The SEC Tournament begins today with Alabama facing Arkansas, both teams expected to make the NCAA Tournament. The tournament is crucial for seeding positions, with a Top 8 seed being vital for hosting Super Regionals.
Key points
Alabama and Arkansas are both locks for the NCAA Tournament
The SEC Tournament affects seeding positions for the NCAA Tournament
A Top 8 seed is crucial for hosting Super Regionals
Jocelyn Briski named SEC Pitcher of the Year
Patrick Murphy recognized as SEC Coach of the Year
Mentioned in this story
Jocelyn BriskiPatrick MurphyBrooke WellsKatie Stewart
AlabamaArkansas
March 15, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama shortstop Salen Hawkins makes the turn after forcing out Arkansas base runner Ella McDowell at Rhoads Stadium. Alabama defeated Arkansas 4-1 to claim the series. | Gary Cosby Jr. / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
March 15, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama shortstop Salen Hawkins makes the turn after forcing out Arkansas base runner Ella McDowell at Rhoads Stadium. Alabama defeated Arkansas 4-1 to claim the series. | Gary Cosby Jr. / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The second season begins today for the Crimson Tide. Both Alabama and Arkansas are locks to make the NCAA Tournament and host an opening round Regional. This week’s SEC Tournament might seem like the reward is just bragging rights. However, there is much jostling for seeding positions in “May Madness”. The Top 16 host Regionals, but the higher seed that advances to Super Regionals are hosts of that round. Thus, a Top 8 is vital.
ACCOLADES
Jocelyn Briski was named the SEC Pitcher of the Week.
USA TODAY Sports Network named Briski as the SEC Pitcher of the Year – a unanimous selection. Patrick Murphy also made their list as SEC Coach of the Year. Brooke Wells did not make their All-Conference team due to a young lady named Katie Stewart (Texas) who is merely hitting .448 with 24 dingers. USAT only did a First Team.
Freshman Mari Hubbard was named to the SEC Softball Community Service Team.
What are the stakes for Alabama and Arkansas in the SEC Tournament?
Both teams are looking to secure favorable seeding positions for the NCAA Tournament, with a Top 8 seed crucial for hosting Super Regionals.
Who was named SEC Pitcher of the Year?
Jocelyn Briski was named the SEC Pitcher of the Year, receiving unanimous selection from USA TODAY Sports Network.
What accolades did Alabama's coach receive?
Patrick Murphy was named SEC Coach of the Year by USA TODAY Sports Network.
What is the significance of the SEC Tournament for NCAA Tournament seeding?
The SEC Tournament impacts NCAA Tournament seeding, as the top 16 teams host Regionals, and advancing teams aim for a Top 8 seed to host Super Regionals.
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RPI RANKINGS
The Rating Percentage Index (RPI) is based on a team’s winning percentage (25%), the winning percentage of its opponents (50%), and the winning percentage of those opponents’ opponents (25%). In short, strength of schedule is important.
Arkansas
Alabama
Nebraska
Texas
Florida
Oklahoma
UCLA
Tennessee
Oregon
Duke
Florida St.
Texas Tech
It is pretty interesting who is down at No. 12 in RPI. All the polls have the Red Raiders (50-5, 21-3) in the top four but who they play matters. Surely, it is about the NiJaree Canady hype. It will be very interesting to see if the NCAA Selection Committee stays true to their metrics or if they are influenced by ESPN. The committee won’t put Texa$ Tech at 12, but are they deserving of an upper-echelon seed?
SEC TOURNAMENT RESULTS
Several teams had some heartbreaking losses. In order to be eligible for the NCAA Tournament, a team must maintain a .500 overall record. All Mizzou had to do was win in the first round. Instead they lost and finish the season at 28-29. Auburn moved to 27-27 with wins over Mizzou and Texas A&M, but will need to defeat Florida today to be eligible. Kentucky would have had to go on an improbable three-win run to improve their overall record to .500. It will be interesting to see if some of these programs start “scheduling down” in the future the way football is.
First round: Tuesday, May 5
Game 1 | No. 14 Auburn 6, No. 11 Missouri 2
Game 2 | No. 10 Mississippi State 4, No. 15 Kentucky 3
Game 3 | No. 13 Ole Miss 2, No. 12 South Carolina 0
Second round: Wednesday, May 6
Game 4 | No. 14 Auburn 11, No. 6 Texas A&M 8,
Game 5 | No. 7 Arkansas 3, No. 10 Mississippi State 0
Game 6 | No. 13 Ole Miss 4, No. 5 Tennessee 1
Game 7 | No. 9 Georgia 7, No. 8 LSU 3
SCHEDULE
Quarterfinals: Thursday, May 7 (times could change due to weather or length of previous games)
Game 8 | No. 3 Florida vs. Auburn – 10am/11am
Game 9 | No. 2 ALABAMA vs. Arkansas – roughly 1pm/2pm
Game 10 | No. 4 Texas vs. Ole Miss – 4pm/5pm
Game 11 | No. 1 Oklahoma vs. Georgia – 7pm/8pm
HOW TO WATCH… ALLEGEDLY
The Quarterfinals are on the SEC Network. ESPN will cover the semis and the final. If there are weather delays, networks could change.
WEATHER
BBRRRRRR! Whose bright idea was it to have the SECT in frickin’ northern Kentucky where it is still winter?? Temperatures might get to 60° by first pitch. It should be sunny which will help. Winds will be at 10 to 15 mph to the NW, which is towards home plate – though 10-15 does not quite qualify as blustery.
ARKANSAS (42-10, 15-9 SEC)
ARKANSAS 3, MISSISSIPPI STATE 0
How crazy is it that the 7-seed in the SEC has a winning record like that? Yesterday against a solid Mississippi State team, Payton Burnham (12-3) went the distance with only three hits and one walk allowed plus 2 Ks. The Hogs offense collected six hits including a solo home run by Tianna Bell and a 2-run shot by Kailey Wyckoff.
Back in mid-March, the Crimson Tide lost took two of three against the Razorbacks. Jocelyn Briski tossed two complete games. while giving up only one run in each match. In the middle game, the Hoggettes exploded for 14 runs to hand Bama there first defeat of the 2026 season (12-9). Bama had two errors and burned through Vic Moten, Kaitlyn Pallozzi, Alea Johnson, and Braya Hodges.
THROW THE BALL
Burnham threw 99 pitches against MSU, so it seems unlikely she goes again this soon. Fortunately for the Razorbacks, they have the grizzled old veteran Robyn Herron (15-5, 1.86 ERA). In her last outings of the regular season, she tossed 6.1 and 4.0 innings against Texas and only gave up a combined one earned run. She struck out 14 in the two games, walking a pair.
HIT THE BALL
Tianna Bell’s average is up to .377 with 15 round-trippers. Arky has 13 players hitting over .300. Team batting average is .343 and they are scoring 7.69 runs per game – eighth best among Power teams.
CATCH THE BALL
Arkansas has the seventh best fielding percentage (.981) in the nation.
HOT HEADS
Courtney Deifel has led the Razorbacks since 2016. Outside of her rookie season, She has had all winning campaigns and post-season participations. Perhaps her biggest secret weapon is DJ Gasso who serves as the program’s primary hitting coach. He is the son of legendary coach Patty Gasso.
TEN CENT ANALYSIS
Thursday’s single-game eliminator between Bama and Arky will not be a pushover. The Tide cannot just sit back and mudita over Briski’s pitching. They will need to produce flawless defense and get out of this offensive funk they are in. This game is looking like even money.
