The 2026 Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament returns to the United Center in Chicago from March 10–15, 2026. For the first time in conference history, the tournament has expanded to include all 18 teams in a six-day single-elimination bracket. The winner earns an automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Tournament, which is revealed on Selection Sunday, March 15.
Last Updated: March 3, 2026
Key Big Ten Tournament Dates & TV Info:
- First Round (Seeds 15-18): Tuesday, March 10 (Peacock)
- Second & Third Rounds: March 11–12 (Peacock / BTN)
- Quarterfinals: Friday, March 13 (BTN)
- Semifinals: Saturday, March 14 (CBS)
- Championship Game: Sunday, March 15 at 3:30 PM ET (CBS)
Expert Note from the Sports Brackets Analyst: The jump to 18 teams significantly changes the ‘bubble’ math. Teams seeded 15 through 18 now face a grueling path requiring six wins in six days to take the title. We recommend focusing your bracket picks on the top 4 seeds, who receive a double-bye and won’t play until the Quarterfinals on Friday.
Selection Sunday Preview: Will the Big Ten lead the nation with 9 teams in the bracket? Follow the road to the tournament in our 2026 Selection Sunday Guide.
On the Bubble? See if your team is currently projected for the field in our Live 2026 March Madness Bubble Watch.
The 2026 TIAA Big Ten men’s basketball tournament schedule takes place March 10-15, 2026 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The men’s tournament sees a big change this postseason with all 18 teams getting to play in the postseason tourney compared to just 15 a year ago. The winner of the tournament earns the automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.
The 18-Team Big Ten Gauntlet & Expansion Chaos – Postseason Predictions (Podcast)
Here’s our most recent podcast on the 2026 Big Ten Men’s basketball conference regular and postseason predictions for you. Updated Feb. 23, 2026.
2026 TIAA Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament Schedule
The 2026 Big Ten basketball tournament schedule takes place from March 10-15, 2026. The Big Ten schedule will be set up a bit differently than the 2025 tournament since all 18 teams get to play in the tournament now. We have Big Ten regular season basketball schedules and more posted up for you to enjoy too. All times and TV Broadcast / Streaming info is included the printable bracket below.
| Date | Day | Round | Game | Matchup |
| First Round | ||||
| March 10 | Tuesday | First Round | Game 1 | No. 16 seed vs. No. 17 seed |
| March 10 | Tuesday | First Round | Game 2 | No. 15 seed vs. No. 18 seed |
| Second Round | ||||
| March 11 | Wednesday | Second Round | Game 3 | Game 1 winner vs. No. 9 seed |
| March 11 | Wednesday | Second Round | Game 4 | No. 12 seed vs. No. 13 seed |
| March 11 | Wednesday | Second Round | Game 5 | Game 2 winner vs. No. 10 seed |
| March 11 | Wednesday | Second Round | Game 6 | No. 11 seed vs. No. 14 seed |
| Third Round | ||||
| March 12 | Thursday | Third Round | Game 7 | Game 3 winner vs. No. 8 seed |
| March 12 | Thursday | Third Round | Game 8 | Game 4 winner vs. No. 5 seed |
| March 12 | Thursday | Third Round | Game 9 | Game 5 winner vs. No. 7 seed |
| March 12 | Thursday | Third Round | Game 10 | Game 6 winner vs. No. 6 seed |
| Quarterfinals | ||||
| March 13 | Friday | Quarterfinals | Game 11 | Game 7 winner vs. No. 1 seed |
| March 13 | Friday | Quarterfinals | Game 12 | Game 8 winner vs. No. 4 seed |
| March 13 | Friday | Quarterfinals | Game 13 | Game 9 winner vs. No. 2 seed |
| March 13 | Friday | Quarterfinals | Game 14 | Game 10 winner vs. No. 3 seed |
| Semifinals | ||||
| March 14 | Saturday | Semifinals | Game 15 | Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner |
| March 14 | Saturday | Semifinals | Game 16 | Game 13 winner vs. Game 14 winner |
| 2026 Big Ten Men’s Basketball Championship | ||||
| March 15 | Sunday | Championship | Game 17 | Game 15 winner vs. Game 16 winner |
2026 TIAA Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament TV & Streaming Info
Coverage for the 2026 Big Ten Tournament features a mix of national TV and streaming platforms, thanks to the conference’s multi-year deals with NBC/Peacock, FOX/Big Ten Network (BTN), and CBS. Exact assignments for specific games will be finalized closer to the event (post-seeding), but here’s the expected breakdown based on recent patterns and announcements:
- Early Rounds (First Round & Second Round – March 10-11): Exclusively streamed on Peacock (NBC’s platform). Peacock will carry four early tournament games (first and second rounds), making it the primary home for the expanded 18-team field’s opening sessions. No traditional cable/stream overlap here-Peacock subscription required.
- Quarterfinals (March 12-13): Primarily on BTN (Big Ten Network) and/or Peacock. BTN often handles mid-round games with Peacock simulcasts or exclusives for select matchups.
- Semifinals (March 13-14): Split coverage on BTN, CBS, and Paramount+ (CBS streaming). Expect at least one semifinal on CBS national TV for broader exposure.
- Championship Game (March 15): National TV on CBS (or potentially Peacock/CBS simulcast in prime time). The title game typically gets the biggest spotlight, with CBS providing over-the-air coverage in many recent years (per Big Ten rights rotation).
Additional Notes:
- All games are available live via streaming on the respective platforms (Peacock app/site, Paramount+ for CBS games, B1G+ for any additional/exclusive feeds if needed).
- Check bigten.org/mbb/tournament or the Big Ten app closer to March for the final TV/stream schedule, as assignments can shift based on matchups and ratings.
- Peacock offers a free trial for new users-great for catching the early action without cable.
- No ESPN involvement (Big Ten rights are FOX/NBC/CBS-focused for basketball).
Past Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament Champions
The following are the past Big Ten men’s basketball tournament champions since 2016. The conference tournament champion is generally always favored to have a good shot at winning the NCAA Championship.
| Year | Champion | Score | Runner-Up |
| 2025 | Michigan | 59-53 | Wisconsin |
| 2024 | Illinois | 98-81 | Wisconsin |
| 2023 | Purdue | 67-60 | Penn State |
| 2022 | Iowa | 75-66 | Purdue |
| 2021 | Illinois | 91-88 (OT) | Ohio State |
| 2020 | Tournament canceled (COVID-19) | N/A | N/A |
| 2019 | Michigan State | 65-60 | Michigan |
| 2018 | Michigan | 79-62 | Michigan State |
| 2017 | Michigan | 69-55 | Minnesota |
| 2016 | Michigan State | 64-54 | Purdue |
Printable Big Ten Basketball Tournament Bracket
If you are looking for an early, printable 2026 Big Ten Men’s basketball tournament bracket, we have a blank one for you here. The team who wins the Big Ten tournament will earn the conference’s automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Basketball Tournament. If you are looking for a printable, blank 2026 NCAA Tournament bracket, we have you covered there as well as a March Madness schedule. You can also download the official tournament bracket in PDF format here.
If you are like me, you’ll be watching the 2026 NCAA Selection Sunday Show. Then, it will be time for the First Four. Gitty up!
Projected 2026 Big Ten Seeds
As of March 3, 2026, here are the projected seeds for the 2026 Big Ten Men’s Basketball tournament for you.
Seed | Team | Conf. Record | Overall Record | Notes/Key Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Michigan | 17-1 | 27-2 | Clinched regular-season title & No. 1 seed; dominant run |
2 | Nebraska | 14-4 | 25-4 | Strong hold on top-tier; double bye locked |
3 | Michigan State | 14-4 | 24-5 | Tied with Nebraska; projected 3rd via tiebreakers |
4 | Illinois | 13-5 | 22-7 | Solid for double bye |
5 | Purdue | 12-6 | 22-7 | In mix for single bye |
6 | Wisconsin | 12-6 | 20-9 | Tied with Purdue; projected 6th |
7 | UCLA | 11-7 | 19-10 | Holding upper mid-tier |
8 | Iowa | 10-8 | ~18-11 | Likely single bye |
9 | Ohio State | 10-8 | ~18-11 | Tied group; in second round |
10 | Indiana | 8-10 | ~15-14 | Lower mid; first-round likely |
11 | USC | 7-11 | ~14-15 | Bubble for positioning |
12 | Minnesota | 7-11 | ~14-15 | Similar to USC |
13 | Washington | 6-12 | ~13-16 | Lower qualifier |
14 | Rutgers | 5-13 | ~12-17 | In first round |
15 | Northwestern | 5-13 | ~12-17 | Fighting for better spot |
16-18 | Oregon/Maryland/Penn State | Varies (lower) | Varies | Bottom seeds; first-round matchups TBD |
