Ole Miss Sets NCAA Record Advancing to SEC Semifinal

The Rebels become the first No. 15 seed or worse to reach the semifinals of a Division I conference tournament.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 4:39am

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In a stunning upset, the Ole Miss Rebels defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide 80-79 in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals. With this win, Ole Miss has become the first team seeded No. 15 or worse to reach the semifinals of any Division I conference tournament, setting an NCAA record.

Why it matters

Ole Miss' Cinderella run in the SEC Tournament has defied expectations, as they were projected to have a disappointing season. Their victory over Alabama, a top contender, has shaken up the tournament and raised the possibility of the Rebels stealing an NCAA Tournament bid despite their regular season struggles.

The details

The Rebels led wire-to-wire against Alabama, outplaying the Crimson Tide throughout the game. This historic win sets up a matchup against Arkansas and star player Darius Acuff Jr. in the semifinal, where Ole Miss will look to continue their improbable tournament run.

  • The game took place on Friday, March 14, 2026.

The players

Ole Miss Rebels

The men's basketball team from the University of Mississippi, who have defied expectations by reaching the SEC Tournament semifinals as a low seed.

Alabama Crimson Tide

The men's basketball team from the University of Alabama, who were upset by Ole Miss in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals.

Chris Beard

The head coach of the Ole Miss Rebels, who is in his first losing season with the team but has led them to a surprising tournament run.

Darius Acuff Jr.

The star player for the Arkansas Razorbacks, who Ole Miss will face in the SEC Tournament semifinals.

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What’s next

Ole Miss will face the Arkansas Razorbacks and Darius Acuff Jr. in the SEC Tournament semifinals on Sunday, March 16, 2026, with a chance to advance to the championship game.

The takeaway

Ole Miss' historic run to the SEC Tournament semifinals as a low seed has captivated college basketball fans, proving that Cinderella stories and tournament upsets are what make the sport so exciting. Their success has raised the possibility of an NCAA Tournament bid, despite their regular season struggles, and shown that anything can happen in March Madness.