SEC officially projected to have 14 teams in NCAA tournament
03/14/2025
(Photo courtesy of @sec on X)
By Chris Marler
There’s not a ton of certainty that goes into March Madness. Cinderella stories, buzzer beaters, and the occasional “what did I just see and how is my bracket busted on the first day?” type moments happen every year.
It’s what we want. It’s what we love.
One thing that is absolutely certain this year—the SEC is going to set a record for teams in the NCAA tournament. That became a certainty after Texas beat Texas A&M 94-89 in double overtime yesterday in Nashville.
This ain’t Texas, but this game sure felt bigger. 🤯
Horns get the rivalry upset in double-OT!@TexasMBB x #SECTourney pic.twitter.com/q4k50CkP5R
— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) March 13, 2025
There’s no doubt they’ll surpass 11 teams. The only question is how many more will make it and by how much they’ll shatter the previous record.
The previous record for NCAA tournament bids came in 2011 when the former Big East got 11 teams in the Big Dance. That seems like child’s play for the SEC this year.
Also, before anyone starts in about conference realignment and 16 team mega conferences, that season featured a Big East conference with 16 total teams, as well.
Prior to this season, the most bids the SEC ever received in the postseason was ten. That happened a year ago. However, that included two teams in the NIT tournament and just eight in the NCAA tournament. What a difference a year makes in this league. The two conference newcomers have certainly helped add to the depth and strength in numbers for potential postseason bids. However, even without Oklahoma and Texas making the field, the SEC would still be a shoe-in to have 12 teams dancing.
It’s been talked about almost ad nauseam but the depth in this league truly is unreal. To break a record that’s stood for a decade plus is one thing. To do it by three teams is insane. Landing 14 teams in the tournament in the first year of a new 16 team league is something to brag about.
Truly.
An 18-team Big Ten couldn’t accomplish it this year. A 15 or 16-team ACC struggled for years. This might be a rare feat we won’t see again anytime soon.
With Selection Sunday just two days away, the number of league teams making the tournament seems settled. The real question remains—how far will they go in March?