In the heart of SEC basketball play, the 2023 SEC/Big 12 Challenge will officially take place this Saturday, January 28, as two of college basketball’s premier conferences meet on the hardwood for a day full of intriguing matchups.
With the SEC looking for their third consecutive win in the head-to-head showdown as well, let’s take a look at, and rank, the 10 matchups in the 2023 SEC/Big 12 Challenge.
Ranking the 2023 SEC/Big 12 Challenge matchups
10. Ole Miss at Oklahoma State
We begin here with Ole Miss traveling to Oklahoma State for a matchup that has only ever been played once before on the hardwood, one in which the Cowboys previously won back in 2019, 78-37. Oklahoma State has also been a solid team at home this season owning an 8-2 record on their homecourt, and will be hosting an Ole Miss team that is not only 1-4 in road games this season, but is also one of only two SEC teams currently under .500 for the year.
9. LSU vs Texas Tech
There are a few rematches from recent years in this year’s SEC/Big 12 Challenge, the first of which comes from LSU hosting Texas Tech in a matchup between two teams who are off to slow starts in conference play. The Tigers and Red Raiders last played during the 2020-21 season, with Texas Tech winning that contest, 76-71, in Baton Rouge.
8. No. 15 Auburn at West Virginia
The first SEC/Big 12 Challenge matchup on this list to involve a ranked team, No. 15 Auburn is set to travel to Morgantown for a showdown with West Virginia. The Tigers and Mountaineers have played only three times previously, which came during the 1984-85 and 1985-86 seasons, with this meeting featuring two teams going in opposite directions during conference play.
7. No. 2 Alabama at Oklahoma
The highest-ranked team between the two conferences, Alabama will be traveling to Oklahoma to face a Sooners team that has struggled at times during conference play. Alabama and Oklahoma last played during the 2020-21 season in Norman, a game in which the Sooners were victorious, 66-61, over the eventual SEC champions.
6. Florida at No. 5 Kansas State
Two teams who last played in 2012, Florida will travel to Kansas State where a top five ranked Wildcats team awaits. Arguably the biggest storyline in this matchup is Kansas State’s Keyontae Johnson facing his former team, with the senior currently leading the Wildcats with 18.3 PPG.
5. Mississippi State vs No. 11 TCU
There are three SEC teams that will host a ranked Big 12 team during this year’s SEC/Big 12 Challenge, the first of which is Mississippi State taking on TCU in Starkville. The Bulldogs and Horned Frogs last played during the 2014-15 season, with this matchup featuring two of the premier defensive teams in each conference.
4. Missouri vs No. 12 Iowa State
A rematch from just last season in Ames, a game in which Iowa State won, 67-50, the Tigers and Cyclones now meet in Columbia on Saturday. Missouri has only lost twice at home this season (Kansas and Alabama), and if you were to look for potential unranked-vs-ranked upsets during the 2023 SEC/Big 12 Challenge, this might be one to watch for.
3. Arkansas at No. 17 Baylor
Arguably the biggest matchup involving an SEC team on the road comes in Waco, as Arkansas travels to face No. 17 Baylor. The Razorbacks and Bears have only met three times ever on the hardwood, with this being a rematch of the 2021 Elite 8 matchup when eventual national champion Baylor defeated Arkansas, 81-72.
2. Kentucky vs No. 9 Kansas
Likely the biggest name brand matchup comes in Lexington as Kentucky is set to host Kansas in a rematch from last season. The Wildcats previously defeated Kansas, 80-62, a year ago in Allen Fieldhouse, with this also being the fifth-ever meeting between the two in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge.
1. No. 4 Tennessee vs No. 10 Texas
Taking the top spot is the only ranked-vs-ranked matchup in the 2023 SEC/Big 12 Challenge, which also happens to be a Top 10 showdown between Tennessee and Texas. The Volunteers and Longhorns faced off a year ago in Austin, a game in which Texas won, 52-51, with both teams currently sitting among the top in each respective conference.