{"id":183361,"date":"2026-03-08T17:41:06","date_gmt":"2026-03-08T17:41:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/183361\/"},"modified":"2026-03-08T17:41:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-08T17:41:06","slug":"when-do-gators-play-in-sec-tournament","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/183361\/","title":{"rendered":"When do Gators play in SEC Tournament?"},"content":{"rendered":"

March 8, 2026, 12:33 p.m. ET<\/p>\n

The 2025-26 men’s college basketball regular season is officially in the books, giving way to the beginning of the best stretch of sports you will find all year.<\/p>\n

While March Madness usually refers specifically to the NCAA Tournament, it also applies to the entire postseason, including the conference championships. The SEC Tournament, held inside Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, kicks off its single-elimination bracket on Wednesday, March 11, and concludes with its title game on Sunday, March 15.<\/p>\n

The Florida Gators<\/a>, who won the regular-season title with a 16-2 mark in conference play, earned the top seed in the tournament and will receive byes for the opening two rounds. The first game for Todd Golden’s gang comes on Friday against the winner of Game 5, at 1 p.m. ET.<\/p>\n

That Game 5 matchup has the 8th-seeded Missouri Tigers lined up against whoever prevails in Game 1 between the 9th-seeded Kentucky Wildcats<\/a> and 16th-seeded LSU Tigers<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If the Orange and Blue are victorious on Friday, that sets up a date on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET with the winner of Game 10, which has the 4th-seeded Vanderbilt Commodores lined up with the winner of Game 6. And, of course, a Gators victory would then put them in the title game held on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.<\/p>\n

Need a news break? Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!<\/a><\/p>\n

As for the broadcast, all three games will be on ESPN; since all three are also set for 1 p.m. ET, it should be easy for the Gator Nation to remember to tune in. Below is a look at the full schedule and bracket as Florida prepares for its second-straight SEC Tournament title run.<\/p>\n

SEC Tournament bracket, schedule<\/p>\n

All times ET<\/p>\n

First round<\/p>\n

Wednesday, March 11<\/p>\n

G1: No. 9 Kentucky vs. No. 16 LSU, 12:30 p.m. (SECN)G2: No. 12 Auburn vs. No. 13 Mississippi State, 3 p.m. (SECN)G3: No. 10 Texas vs. No. 15\u00a0Ole Miss<\/a>, 7 p.m. (SECN)G4: No. 11 Oklahoma vs. No. 14 South Carolina, 9:30 p.m. (SECN)<\/p>\n

Second round<\/p>\n

Thursday, March 12<\/p>\n

G5: No. 8 Missouri vs. Game 1 winner, 12:30 p.m. (SECN)G6: No. 5 Tennessee vs. Game 2 winner, 3 p.m. (SECN)G7: No. 7 Georgia vs. Game 3 winner, 7 p.m. (SECN)G8: No. 6 Texas A&M vs. Game 4 winner, 9:30 p.m. (SECN)<\/p>\n

Quarterfinals<\/p>\n

Friday, March 13<\/p>\n

G9: No. 1 Florida vs. Game 5 winner, 1 p.m. (ESPN)G10: No. 4 Vanderbilt vs. Game 6 winner, 3:30 p.m. (ESPN)G11: No. 2 Alabama vs. Game 7 winner, 7 p.m. (SECN)G12: No. 3 Arkansas vs. Game 8 winner, 9:30 p.m. (SECN)<\/p>\n

Semifinals<\/p>\n

Saturday, March 14<\/p>\n

G13: Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 1 p.m. (ESPN)G14: Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner, 3:30 p.m. (ESPN)<\/p>\n

Final<\/p>\n

Sunday, March 15<\/p>\n

Championship game, 1 p.m. (ESPN)\"\"\/<\/p>\n

Follow us\u00a0@GatorsWire<\/a>\u00a0on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky<\/a>, and like our page on\u00a0Facebook<\/a>\u00a0to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators<\/a> news, notes and opinions.<\/p>\n