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SEC basketball is on fire right now.
The league added Texas and Oklahoma to an already loaded conference for the 2024-25 college basketball season and, with the new additions, there were some rumblings about the conference expanding to 20 conference games instead of the currently scheduled 18. However, it’s now being reported that the conference will not move to a 20-game schedule for 2025-26 after all. College basketball insider Jon Rothstein reported the news on social media.
The toughness of the SEC could have played a factor in this decision. Eleven of the conference’s 16 teams are currently ranked inside the top 40 in KenPom. South Carolina is the lowest-ranked SEC team in KenPom, and the Gamecocks are still at No. 64.
Making SEC teams play 2 extra conference games could hurt the conference’s number of teams that reach March Madness. With the slate staying at 18 conference games, each team will get to keep 2 non-conference games and likely get an extra win or 2 on their résumé.
In the latest AP Top 25 poll, the SEC has 5 teams inside the top 10, with Tennessee leading the way at No. 1. Auburn, Alabama, Florida, and Kentucky are the other SEC teams in the top 10. Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, and Arkansas are all also ranked currently.
For the 2024-25 season, conference play will begin after the new year. On Jan. 4, Florida plays at Kentucky while Arkansas plays at Tennessee to get conference play started. The last conference game of the regular season will feature the newcomers Oklahoma and Texas on Mar. 8.
Bryce Lazenby covers college football for Saturday Down South. A Nashville native, his previous stops include FanSided, Dimers, and The Leaf-Chronicle.
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