Wade Payne/AP
From Kansas–Kentucky to Tennessee–Texas, this mid-January series features must-watch nonconference matchups and nine of the 25 ranked teams, including three of the top five.
The SEC/Big 12 Challenge is a major tentpole event in the college basketball calendar, with high-profile nonconference matchups in late January serving as a brief reprieve from the grind of conference play. Between them, these leagues feature nine of the 25 teams currently ranked in the AP poll, including three of the top five teams and seven of the top 12. Here’s a look at the best matchups in Saturday’s event and what will decide each game.