The Atlantic Coast and Southeastern conferences are southern-footprint neighbors best known for different long-running strengths: the ACC with rich men’s basketball tradition, the SEC in football.

These days, the SEC has veered into the ACC’s lane.

As the third ACC/SEC Challenge begins Tuesday, the SEC is coming off a year with a record haul of 14 NCAA Tournament bids, two Final Four teams and Florida winning the national championship.

The ACC, meanwhile, has been grappling with how to jumpstart a flagship sport facing a dwindling number of tournament bids. The SEC’s rise has magnified that concern and presented the ACC an opportunity to help its case.

In a recent interview with The Associated Press, ACC commissioner Jim Phillips was pleased with his league’s start to the 2025-26 seaso

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