The 2026 Sun Belt Men’s Basketball Tournament schedule will take place from March 3 to March 9, 2026, at the Pensacola Bay Center in Pensacola, Florida. All 14 member teams qualify for the single-elimination bracket, with the top four seeds earning a crucial double-bye into the quarterfinals. The championship game will air live on ESPN2 on Monday, March 9, at 6:00 PM ET, with the winner receiving an automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
2026 Sun Belt Tournament Daily Schedule and TV Channels
The Sun Belt has established a long-term home in Pensacola, creating a neutral-site atmosphere that has become a fan favorite. For 2026, the early rounds will stream exclusively on ESPN+, while the semifinals and championship move to linear television.
Sun Belt Tournament Session Schedule:
- First Round: Tuesday, March 3 (ESPN+)
- Second Round: Thursday, March 5 (ESPN+)
- Quarterfinals: Saturday, March 7 (ESPN+)
- Semifinals: Sunday, March 8 (ESPN+)
- Championship Game: Monday, March 9 (6:00 PM ET on ESPN2)
Expert Note from the Sports Brackets Analyst: The Sun Belt is a ‘guards league’ where depth at the point position wins in March. Because all 14 teams make the trip to Pensacola, the Tuesday opening round is a survival test for the bottom seeds. Watch out for Appalachian State or James Madison—teams that have shown they can handle the physical toll of playing three games in four days.
Selection Sunday Preview: Will the Sun Belt get more than 1 team into the field? Stay updated with our 2026 Selection Sunday Guide.
Key 2026 Sun Belt Men’s Basketball Tournament Details
Kere are key details for the 2026 Sun Belt Men’s basketball tournament for you. It takes place a tad sooner than the other conference tournaments we’ll all be watching in March.
- Dates: March 3–9, 2026 (full 14-team bracket: early rounds March 3–6, quarterfinals March 7, semifinals March 8, championship March 9)
- Location: Pensacola Bay Center, Pensacola, Florida
- Format: 14 teams qualify (seeded by conference record with tiebreakers); lower seeds play early rounds, with byes for higher seeds; single-elimination throughout
- Why Pensacola?: The coastal venue (recently upgraded) offers a fun, accessible atmosphere with beach vibes. It’s proven a reliable host with strong attendance.
- TV Broadcast: All games on ESPN+, with select matchups (including the championship) on ESPN/ESPN2 linear networks; check sunbeltsports.org for final TV/streaming details.
- Tickets: Available now via Ticketmaster or the conference site (all-session packages, including courtside/floor seats, offer great value for multi-game viewing).
2026 Sun Belt Tournament Schedule & Bracket
Here’s the 2026 Sun Belt Tournament Schedule and bracket for you. The Seeding is based on regular-season conference play (ends early March). The bracket features a full 14-team setup with early-round games giving underdogs a shot.
(Times CT/ET, subject to change):
- First Round (Tuesday, March 3): 2 games (~5:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.)
- Second Round (Wednesday, March 4): 2 games (~5:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.)
- Third Round (Thursday, March 5): 2 games (~5:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.)
- Quarterfinals (Friday, March 6): 2 games (~5:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.)
- Semifinals (Saturday, March 7): 2 games (~5:30 p.m. & 8:00 p.m.)
- Championship (Monday, March 9): Title game ~6:00 p.m. (on ESPN/ESPN2)
Full bracket, live scores, and updates will be posted on sunbeltsports.org as the season concludes. The winner earns the automatic NCAA bid.
2026 Sun Belt Men’s Basketball Tournament Schedule + TV Broadcasts
Table Format
| Round | Date | Game | Matchup | Time (CT) | TV/Stream |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Round | Tuesday, March 3 | G1 | No. 12 Louisiana vs. No. 13 Georgia State | 5:00 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| First Round | Tuesday, March 3 | G2 | No. 11 Old Dominion vs. No. 14 ULM | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| Second Round | Wednesday, March 4 | G3 | No. 9 James Madison vs. Winner G1 | 5:00 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| Second Round | Wednesday, March 4 | G4 | No. 10 Georgia Southern vs. Winner G2 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| Third Round | Thursday, March 5 | G5 | No. 8 Southern Miss vs. Winner G3 | 5:00 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| Third Round | Thursday, March 5 | G6 | No. 7 Arkansas State vs. Winner G4 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| Fourth Round | Friday, March 6 | G7 | No. 5 Texas State vs. Winner G5 | 5:00 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| Fourth Round | Friday, March 6 | G8 | No. 6 South Alabama vs. Winner G6 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| Quarterfinals | Saturday, March 7 | G9 | No. 4 App State vs. Winner G7 | 5:30 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| Quarterfinals | Saturday, March 7 | G10 | No. 3 Coastal Carolina vs. Winner G8 | 8:00 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| Semifinals | Sunday, March 8 | G11 | No. 1 Troy vs. Winner G9 | 5:00 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| Semifinals | Sunday, March 8 | G12 | No. 2 Marshall vs. Winner G10 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| Championship | Monday, March 9 | G13 | Winner G11 vs. Winner G12 | 6:00 p.m. | ESPN/ESPN2 (TBD) |
Notes:
- This “ladder” format requires the lowest seeds to win up to 7 games in 7 days for the title (unlikely), while top seeds Troy and Marshall only need 2 wins (on Sunday and Monday).
- All games at neutral-site Pensacola Bay Center. Live stats, recaps, and box scores available on sunbeltsports.org.
Printable 2026 Sun Belt Tournament Bracket
Download our free, printable bracket template to fill in as games unfold! You can also save or print the bracket in image format below to PDF format. The Bracket is based on the format published by HoopsHD here. They have great stuff. The official Sun Belt Tournament Bracket is posted and updated here in PDF format too.
Tie-In to March Madness & Regional Buzz
The Sun Belt often produces bracket-busting moments and solid NCAA performers. App State’s energy and James Madison’s recent success show the league’s upside. As we head into the full 2026 March Madness schedule (Selection Sunday: March 15; First Four: March 17-18 in Dayton; Final Four: April 4-6 in Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium), Sun Belt teams frequently appear as intriguing 12- or 13-seeds with upset potential.
For more NCAA Tournament 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
Early 2026 March Madness Odds & Predictions
Sun Belt standouts like James Madison or App State can offer sleeper value in futures and parlays. Use our tools to analyze lines:
- Free Odds Converter – Convert moneyline to decimal/fractional for Sun Belt games or NCAA matchups.
- Free Parlay Odds Calculator – Build brackets with Sun Belt champs or March Madness multis.
Stay tuned to SportsBrackets.net for live updates, bracket challenges, and more as the tournament approaches.
Updated February 2026 | SportsBrackets.net – Tools for Smarter Betting & Bracket Fun
