The bracket is set, the bags are packed. Postseason baseball returns to the SEC for the first time since 2019. As we preview some of the big stories from the SEC Tournament in Hoover, we’ll also look back at the final weekend of an amazing regular season … and try to figure out what it all means.

1. UT skates to the East title

UT opened the final weekend with a half-game lead over Vandy for the East crown, but the Vols had to travel to South Carolina while Vandy hosted Kentucky. Sure enough, on Friday, it looked like UT’s division hopes were dead. As Vandy thumped UK 8-2, the Gamecocks took the middle game of the series from UT 3-2. To win the division, UT had to beat Carolina on Saturday and hope for Kentucky to upset the Commodores.

But then UT held onto a 5-1 lead despite a Carolina rally for a 5-4 win. And Kentucky dropped a 5-spot on Vandy in the 9th inning to pull the 7-5 surprise, handing the Vols their first division title since 1997.

Will the Vols keep up the surprises in the postseason? Aside from the pride aspect of a division title, UT jumped a spot in the SEC seedings, as a Vandy win over Kentucky would have given the Commodores the No. 2 overall seed, with UT No. 3 and Mississippi State No. 4. That would put the road to the finals for UT going through (likely) Florida and Vandy. Instead, it’s a path through (potentially) South Carolina and Mississippi State. Not exactly easy … but easier.

2. No. 1 Arkansas finishes strong

By sweeping Florida to end the regular season, not only did the Razorbacks cruise to the West title and the No. 1 seed for the SEC Tournament, they also tied the school record with 22 regular-season SEC wins. Indeed, the only bad news of the weekend for Arkansas was the arrest of outfielder Braydon Webb for what sounds like fairly routine college student shenanigans. That said, not really the look the Razorbacks want heading into postseason as favorites to claim not only the SEC Tournament but potentially pick up the big trophy in Omaha. Will Webb’s arrest be a footnote or a sign of a team not entirely dialed in? The first seems much more likely, but the second has to be of some concern.

3. Meanwhile Florida languishes

While Arkansas didn’t especially need a big series with UF, the Gators finished up 6th overall in the SEC at 17-13 after being swept, just a game ahead of South Carolina. Heading into the season, UF was expected to be a top-flight pitching squad. In this final series, UF watched 3 veteran hurlers take losses, and the team’s 4.31 ERA for the season was 7th in the SEC. For the preseason top-ranked Gators, chances are running out to turn around the season. UF has to win its single-elimination game Tuesday with Kentucky just to make it into the double-elimination rounds (where Mississippi State awaits).

Who wins in Hoover is an open question, but the Gators are not exactly a popular answer right now.

4. State rights things at Bama

Mississippi State was almost guaranteed the 2nd place spot in the West, but its season-ending series at Alabama was a pivotal opportunity to right things coming off a tough series loss to Missouri. The Bulldogs did not disappoint, sweeping the Tide by an 18-5 total margin. State’s talented pitching staff ended up leading the SEC in strikeouts while finishing 3rd in the league in ERA just behind UT.

When State’s hurlers are finding the strike zone, the team looks dangerous. MSU is a little short on offensive power — its .445 slugging percentage is just 9th in the SEC. But the Bulldogs put the ball in play better than anybody else, as they struck out almost 20% less than any other SEC team.

5. Which Ole Miss will show up?

The Rebels finished 3rd in the West and 5th overall but will face Auburn on Tuesday, and there’s reason to wonder about exactly what Rebels team we’ll see, particularly without Gunnar Hoglund.

Since sweeping Auburn and Alabama to open SEC play 6-0, the Rebels went through a run of losing 4 straight SEC series. They do finish winning 3 of their last 4 series, but even in wins over Vandy and Georgia, Ole Miss lost games by identical 13-2 scores.

Ole Miss led the SEC in runs and finished second in batting average. Pitching was the issue. They finished with a 4.65 ERA, 11th in the SEC, despite having Hoglund for most of the season. Can the Rebels get anybody out in Hoover? How far they make it will certainly depend on that answer.

6. Goodbye to a familiar face

Texas A&M announced that they’ve parted ways with coach Rob Childress, who had been at A&M for 16 seasons. With a 622-336-3 mark, Childress certainly had his share of success, taking the Aggies to the College World Series in 2011 and 2017 and winning the SEC Tournament in 2016.

7. UGA/LSU showdown for NCAA bid?

The 8 vs. 9 game in Hoover could well determine the postseason fate of one or both teams. Georgia and LSU finished the regular season with identical 13-17 marks. Heading into the final week of play, Baseball America projected LSU as one of the last teams in the NCAA field and Georgia as one of the first teams out. But that was before LSU lost to Northwestern State and dropped a game to Texas A&M. Meanwhile, Georgia lost its series but did pick up a win over Ole Miss on Saturday.

It’s far from certain that the winner of Tuesday’s game will get into the NCAA field, but it certainly provides a chance, with Arkansas and Vandy looming as potential resume boosters. But a loss is probably curtains for somebody.

8. Hosting thoughts

At this point, it seems pretty locked down for Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi State, Vandy and probably Ole Miss in terms of regional hosting spots. Florida or South Carolina could play their way into or out of the hosting situation. A first-round loss could leave one or both on the outside, but probably just taking care of business in that game is enough to lock it down, particularly for the Gators. The Gamecocks could use a second win to feel secure.

9. Who wins?

The longer-shot teams like Florida or South Carolina don’t seem like they’re built to win in Hoover. Tennessee has been incredible this season, and Vanderbilt has all-world talent and the 2 most dominant pitchers in the league. But if a prediction is required, I’d say the title comes down to Arkansas, which nobody has beaten in a series yet, or Mississippi State, with the pitching depth to eek it out. My head says Arkansas. My gut says State finds a way.