The No. 16 seed LSU Tigers face the No. 9 seed Kentucky Wildcats in the opening round of the 2026 SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament on Wednesday, March 11, at Bridgestone Arena, marking an early postseason clash between two Southeastern Conference rivals.

Tip-off is set for 12:30 p.m. ET (11:30 a.m. CT), with Kentucky entering as the clear favorite after a solid 19-12 regular season (10-8 in SEC play) under head coach Mark Pope. LSU, finishing at 15-16 overall and 3-15 in conference, seeks an upset to extend its season in the single-elimination format.

Fans searching for livestream options and TV channels have multiple legitimate ways to tune in, primarily through SEC Network broadcasts and associated streaming platforms. The game airs nationally on SEC Network, with streaming available via the ESPN app, WatchESPN.com (with provider login), and live TV services like Fubo, which offers a free trial for new subscribers.

In the **United States**, SEC Network holds exclusive TV rights for this first-round matchup. Viewers can watch live on cable or satellite providers carrying the channel, such as Spectrum (channel 516 in some markets like Lexington), DISH Network (channel 404), or others. For cord-cutters, authenticated streaming is available through the ESPN app or WatchESPN by logging in with credentials from participating TV providers. Fubo stands out as a popular streaming option, providing access to SEC Network without traditional cable and including a free trial period for eligible users. Other services like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, or Sling TV may carry SEC Network in select packages, though availability varies by region and plan.

The early tip time accommodates the tournament’s packed schedule, with four first-round games on Wednesday featuring seeds 9-16. Announcers for the LSU-Kentucky broadcast include play-by-play from Roy Philpott and analysis by Jon Crispin.

International viewers and those in regions without direct SEC Network access can explore ESPN’s international feeds or local sports broadcasters, though rights are primarily U.S.-centric for SEC events. Official club and conference sites direct fans to check local listings or use geo-appropriate services.

This matchup adds intrigue given the programs’ histories. Kentucky, a perennial power with a storied tournament pedigree, aims to build momentum toward deeper postseason play, potentially advancing to face No. 8 seed Missouri in Thursday’s second round at 1:30 p.m. ET on ESPN platforms. LSU, under coach Matt McMahon, looks to leverage its athleticism and defensive intensity for a Cinderella run, despite a challenging regular season in the loaded SEC.

No significant last-minute injuries have been reported for either side heading into the game, though both teams manage player minutes carefully amid the tournament grind. Kentucky’s balanced attack and experience give it an edge, with oddsmakers listing the Wildcats as favorites by around 8 points in pre-game lines.

Avoid unauthorized or pirated streams, which often deliver unreliable quality, expose users to security risks, and violate broadcasting rights. Licensed platforms ensure high-definition viewing, expert commentary, and post-game highlights.

For those unable to watch live, replays and on-demand options are typically available shortly after the final buzzer on the ESPN app or SEC Network digital platforms for subscribers. The game also streams on affiliated radio networks, including the LSU Sports Radio Network for Tigers fans and Kentucky’s outlets for Wildcats supporters.

The SEC Tournament, held at Bridgestone Arena through March 15, crowns the conference champion and awards an automatic NCAA Tournament bid. With top seeds like Florida, Alabama, and others earning byes, the early rounds provide underdogs like LSU a platform to shine against established programs like Kentucky.

As the action unfolds in Nashville, interest peaks in this opening contest, which could set the tone for the tournament’s undercard. Whether catching it on SEC Network, streaming via Fubo or the ESPN app, or following along with live updates, options abound for fans eager to see if Kentucky advances or LSU pulls off the surprise.

Global audiences should consult official SEC or team websites for updated broadcaster information, as arrangements can shift. VPN usage to bypass geo-restrictions may violate terms of service for many platforms.

The winner progresses in the bracket, with quarterfinals and beyond airing on ESPN family networks, escalating the stakes for SEC supremacy. This first-round battle encapsulates the excitement of March basketball, blending tradition, rivalry, and high-stakes drama.

In team sports, athletes get a built-in support system thanks to teammates going through the same journey as them most of the time. 

In golf, it’s you, the ball and the course – no matter what kind of team you have behind the scenes. And for those elite players, like Michelle Wie West, who has been playing LPGA Tour tournaments since she was 12 years old, it can be tough navigating a professional world at the onset. 

To that end, West teamed up with Ford to launch “Power Her Drive,” a new mentorship platform designed to support LPGA rookies on and off the course. It’s a program built on Wie West’s own experience as a teenager trying her hardest to make an impact on the course, while dealing with everything else that comes with being a professional athlete. 

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CBS Sports reporter Amanda Balionis, former LPGA player Michelle Wie West and Golf Channel reporter Kira Dixon laugh during the Golden Bear Pro-Am prior to the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club on May 28, 2025, in Dublin, Ohio. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images / Getty Images)

“This is probably the easiest yes I’ve had when it comes in terms of sponsorship,” Wie West said in a recent call with FOX Business ahead of “Power Her Drive” debuting at the Ford Championship, which begins in Phoenix, Arizona, on March 26. “This really, deeply aligns with my passion. Now that I’m retired and in my post-retirement career, hosting my tournament, having juniors involved and mentorship was a big part of it as well. I think what Ford is doing is amazing. Since our early conversations, it was very clear it wasn’t just about logos – it was about empowerment.

“Golf is an individual sport, and this is what I tell the juniors all the time: you have to lean into community. You have to lean into your support group.”

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Wie West said she was lucky to have her parents as a strong support system, but since they didn’t expect their daughter to be as successful as she was at an early age, the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open winner admitted, “It was the blind leading the blind a lot of the times.”

So, with women’s sports in general seeing unprecedented growth, Wie West’s passion was one Ford immediately wanted to help out with in their partnership. 

LPGA player Michelle Wie West plays her shot from the 14th tee during the Golden Bear Pro-Am at Muirfield Village Golf Club on May 28, 2025, in Dublin, Ohio. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images / Getty Images)

“I think this all started with the idea that we were very committed to becoming the official vehicle partner for the LPGA Tour. But then we started exploring it more deeply. How can we do this in a very unique way?” Lisa Materazzo, Ford’s global chief marketing officer, said to FOX Business. 

“We don’t want to just sponsor the tournament. It’s very important, so I don’t want to downplay that at all, but we saw an unmet need when we began speaking with the LPGA and an opportunity for deeper connection with the athletes. Really authentically supporting their development, and this to us felt very right for Ford, to demonstrate that we have this unique commitment to the players and the LPGA, and more broadly, this sport and women’s sports in general.”

“Power Her Drive” will begin with a Class of 2026, featuring a bright group of LPGA Tour rookies: Camille Boyd, Briana Chacon, Hailee Cooper, Laney Frye, Melanie Green and Yana Wilson. 

As these rookies look to cement themselves as winners, or even stars, on the LPGA Tour, “Power Her Drive” plans to help them deal with what comes off the course, including brand sponsorships, financial advice and more. 

Michelle Wie hits a tee shot during the first round of the Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic at the Ocean Club Golf Course on Jan. 25, 2018, in Paradise Island, Bahamas. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images / Getty Images)

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“The score on the leaderboard is what you see, but there’s so many layers behind that,” Wie West added. “I hope with our partnership, people will kind of see the peeling of the onion and see the support these players are getting. We’re going to go through and talk about personal brand building, talk about leadership skills. Even though it’s an elite individual sport, you’re still a leader of your own team – your caddy, your trainer, etc. I think all of this is going to be so much fun to go through with the rookies.”

Materazzo added: “We are a big business – we’re a 122-year-old big, global brand. We know how to do these things, we know how to operate in a business environment. So, we can help those young golfers build their brands… If we can make other pieces of it an easier lift, that makes us, in theory, proud and very humble to be a part of that journey for them.”

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Americans who are planning for their retirement can get bigger Social Security benefit checks by delaying their application for benefits until after they reach full retirement age.

The monthly benefit payments to Social Security beneficiaries are determined based on their full retirement age (FRA), which varies based on the year a worker was born. 

For workers born in 1960 and after, the FRA is 67, while the FRA is reduced by two months for each year before 1960 until it reaches 66, which is the FRA for those born from 1943 to 1954.

Those who want to continue working beyond their FRA and choose to delay claiming their Social Security benefits can incrementally increase their monthly benefits by continuing to work, with benefits increasing by 8% per year until they reach age 70, when the benefit is maximized.

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Social Security beneficiaries’ monthly checks are based on when they claim benefits. (iStock)

Workers can claim Social Security benefits as early as age 62, though they have their benefit amount reduced. 

For example, a person whose FRA is 67 and claims early when turning 62 would see the monthly benefit reduced 30%, lowering every $1,000 in benefits to $700. It would also affect their spouse’s benefit by 35%, reducing $500 in benefits to $325.

Those who are receiving Social Security benefits and have reached their FRA can choose to suspend their payments temporarily or until they reach age 70, when they will automatically resume. 

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Beneficiaries can boost their Social Security benefits by delaying a claim, with the maximum benefit available at age 70. (iStock)

Benefit amounts resume their annual growth during the period that the beneficiary has suspended benefits, which can allow them to receive larger benefit checks than they received before the pause once benefits are resumed.

While a beneficiary has suspended their benefits, their future monthly benefits grow at a rate of about 8% per year, or 0.666% on a monthly basis.

Married couples should be aware that voluntarily suspending Social Security benefits also suspends spousal benefits, which are up to 50% of the spouse’s benefits unless they’re divorced.

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Social Security beneficiaries may temporarily suspend their benefits, which can allow their monthly benefit to grow after their FRA until age 70. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Beneficiaries who suspended their benefits may request the resumption of their benefits before they turn 70, when they automatically begin again.

Suspending benefits also means that Medicare premiums cannot be deducted from Social Security benefits, which means the beneficiary would be billed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

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Regeneration firm Urban Splash will bring a bring a leisure, entertainment, food, drink and retail space to the site

Planning approval has been given to redevelop the former Cole Brothers department store in Sheffield city centre. The city council has waved through plans for the landmark 1960s building which closed in 2022.

Regeneration specialist Urban Splash was appointed by Sheffield City Council to transform the Grade II listed property, with designs coming from AHMM. Proposals include turning the lower and ground floors into leisure, entertainment, food and drink and retail space, while the upper floors will become flexible workspace.

A rooftop terrace will also accompany a restaurant and bar – accessible from the ground floor via the main lift – through repurposing of the building’s plant room. Urban Splash says the scheme will open up the property’s Barker’s Pool and Cambridge Street frontages to create outdoor dining areas, taking cues street seating on Division Street.

Sian Stanhope, development manager at Urban Splash said: “We are thrilled with this decision, which paves the way for bringing this much-loved building back into use for the people of Sheffield. We understand the significance of Cole Brothers, and at the heart of our proposal is a commitment to re-establishing it as a place for the city.

“Over the past year we have already introduced a range of successful meanwhile uses, hosting organisations and events including BBC Sounds, the Crossed Wires Festival, Jarvis Cocker and the FORM careers fair. Planning approval allows us to evolve that momentum into something permanent – creating new places to eat, shop and work, with lively ground floor uses and flexible workspace above to support Sheffield’s growing business community.”

Urban Splash says it is now speaking with businesses looking for space at the building.

Richard Lace, the company’s head of commercial lettings, added: “Planning approval means we can move forward with discussions with occupiers, engaging with likeminded organisations who want to be a part of bringing Cole Brothers back to life.”

Coun Ben Miskell, chair of Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee at Sheffield City Council, said: “This is an important milestone in the ongoing regeneration of Sheffield city centre. The former Cole Brothers building holds a special place in the hearts of many residents, and we welcome plans that will sensitively restore and reinvigorate it for a new generation.”

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A joint amicus filing, a filing by parties with a strong interest in a case, also came from several groups, including the Chamber of Progress. The tech advocacy group, funded by and representing Google, Apple, Amazon, Nvidia and many other tech companies, said they shared concerns over the government punishing Anthropic for public speech.