How did Auburn, Arkansas and other SEC schools do in Sweet 16 of NCAA Tournament?
The SEC put a record seven schools into the Sweet 16 of the men’s NCAA Tournament this year.
Each of Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Kentucky, Ole Miss and Tennessee reached at least the regional semifinal stage of March Madness, setting a record for the most schools from one conference in the Sweet 16. The previous top mark was six schools from the ACC in 2016.
How did these seven SEC schools fare in the Sweet 16?
Well, four of them will be playing for a spot in the Elite Eight.
Alabama, Auburn, Florida and Tennessee will each play in the regional finals this weekend. Furthermore, all four of these schools are playing in different regional finals.
So yes, the possibility of a Final Four consisting only of SEC schools is still alive and well entering the weekend.
Alabama, Florida secure spots in Elite Eight of NCAA Tournament
Alabama and Florida both won their Sweet 16 matchups on Thursday night to secure spots in the Elite Eight on Saturday.
The No. 2 seed Crimson Tide used a historic 3-point shooting performance to storm past No. 6 seed BYU by a 113-88 score in an East Regional semifinal in Newark, New Jersey. Alabama made 25 3-pointers in the game, which established a record for made 3-pointers in an NCAA Tournament game. The previous mark was 21 by Loyola Marymount in 1990.
Fifth-year guard Mark Sears — who made Alabama’s record-setting 3-pointer — finished with 34 points, 10 made 3-pointers and eight assists. Alabama will face No. 1 seed Duke in the East Regional finals at 8:49 p.m. Saturday.
The Crimson Tide made the Final Four last season for the first time in program history.
Also moving on to the Elite Eight on Thursday night was the No. 1 seed Florida Gators. Florida dispatched No. 4 seed Maryland by an 87-71 score in a West Regional semifinal in San Francisco. The Gators will face No. 3 seed Texas Tech in the West Regional finals at 6:09 p.m. Saturday.
The Gators are now just one win away from the program’s first Final Four appearance since 2014.
For a large portion of Thursday night, it seemed likely that former Kentucky coach John Calipari and the No. 10 seed Arkansas Razorbacks would be Florida’s surprise opponent in the Elite Eight. But, Calipari’s Hogs lost a 16-point second-half lead, and ultimately their Sweet 16 game, to Texas Tech 85-83 in overtime.
Junior forward Darrion Williams made a game-winning layup for the Red Raiders with seven seconds to go in overtime. The Razorbacks held that 16-point lead with just 10:23 to play, but couldn’t close the game out.
Auburn, Tennessee also advance to the Elite Eight
The other four SEC schools in the Sweet 16 were in action Friday night.
The marquee matchup came in the Midwest Regional, where No. 2 seed Tennessee dispatched No. 3 seed Kentucky in blowout fashion, 78-65, to reach a second-straight Elite Eight.
Rick Barnes and the Volunteers are now one win away from the program’s first Final Four appearance.
In the South Regional in Atlanta, No. 6 seed Ole Miss put a big scare into No. 2 seed Michigan State before the Spartans inched away for a 73-70 victory.
Ole Miss has still never made an Elite Eight in program history.
The late game in the South Regional saw No. 1 overall seed Auburn flex its muscles in the second half to blow past No. 5 seed Michigan, 78-65, in a de facto home game for the Tigers in Atlanta.
The Elite Eight schedule — featuring four SEC teams — is as follows:
At 6:09 p.m. Saturday, No. 1 seed Florida will play No. 3 seed Texas Tech in the West Regional final in San Francisco. At 8:49 p.m. Saturday, No. 1 seed Duke will play No. 2 seed Alabama in the East Regional final in Newark, New Jersey.
At 2:20 p.m. Sunday, No. 1 seed Houston will play No. 2 seed Tennessee in the Midwest Regional final in Indianapolis. At 5:05 p.m. Sunday, No. 1 seed Auburn will play No. 2 seed Michigan State in the South Regional final in Atlanta.
These four SEC schools were the top-four finishers in the SEC regular season standings. These schools also all made the semifinals of the SEC Tournament.
This story was originally published March 28, 2025 at 8:00 AM.
