This time last year, the ACC and Big East were entering the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament with a combined record of 14-1 and comprising seven teams of the Sweet 16 field. By contrast, the Big Ten and SEC placed just two teams apiece among the final 16 in 2024 after the conferences earned eight bids each to the Big Dance.

Seven SEC teams qualified for the Sweet 16, a new NCAA Tournament record. Here's how the conference has performed in 2025 March Madness.

There are, however, X-factor players on each team. They aren’t the leading scorer, and they’re closer to being glue guys. They’re the guys who we could look back on at the conclusion of the Sweet 16 and say, “Team ‘X’ advanced because of player ‘X.'” Alternatively, we could look back and say, “Team ‘X’ lost because player ‘X’ didn’t step up.”