Conference tournament seeding scenarios: How tiebreakers work in the SEC, ACC, Big Ten and Big 12
CBS Sports
by
Brad Crawford
March 4, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The college basketball season is entering its final stretch, with conference tournaments just around the corner. Teams are jostling for position to secure top seeds in their respective conferences, which will have a significant impact on their NCAA Tournament seeding. Tiebreakers and head-to-head results play a crucial role in determining these rankings, offering teams a last chance to boost their standing before the postseason begins.
In the SEC, Florida has already secured the No. 1 seed after an impressive run of 10 straight wins. The race for the No. 2 spot is heating up, with Arkansas and Alabama battling it out. Arkansas can secure second place if it defeats Texas and Missouri, while Alabama remains in contention with a victory over Auburn. Tennessee is on track for the No. 3 seed if it beats Vanderbilt, but could face competition from Missouri, which has a strong round-robin record.
The ACC tournament is also shaping up with key matchups. Virginia is locked into the No. 2 seed, while Duke and Miami are vying for first place. North Carolina’s recent win over Clemson keeps it in the running for the No. 3 seed, but its fate depends on upcoming games against Duke and Miami. Meanwhile, the Big Ten conference remains highly competitive, with multiple teams still in contention for top spots.
These scenarios highlight the importance of each game as teams fight to improve their standing and secure favorable bracket positions.
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Originally published on CBS Sports on 3/4/2026