NCAA Tournament Committee Snubs Oklahoma and Auburn

Southeastern Conference teams left out of 68-team field despite strong seasons

Mar. 16, 2026 at 7:25am

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The NCAA Tournament selection committee faced criticism for leaving out two Southeastern Conference teams, Oklahoma and Auburn, despite their strong seasons. The Sooners and Tigers were among the first teams left out of the 68-team field, with SMU of the Atlantic Coast Conference claiming the final spot. Other notable snubs included San Diego State, the 2023 NCAA Tournament runner-up, and Indiana.

Why it matters

The exclusion of Oklahoma and Auburn from the NCAA Tournament field has sparked debate about the selection process and the criteria used by the committee. As two teams from a major conference with respectable records, their omission raises questions about the fairness and consistency of the selection process.

The details

Oklahoma finished the regular season 19-15 and 7-11 in SEC play, but won 8 of their final 11 games to surge back into contention. Auburn, meanwhile, started the season 14-7 but collapsed down the stretch, going just 3-9 the rest of the way, including 0-4 against ranked opponents. Both teams were left out in favor of SMU, which had a 191 out-of-conference strength of schedule.

  • Oklahoma was just 11-12 after losing to Kentucky on Feb. 4 before winning 8 of their final 11 games.
  • Auburn was 14-7 in late January before going 3-9 the rest of the way.

The players

Keith Gill

Selection committee chairman who said the committee got the right teams in the field.

Bruce Pearl

Former Auburn coach who is now a CBS studio analyst, and said Oklahoma or Auburn should have been in the tournament instead of SMU.

Brian Dutcher

San Diego State coach who expressed disappointment that his team was not selected for the NCAA Tournament.

Darian DeVries

Indiana's first-year head coach whose team finished 10th in the Big Ten and missed the NCAA Tournament.

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What they’re saying

“When you try to compare those teams and get to that last team in the field, and this year that was SMU, that conversation between them and those teams outside the tournament is really challenging. All those teams had good years and have good things on their resume, and they also had some things that probably weren't as good.”

— Keith Gill, Selection committee chairman (statenews.net)

“You have to win your way in or lose your way out. For me, you always say 'You're going to put one in, who you gonna take out?' For me, SMU with a 191 out-of-conference strength of schedule. I don't know that they should have been rewarded.”

— Bruce Pearl, Former Auburn coach and CBS studio analyst (statenews.net)

“I'm disappointed for our players and our great fans that we weren't selected to compete in this year's NCAA Tournament. There are only 68 spots available and, unfortunately, we didn't get one of them.”

— Brian Dutcher, San Diego State coach (statenews.net)

What’s next

The NCAA Tournament selection committee will face continued scrutiny over its decision-making process, especially regarding the exclusion of teams like Oklahoma, Auburn, and San Diego State.

The takeaway

The NCAA Tournament selection process remains a contentious and subjective exercise, with the committee tasked with the difficult job of choosing the 68 best teams from a large pool of qualified candidates. This year's snubs of Oklahoma, Auburn, and San Diego State highlight the need for greater transparency and consistency in the selection criteria.