The 2026 Horizon League Tournament schedule takes place March 2-10, 2026. This 11-team event features a unique hybrid format: a play-in game on March 2, first-round matchups on campus sites of higher seeds, and the remaining games at Corteva Coliseum in Indianapolis, IN. The champion earns the Horizon League’s automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
As conference play heats up in late January 2026, teams are jockeying for seeding and bubble status. The tournament kicks off with the play-in and builds to the championship, with early rounds streamed on ESPN+. We have the schedule, bracket, and more for you here.
2026 Horizon League Tournament Schedule Dates & Location
The 2026 Horizon League tournament schedule for the men’s bracket takes place from March 2-10, 2026. Here is all of the info on the dates and location for you.
- Dates: March 2–10, 2026
- Locations: Play-in and first round at higher-seed campus sites; second round, semifinals, and championship at Corteva Coliseum, Indianapolis, IN
- Format: 11 teams; play-in between #10 and #11 on March 2; first round features four games on March 4 (winner of play-in at #9, #8 at #3, #7 at #4, #6 at #5); top seeds #1 and #2 receive byes to the second round. Re-seeding occurs for Indianapolis games, with the two lowest advancing seeds playing a second-round game.
- TV/Streaming: Early rounds on ESPN+; later rounds potentially on CBS Sports Network (TBA).
- Tickets: Available via official Horizon League channels or Ticketmaster for Indianapolis sessions.
This format rewards top regular-season teams with byes and home games before converging in Indy for the finale.
2026 Horizon Tournament Schedule
Here’s the detailed schedule based on the unique format:
| Round | Date | Game | Time (ET) | Matchup | Venue | Broadcast/Streaming |
| Play-in | Monday, March 2 | 1 | 7:00 PM | #11 at #10 | Home of #10 seed | ESPN+ |
| First Round | Wednesday, March 4 | 2 | 7:00 PM | Winner of Game 1 at #9 | Home of #9 seed | ESPN+ |
| First Round | Wednesday, March 4 | 3 | 7:00 PM | #8 at #3 | Home of #3 seed | ESPN+ |
| First Round | Wednesday, March 4 | 4 | 7:00 PM | #7 at #4 | Home of #4 seed | ESPN+ |
| First Round | Wednesday, March 4 | 5 | 7:00 PM | #6 at #5 | Home of #5 seed | ESPN+ |
| Second Round | Sunday, March 8 | 6 | 3:30 PM (TBA) | Lowest advancing seed vs. Second-lowest advancing seed | Corteva Coliseum, Indianapolis, IN | ESPN+ |
| Semifinals | Monday, March 9 | 7-8 | TBA | Winners advance (re-seeded matchups, e.g., #1 vs winner of second round) | Corteva Coliseum, Indianapolis, IN | ESPN+ / CBSSN (TBA) |
| Championship | Tuesday, March 10 | 9 | TBA (evening) | Semifinal winners | Corteva Coliseum, Indianapolis, IN | CBSSN / ESPN (TBA) |
Note: Times and TV for later rounds are subject to confirmation; check HorizonLeague.org for updates. All games are single-elimination.
Late-January 2025-26 Standings Snapshot & Key Teams
*Updated January 29th, 2026
As of late January 2026 (following games like Oakland’s 78-72 win over Northern Kentucky on Jan 28), the Horizon League standings are competitive:
- Wright State leads at 8-2 in conference (13-8 overall), with a strong defense and recent streak.
- Oakland at 9-3 (13-10 overall), living up to preseason hype as a frontrunner with balanced scoring and experience.
- Purdue Fort Wayne 7-4 (13-9 overall), on a five-game win streak.
- Green Bay 7-4 (12-10 overall).
- Northern Kentucky 6-5 (14-8 overall), a dangerous contender with high-powered offense averaging 84.6 PPG.
Other teams like Milwaukee (5-6), Detroit Mercy (5-6), and Cleveland State (3-7) are in the mix. Oakland and Northern Kentucky stand out as frontrunners—Oakland’s veteran lineup positions them for a top seed, while NKU’s scoring ability (second in the league) makes them a threat for upsets. February matchups could shift the bubble picture.
2026 Horizon League Men’s Basketball Seeding Projections Seeding is determined by conference records in the Horizon League (ties broken by league tiebreakers). Current late-Jan projections:
- Wright State (locked in strong for #1 if they hold)
- Oakland (frontrunner for top-2 bye)
- Purdue Fort Wayne
- Green Bay
- Northern Kentucky (could climb with key wins)
Lower seeds (#10-11) face the play-in, with mid-pack teams risking campus road games.
2026 Horizon League Men’s Basketball Tournament Bracket – Printable
You can download our free printable 2026 Horizon League Tournament bracket PDF (blank version for filling in seeds and results, or with current projections). Ideal for tournament pools or tracking predictions.
[Download Printable 2026 Horizon League Tournament Bracket PDF]
We also have the bracket in image format for you below that you can save or print to PDF as well.
Early Predictions
With the unique format favoring higher seeds early but opening chaos in Indy, here’s our early take:
- Favorite to Win: Oakland. Their experience and depth give them an edge in close games; predict they secure a bye and navigate to the title.
- Sleeper Pick: Northern Kentucky. High-scoring offense could exploit matchups; if they avoid the play-in and get hot, they might upset in the semis.
- Potential Upset: Watch for Purdue Fort Wayne’s streak carrying into a campus win over a top-4 seed.
- Champion Prediction: Oakland over Wright State in the final, 75-70, punching their NCAA ticket.
The Horizon auto-bid often goes to a bubble team like Oakland or NKU, adding March drama.
Stay tuned for February updates—standings changes, injuries, and revised predictions ahead!
March Madness Resources
- 2026 March Madness Schedule: Dates, Locations, TV, Printable Bracket & Key Info (Updated January 2026)
- Printable 2026 March Madness Bracket: Download Your Free NCAA Tournament Template
- 2026 March Madness Women’s Schedule; Times, TV Broadcasts
- Printable 2026 Women’s March Madness Bracket; Schedule and Results
- Early 2026 March Madness Odds: Favorites, Sleepers & Bracket Predictions
