SEC Saturday Recap: Chaos sets the SEC Tournament field

By Chris Marler

The grand finale of the regular season definitely delivered. Two games went to overtime, including one in Baton Rouge that went to three. There was also a buzzer beater in Oxford, and history made in Knoxville. Here’s everything you may have missed from Saturday in the SEC. 

More like SAD-urday

When the lights shine brightest the stars come out. At least they’re supposed to. That’s not what happened on Saturday. ESPN’s Joe Lunardi had 12 teams make up his seven at-large bids and first five teams out of his latest bracketology. Of those 12 teams, nine were in action on Saturday. 

All nine lost. All nine. 

Of @ESPNLunardi‘s last seven at-large teams and his first five teams out of the field, nine were in action today.

All nine lost.

Missouri
Texas
SMU
Indiana
New Mexico
Auburn
Virginia Tech
Cincinnati
California

0-9 today.

— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) March 8, 2026

Field is set for Nashville 

One of the wildest parts of Saturday was how much movement in the SEC Tournament field was still on the table. Missouri came into the day as the No. 4 Seed. Their loss and Vanderbilt’s win over Tennessee dropped them all the way down to No. 8 where they would face Kentucky and potentially Florida in their first two days of the tournament. 

LSU’s heartbreaking three overtime loss to Texas A&M came just a few hours after South Carolina’s buzzer beater against Ole Miss. That vaulted South Carolina from No. 16 to 14. Here’s a look at next week’s tournament. 

The 2026 SEC Tournament Bracket. pic.twitter.com/8xqUkqnQLr

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 8, 2026

Latest Bracketology 

The Auburn argument to get in the field is getting louder and louder. As the saying goes though, the loudest one in the room is often the weakest one in the room. Auburn got their doors blown off against Alabama, 96-84, their third straight loss in the rivalry. After the game, Stephen Pearl immediately took to the podium to defend his team and why the deserve to get in the field. His dad took to twitter and did the same thing. 

Auburn played the regular season champs of the Big Ten, Big East, Big 12, and SEC. Split with them, and didn’t play any of them at home. This team has competed through the toughest schedule in Auburn Basketball history. I remember what we were and proud of who we are! War Eagle!

— Bruce Pearl (@coachbrucepearl) March 8, 2026

Meanwhile, Florida dominated once again. Their win over Kentucky gave the Gators a 16-2 record in the regular season, and now a No. 1 Seed in the NCAA Tournament. Here are the latest bracketology projections and seeds for every SEC team after the final regular season games. 

No. 1 Florida 

No. 4 Alabama 

No. 5 Tennessee 

No. 5 Arkansas 

No. 5 Vanderbilt 

No. 6 Kentucky 

No. 7 Georgia 

No. 10 Missouri 

No. 10 Texas 

No. 10 Texas A&M 

No. 11 Auburn 

pic.twitter.com/QqBh6G01at

— Joe Lunardi (@ESPNLunardi) March 8, 2026

Keeping Score 

The final regular season Saturday of picks and best bets got off to a horrible start. The picks were 0-2 out of the gate, but they finished 4-2 on the day. That included two locks of the week. Full transparency, I definitely forgot I had already made one of the locks of the week and accidentally made another one. When life hands you lemons though and what not. Both Alabama and Texas A&M covered their spreads and the lock of the week finished the regular season at 11-1. Pretty, pretty good. Hopefully we’ll stay  in the SEC and NCAA Tournament.