Southeastern Conference play officially begins for Auburn men’s basketball on Saturday, and it’s a slate that’s arguably never been more challenging.

Thirteen SEC teams currently rank in the top 50 of KenPom’s efficiency ratings, tying the league with the Big Ten for the most from a single conference. Auburn will play each of those other 12 teams and are currently scheduled to play 12 Quad I games.

There are no easy games in the SEC this season, but a handful of games stand out above the rest for Auburn.

Here are five games to pay extra attention to:

Tennessee, Jan. 25

If Auburn and Tennessee played today, it would be a battle of the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the AP Top 25.

The Volunteers finished nonconference play a perfect 13-0 with three Quad I wins. Their most impressive win arguably came on the road against Illinois, a team that KenPom ranks No. 8 in the country.

Tennessee and Auburn have had a number of entertaining battles in the past, a game where Bruce Pearl faces his former school.

Last season’s matchup was a 92-84 win in Knoxville, a result the Tigers will look to turn around in Neville Arena in January.

Florida, Feb. 8

Florida was one of the most impressive teams in the SEC during nonconference play, coasting to a 13-0 start with only one game being decided by single digits.

The Gators don’t yet have the marquee wins that teams like Auburn, Tennessee and Kentucky have, but still look to be one of the most talented teams in the conference.

They’re also coached by Todd Golden, a man that knows Auburn better than most in the SEC, spending time on Pearl’s staff as an assistant from 2014-2016.

The game will also be a rematch of the 2024 SEC Tournament Championship, a game where Auburn won the title.

at Alabama, Feb. 15

It’s possible that the two best teams in the SEC both reside in the state of Alabama.

The Iron Bowl of basketball has become one of the biggest and most competitive rivalries in the country over the last few years. It’s also often been a game that helps decide the top of the conference.

Auburn and Alabama play twice this season, with the first matchup happening in Tuscaloosa. It’s Auburn’s first marquee conference road game and is currently scheduled to be Alabama’s first SEC game against a top 10 team in KenPom.

While KenPom favors Auburn in all of its SEC contests, it sees the game in Tuscaloosa as the toughest matchup, giving the Tigers a 67% chance to win, the lowest of any remaining game on their schedule.

at Kentucky, March 1

Regardless of the year or team, playing at Kentucky will always be one of the biggest games of the year. This season’s matchup carries extra significance, as it’s the first time Auburn will play Kentucky in the Mark Pope era.

As usual, the Wildcats are expected to compete at the top of the conference and have already built up a strong nonconference resume.

Pope and his team scored wins over blue bloods such as Duke and Gonzaga and will start SEC play with another tough test against Florida.

Given where Auburn and Kentucky’s game is on the schedule, it’s also one that could have SEC Championship implications.

Alabama, March 8

The second leg of Auburn’s home-and-home with Alabama, the March 8 matchup might very well decide the SEC.

It takes place on the final day of the regular season and both teams are expected to compete for the league crown.

The game will also be the final time players like Johni Broome and Dylan Cardwell will suit up in Neville Arena, adding even more emotion to the contest.

If the game doesn’t outright decide who wins the SEC, it will likely have some sort of bearing on how the top seeds look in the conference tournament. All of that aside, playing the Iron Bowl of basketball in Auburn on the final day of the season will always create a big game, regardless of stakes.

Peter Rauterkus covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @peter_rauterkus or email him at [email protected]m