This week, the Southeastern Conference (SEC) announced that a strike zone challenge system will be coming to the 2026 SEC Baseball Tournament in Hoover, Ala.
World Baseball Network takes a look at how the rules will work for the 16 SEC teams participating.
Rules for the SEC’s Strike Zone Challenge System
The SEC will have automated strike zones using cameras that will be placed in the Hoover Met. Each player participating in the SEC Tournament will have their height measured to help build this strike zone as well.
Each team will receive three challenges per game. A challenge is retained if the one who initiated it is correct. An unsuccessful challenge results in the loss of a used challenge.
A challenge is initiated after the conclusion of the prior pitch or play. A player taps the top of thier helmet or cap to begin the process.
In extra innings, each team will receive one challenge per inning. If the initiated challenge is correct, that challenge is retained. However, retained challenges cannot be carried over into other extra innings that may follow.
Adaptation of Major League Baseball’s ABS System
The SEC is quickly following what Major League Baseball did with the introduction of the Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System.
According to an ESPN article that was published on April 15, the ABS was successful in its debut in 2026. A total of 55% of challenged calls were overturned. This helps prove its necessity to the game of baseball, and that has piqued the interest of college baseball and the SEC.
SEC Tournament Dates
The 2026 SEC Tournament is from Tuesday, May 19, to Sunday, May 24, at the Hoover Metropolitan Complex in Alabama. The tournament features all 16 SEC teams in a single elimination bracket. The Vanderbilt Commodores are the reigning champions of the SEC Tournament. They won it in 2025.
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PHOTO: Alfred Ezman | WBN
