78-69OT 4-6 December 3rd, 2025 No. 6 Louisville No. 25 Arkansas Bud Walton Arena ACC-SEC Challenge No. 25 Arkansas 89-80 5-6 December 3rd, 2025 Clemson No. 12 Alabama Coleman Coliseum ACC-SEC Challenge No. 12 Alabama 90-84 6-6 December 3rd, 2025 SMU No. 17 Vanderbilt Memorial Gymnasium ACC-SEC Challenge No. 17 Vanderbilt 88-69 7-6 December 3rd, 2025 NC State No. 20 Auburn Neville Arena ACC-SEC Challenge No. 20 Auburn 83-73 8-6 December 3rd, 2025 Mississippi State Georgia Tech McCamish Pavilion ACC-SEC Challenge Mississippi State 85-73 9-6 December 3rd, 2025 Virginia Texas Moody Center ACC-SEC Challenge Virginia 88-69 9-7

Coast to Coast Challenge

Date Visitor Home Site Significance Score Conference record December 7th, 2025 LSU #19 Texas Tech Dickies Arena • Fort Worth, Texas USLBM Coast-to-Coast Challenge No. 19 Texas Tech 82-58 0-1 Team rankings are reflective of the AP poll at the time the game was played, not current or final rankings.

Regular season honors

SEC Players of the Week

Throughout the regular season, the SEC offices will honor 2 players each week based on performance, naming them 'Player of the Week' and 'Freshman of the Week'.