How many SEC teams will make the Final Four?
That’s the leading question heading into the Elite Eight. The SEC — which sent a record 14 teams to the 2025 NCAA men’s basketball tournament — has a chance to challenge the all-time record for most Final Four teams from one conference.
Yes, there is the potential for an all-SEC Final Four.
On Saturday, No. 1 Florida — the SEC tournament champion — beat No. 3 Texas Tech 84-79 with a thrilling comeback in the West Region final.
No. 2 Alabama — which represented the SEC in the Final Four last season — takes on No. 1 Duke in the East Region final.
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On Sunday, No. 2 Tennessee plays No. 1 Houston in the Midwest Region final. No. 1 Auburn — the SEC regular-season champion — faces No. 2 Michigan State in the South Region final.
That’s all part of a literal banner year for the conference — one that will continue at the Men’s Final Four at the Alamodome in San Antonio from April 5-7.
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How many SEC teams are in the Elite Eight?
The SEC tied a tournament record with four Elite Eight teams. The conference also set a record for most Sweet 16 teams with seven. Texas Tech beat No. 10 Arkansas 85-83 in overtime, and No. 2 Michigan State beat No. 6 Ole Miss 73-70 in the Sweet 16 on Friday.
Here is a look at the Final Four and national championship history of the SEC teams still remaining in the NCAA tournament.
West Region: No. 1 Florida (34-4)
The Gators will make their sixth Final Four appearance — and their first under coach Todd Golden. Florida won back-to-back national championships in 2006-07. The Gators rallied from a nine-point deficit in the final four minutes to beat Texas Tech. Walter Clayton Jr. scored 30 points.
East Region: No. 2 Alabama (28-8)
The Crimson Tide are looking for back-to-back Final Four appearances under Nate Oats. Alabama has never won the national championship in men’s basketball. The Crimson Tide are scoring 94.3 points per game in the NCAA Tournament, and guard Mark Sears scored 34 points and hit 10 three-pointers in a 113-88 victory against No. 6 BYU on Thursday.
Midwest Region: No. 2 Tennessee (30-7)
Tennessee is back in the Elite Eight for the second straight season under Rick Barnes. It’s the school’s third Elite Eight appearances. The Vols have never made the Final Four and Rick Barnes has only been once (all the way back in 2003 with Texas), so the pressure is back on heading into the Midwest Region final. Zakai Zeigler had 18 points and 10 assists for the Vols in the victory against Kentucky.
South Region: No. 1 Auburn (31-5)
Auburn advanced to the Elite Eight for the third time in school history after beating No. 5 Michigan 78-65. The Tigers have a chance to make the Final Four for the second time under Bruce Pearl, who made that round in 2019. Sporting News Player of the Year Johni Broome scored 22 points with 16 rebounds on Friday.
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What is the record for most Final Four teams from one conference?
The Big East set the record with three teams in 1985 — the first year the NCAA Tournament field expanded to 64 teams.
No. 1 Georgetown and No. 1 St. John’s met in the national semifinal, and the Hoyas won 77-59. That set up a national championship matchup with No. 8 Villanova, and the Wildcats upset Georgetown 66-64 in one of the most-memorable championship games in tournament history.
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How many times has the SEC had two Final Four teams?
The SEC has put multiple teams in the Final Four a total of four times, and it’s been a good omen in the past. The conference claimed a national title in three of those seasons.
In 1994, No. 1 Arkansas and No. 3 Florida made the Final Four. The Razorbacks beat No. 2 Duke 76-72 in the national championship game. Two years later, No. 1 Kentucky and No. 5 Mississippi State made the Final Four. The Wildcats beat No. 4 Syracuse 76-67 in the championship game.
In 2006, No. 3 Florida and No. 4 LSU made the Final Four. The Gators beat No. 2 UCLA 73-57 in the championship game. In 2014, No. 8 Kentucky and No. 1 Florida made the Final Four. No. 7 UConn beat both teams to win the national title.
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Years where conferences had multiple Final Four teams
Multiple teams from a conference have made the Final Four 24 times. Here is a look at those seasons. The last time this happened was in 2022, when North Carolina and Duke made the Final Four from the ACC:
| YEAR | CONFERENCE | TEAMS |
| 1976 | Big Ten | *Indiana, Michigan |
| 1980 | Big Ten | Iowa, Purdue |
| 1981 | ACC | North Carolina, Virginia |
| 1985 | Big East | *Villanova, Georgetown, St. John’s |
| 1987 | Big East | Syracuse, Providence |
| 1988 | Big Eight | *Kansas, Oklahoma |
| 1989 | Big Ten | *Michigan, Illinois |
| 1991 | ACC | *Duke, North Carolina |
| 1992 | Big Ten | Michigan, Indiana |
| 1994 | SEC | *Arkansas, Florida |
| 1996 | SEC | *Kentucky, Mississippi State |
| 1999 | Big Ten | Michigan State, Ohio State |
| 2000 | Big Ten | *Michigan State, Wisconsin |
| 2001 | ACC | *Duke, Maryland |
| 2002 | Big 12 | Kansas, Oklahoma |
| 2003 | Big 12 | Kansas, Texas |
| 2004 | ACC | Georgia Tech, Duke |
| 2006 | SEC | *Florida, LSU |
| 2009 | Big East | UConn, Villanova |
| 2013 | Big East | *Louisville, Syracuse |
| 2014 | SEC | Kentucky, Florida |
| 2015 | Big Ten | Wisconsin, Michigan State |
| 2016 | ACC | North Carolina, Syracuse |
| 2022 | ACC | North Carolina, Duke |
