HOOVER, Alabama – The Southeastern Conference's 16 teams will compete in a single-elimination baseball postseason tournament after the league expands next year with the addition of Texas and Oklahoma.
SEC officials announced the new baseball tournament format Thursday after athletic directors approved the change.
Under the current format, only 12 of the current 14 SEC members participate in a hybrid single/double elimination tournament over a six-day period. That format will continue in this year's tournament, which will be held May 21-26 in Hoover, Alabama.
The tournament will continue to last six days under the new format that begins next year. Teams ranked ninth through 16 will play on opening day. The winners advance to face the teams ranked fifth through eighth the next day. The top four finishers will receive a double bye that will allow them to advance directly to the quarterfinals.
There will be four games each on Tuesday and Wednesday. There will be two games each on Thursday, Friday and Saturday before Sunday's championship game.
