Friday in the South usually brings to mind high school football or the slow hum of a quiet weekend before a massive Saturday slate. But it's January 16, 2026, and the calendar has shifted the spotlight. If you’re looking for sec games and times today, you’re actually diving into a heavy-hitting Friday night of "Friday Night Heights" and a surprising amount of top-tier tennis.
Football is in that weird limbo. We’re currently sitting just three days away from the College Football Playoff National Championship on Monday, January 19. It’s No. 10 Miami versus No. 1 Indiana in Miami Gardens. While the SEC doesn't have a horse in the title game this year—Ole Miss just missed out after losing to Miami in the Fiesta Bowl—the conference is dominating the winter sports rotation right now.
Gymnastics Takes Center Stage
Honestly, Friday nights in the SEC belong to gymnastics. It’s become a massive TV draw. Tonight, the schedule is packed with top-10 matchups that basically decide the pecking order for the SEC Championships in March.
The big one is Alabama at Florida. This meet starts at 7:00 PM EST and is being broadcast on ESPN2. If you’ve followed Gator gymnastics lately, you know the O’Connell Center is going to be deafening. At the exact same time (7:00 PM EST), LSU is hosting Georgia on the SEC Network. LSU is currently the team everyone is chasing, and Georgia is trying to claw back into that elite tier under their relatively new leadership.
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If you prefer the digital streams, Arizona State is at Kentucky at 7:00 PM EST, which you can find on SECN+. Later in the evening, Oklahoma at Missouri starts at 8:45 PM EST on the SEC Network. People still find it a bit weird seeing Oklahoma with that SEC patch on their leotards, but they are currently ranked No. 2 in the country and are a massive road test for a Mizzou squad that has been sneaky good at home.
Tennis and the Grind of January
College tennis doesn't get the same "GameDay" treatment as the others, but today is a busy one for the courts. It's mostly non-conference play, but these matches are vital for ITA rankings.
- Missouri vs. Wisconsin: 11:00 AM EST (Women’s)
- Alabama vs. North Alabama: 11:00 AM EST (Women’s)
- Texas A&M vs. Tulane: 12:00 PM EST (Women’s)
- Ole Miss vs. UAB: 12:00 PM EST (Men’s)
- Auburn vs. South Alabama: 1:00 PM EST (Women’s)
- LSU vs. Clemson: 5:00 PM EST (Men’s)
- Oklahoma vs. Arizona: 7:00 PM EST (Men’s)
The LSU vs. Clemson match is probably the highlight here. It’s a classic regional rivalry, even if it’s not a conference game.
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What About Basketball?
You might be looking for men's hoops. If so, you're a day early. The SEC men’s basketball schedule is almost entirely loaded onto Saturday, January 17. Tonight is a "travel day" for most of the big programs.
Tomorrow is when the chaos happens. We have Kentucky at Tennessee at noon, followed by Alabama at Oklahoma at 1:00 PM. It’s a brutal Saturday, so the teams are likely tucked away in hotels right now going over film.
However, we did just come off a wild Thursday night in women’s basketball. South Carolina barely escaped Texas with a 68-65 win last night, and Kentucky handled Florida 94-89. The women’s side of the SEC is deeper than it has ever been, arguably more competitive top-to-bottom than the men's side this year.
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SEC Games and Times Today: The Master List
For those who just want the quick clock-check for tonight’s television window, here is how the primary broadcasts look for Friday, Jan 16:
- Gymnastics: Alabama at Florida – 7:00 PM EST (ESPN2)
- Gymnastics: Georgia at LSU – 7:00 PM EST (SEC Network)
- Gymnastics: Arizona State at Kentucky – 7:00 PM EST (SECN+)
- Men's Tennis: Mississippi State at Illinois – 7:00 PM EST (Local/Streaming)
- Gymnastics: Oklahoma at Missouri – 8:45 PM EST (SEC Network)
Actionable Next Steps
If you're planning your viewing tonight, prioritize the Alabama-Florida gymnastics meet on ESPN2. It usually features the highest level of difficulty and the most "viral" floor routines. For those looking ahead to the massive Saturday basketball slate, download the ESPN app now and sync your provider; several of tomorrow's games like Missouri-LSU and Arkansas-Georgia are staggered across SEC Network and ESPN2, making it easy to miss a tip-off.
Lastly, if you're a football fan still mourning the end of the SEC season, keep an eye on the transfer portal news today. With the National Championship on Monday, the second window for player movement is hitting its peak. Expect at least two or three major "blue chip" names to announce their landing spots in the conference by dinner time.