This time last year, the ACC and Big East were entering the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament with a combined record of 14-1 and comprising seven teams of the Sweet 16 field. By contrast, the Big Ten and SEC placed just two teams apiece among the final 16 in 2024 after the conferences earned eight bids each to the Big Dance.

The SEC still has seven teams alive in the Sweet 16, but no conference has a better record so far in the NCAA Tournament than the Big 12.

The Big Ten has done something no other conference has in the history of March Madness. So, after one round, it has bragging rights over the SEC.