The 2026 Big Sky Conference Tournament schedule, branded as #StarchMadness, takes place from March 7-11, 2026, at the Idaho Central Arena in Boise, Idaho. The men’s tournament is being held at the Idaho Central Arena in Boise, Idaho. The single-elimination event features all 10 conference teams in a unique bracket format. With the regular season winding down, frontrunners like Portland State and Montana State are positioning themselves for top seeds, while bubble teams fight for positioning and potential upsets.
Below, we’ll break down the tournament schedule, format details, current standings snapshot as of January 29, 2026, NCAA implications, predictions, and a link to a downloadable blank printable bracket PDF for your office pools or tracking.
2026 Big Sky Tournament Schedule Format Details
The Big Sky Tournament schedule is a 10-team single-elimination bracket with a staggered structure to accommodate both men’s and women’s championships concurrently. The top two seeds receive byes past the first round, while seeds 3-6 enter in the third round, and 7-10 compete in opening games. This setup often leads to fun early matchups and protects higher seeds slightly.
- Number of Teams: 10 (all Big Sky members qualify: Eastern Washington, Idaho, Idaho State, Montana, Montana State, Northern Arizona, Northern Colorado, Portland State, Sacramento State, Weber State).
- Seeding: Based on regular-season conference records (18-game double round-robin). Ties are broken by head-to-head results, then other tiebreakers.
- Advancement: Winners advance; the champion earns the Big Sky’s automatic qualifier to the 2026 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament.
- TV/Streaming: All games stream live on ESPN+. The championship game will be televised on an ESPN network (likely ESPNU or ESPN2).
- Tickets: Available via the Big Sky Conference website or venue box office; expect sessions priced around $20-50.
- Historical Note: The tournament returns to Boise for its neutral-site format, emphasizing regional rivalries like the Montana-Montana State “Brawl of the Wild.”
2026 Big Sky Tournament Schedule
Here’s the full 2026 Big Sky Tournament schedule for you. All times are in Mountain Time (MT). Matchups are based on seeds; actual teams will be determined after the regular season ends on March 2, 2026. Games are played at Idaho Central Arena.
- Saturday, March 7 – First Round
- Men’s Game 1: No. 9 vs. No. 10 – 5:30 p.m. MT
- Men’s Game 2: No. 7 vs. No. 8 – 8:00 p.m. MT
- Sunday, March 8 – Second Round
- Men’s Game 3: No. 1 vs. Winner Game 1 – 5:30 p.m. MT
- Men’s Game 4: No. 2 vs. Winner Game 2 – 8:00 p.m. MT
- Monday, March 9 – Third Round (Quarterfinals)
- Men’s Game 5: No. 4 vs. No. 5 – 5:30 p.m. MT
- Men’s Game 6: No. 3 vs. No. 6 – 8:00 p.m. MT
- Tuesday, March 10 – Semifinals
- Men’s Game 7: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5 – 7:00 p.m. MT
- Men’s Game 8: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 6 – 9:30 p.m. MT
- Wednesday, March 11 – Championship
- Men’s Game 9: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8 – 9:30 p.m. MT
Note: Women’s games are interleaved during daytime sessions, but men’s focus on evenings for prime viewing.
Current Standings Snapshot (as of January 29, 2026)
With conference play past the midpoint, Portland State has emerged as the unbeaten leader, showcasing strong offense and defense. Montana State follows closely, while teams like Montana and Idaho are in the mix for top-half seeds. Here’s the full Big Sky men’s basketball standings as of the afternoon on January 29th, 2026.
| Team | Conf W-L | Overall W-L | Streak | Notes |
| Portland State | 7-0 | 13-5 | W7 | Undefeated in conf; strong NET at 135; leading scorers averaging 80.6 PPG. |
| Montana State | 7-1 | 13-8 | W4 | Recent wins include Brawl of the Wild; top Big Sky NET at 137. |
| Montana | 6-2 | 12-9 | W2 | Solid offense (80.4 PPG); potential for top-3 seed. |
| Idaho | 4-3 | 12-8 | L1 | Balanced record; high scoring (80.0 PPG overall). |
| Weber State | 4-4 | 10-11 | W1 | Mid-pack; strong in rebounds. |
| Northern Colorado | 3-4 | 11-10 | L2 | Leading conference in points (83.1 PPG) but defensive issues. |
| Eastern Washington | 3-5 | 5-15 | L3 | Struggling overall but capable of upsets. |
| Sacramento State | 2-5 | 8-12 | W1 | In rebuild mode; low NET. |
| Northern Arizona | 1-6 | 7-14 | L4 | Tough season; hosting key games tonight. |
| Idaho State | 0-7 | 6-14 | L7 | Winless in conf; underdog potential. |
Key games tonight (Jan. 29): Eastern Washington at Northern Arizona (8:00 PM), Idaho at Northern Colorado (9:00 PM), Montana at Portland State (10:00 PM), Montana State at Sacramento State (10:00 PM). These could shake up the top.
NCAA Bubble Implications
The Big Sky is historically a one-bid league, meaning the tournament winner gets the auto-bid to March Madness, while others are NIT or CBI longshots. However, with Portland State’s strong start and a NET around 135, they could sneak into at-large bubble discussions if they dominate the conference and add quality non-conference wins (though their 6-5 non-conf record is middling). Montana State (NET 137) is similarly positioned but needs to avoid losses.
For most teams, it’s win-or-go-home: The champion punches their ticket, often as a 14-16 seed in the NCAA bracket. Upsets are common. Bubble watch focuses on top seeds’ resumes for potential First Four or play-in games.
Predictions and Key Teams to Watch
Based on current form, here’s our early tournament outlook:
- Favorite: Portland State Vikings – Undefeated in conference, they’re the team to beat. Prediction: Tournament champs, advancing to NCAA as a 15-seed. Key player: Watch their balanced scoring attack.
- Contender: Montana State Bobcats – Hot streak and high NET make them a threat. Could meet Portland State in the final if brackets align.
- Dark Horse: Montana Grizzlies – Rivalry intensity with Montana State; strong offense could fuel a run to semis or beyond.
- Sleeper: Idaho Vandals – 12-8 overall with high scoring; if they snag a 4-5 seed, they could upset in the third round.
- Potential Upset: Northern Colorado Bears – League’s top offense (83.1 PPG); a hot shooting night could knock off a higher seed.
Overall Prediction: Portland State defeats Montana State in the championship, 78-72. Expect close games in the semis, with scoring totals over 150 in most matchups.
Downloadable Blank Bracket – Printable in PDF and Image format
Track the action with our free printable 2026 Big Sky Tournament bracket PDF. It includes the full schedule, seed lines, and space for filling in winners. Download Printable Blank Bracket PDF Perfect for pools or following along!
Resources: March Madness Section
Gear up for the full postseason with these related guides and printables from SportsBrackets.net:
- 2026 March Madness Schedule: Dates, Locations, TV, Printable Bracket & Key Info
- Printable 2026 March Madness Bracket: Download Your Free NCAA Tournament Template
- 2026 NIT Bracket: Full Schedule, Key Dates, and Printable Blank Bracket
- Early 2026 March Madness Odds: Favorites, Sleepers & Bracket Predictions
- 2026 Big Ten Basketball Tournament Schedule; Printable Bracket, PDF Format
- 2026 SEC Basketball Tournament Schedule; Printable Bracket, PDF Format
Stay tuned for updates as seeds finalize.
Updated January 29, 2026
