The 2026 Summit League Men’s Basketball Tournament schedule takes place March 4th-8th, 2026. The tourney is taking place at the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. With the regular season ongoing as of February 10, 2026, North Dakota State leads the pack with a strong conference record. Below, we outline the tournament format, detailed schedule with times and TV networks, a projected printable bracket based on current standings, and key highlights.
2026 Summit League Men’s Basketball Tournament Overview
Here’s an overview for the 2026 Summit League Men’s basketball tournament for you.
- Dates: March 4–8, 2026
- Location: Denny Sanford Premier Center, Sioux Falls, SD (Home to passionate crowds and the league’s championship since 2009)
- Format: Single-elimination with all nine teams participating. The No. 8 and No. 9 seeds face off in a play-in game, with the winner advancing to play No. 1. Seeds 2–7 receive byes to the quarterfinals. Seeding is based on conference records, with tiebreakers including head-to-head results and performance against higher-seeded teams.
- TV/Streaming: Early rounds on Midco Sports Network (MidcoSN) and Summit League Network (SLN, available via ESPN+). Semifinals and championship on CBS Sports Network, with streaming on Paramount+ or Fubo.
- Tickets: All-session passes available through the official Summit League site or Ticketmaster, starting at around $100 for general admission.
- Defending Champion: South Dakota State (from 2025; aiming to rebound from a down year).
- Stakes: The winner secures the Summit League’s auto-bid to the 2026 NCAA Tournament. At-large bids are rare for the league, ranked around 25th in NET, but top performers like NDSU could push for consideration with strong non-conference wins.
The Summit League features nine members: Denver, Kansas City, North Dakota, North Dakota State, Omaha, Oral Roberts, South Dakota, South Dakota State, and St. Thomas (MN). The tournament coincides with the women’s event, creating combined sessions for fans.
2026 Summit League Men’s Basketball Tournament Schedule
Here’s the 2026 Summit League Men’s Basketball Tournament schedule for you. The schedule includes specific times in Central Time (CT) and TV networks, based on official announcements. Note that quarterfinal and semifinal second games start approximately 25–30 minutes after the previous one ends. All games at Denny Sanford Premier Center.
| Round | Date | Game | Time (CT) | Matchup | TV/Streaming |
| First Round | Wednesday, March 4 | 1 | 7:00 p.m. | #8 vs. #9 | MidcoSN / SLN (ESPN+) |
| Quarterfinals | Thursday, March 5 | 2 | 6:00 p.m. | #1 vs. Winner Game 1 | MidcoSN / SLN (ESPN+) |
| 3 | ~8:30 p.m. | #2 vs. #7 | MidcoSN / SLN (ESPN+) | ||
| Quarterfinals | Friday, March 6 | 4 | 6:00 p.m. | #4 vs. #5 | MidcoSN / SLN (ESPN+) |
| 5 | ~8:30 p.m. | #3 vs. #6 | MidcoSN / SLN (ESPN+) | ||
| Semifinals | Saturday, March 7 | 6 | 6:00 p.m. | Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 5 | CBS Sports Network |
| 7 | ~8:30 p.m. | Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4 | CBS Sports Network | ||
| Championship | Sunday, March 8 | 8 | 8:00 p.m. | Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 7 | CBS Sports Network |
Projected Summit League Men’s Basketball Bracket
This printable bracket is projected using standings as of February 10, 2026. The regular season ends around late February or early March, so seeds may shift. Tiebreakers (e.g., Denver over Omaha at No. 5 due to head-to-head or other factors) are applied based on current data. Print this section for easy tracking—fill in winners as games progress.
First Round – March 4
| Game | Matchup | Time (CT) | TV |
| 1 | #8 Kansas City vs. #9 Oral Roberts | 7:00 p.m. | MidcoSN / SLN |
Quarterfinals – March 5–6
| Game | Matchup | Date/Time (CT) | TV |
| 2 | #1 North Dakota State vs. Winner Game 1 (#8/#9) | March 5, 6:00 p.m. | MidcoSN / SLN |
| 3 | #2 St. Thomas vs. #7 South Dakota State | March 5, ~8:30 p.m. | MidcoSN / SLN |
| 4 | #4 South Dakota vs. #5 Denver | March 6, 6:00 p.m. | MidcoSN / SLN |
| 5 | #3 North Dakota vs. #6 Omaha | March 6, ~8:30 p.m. | MidcoSN / SLN |
Semifinals – March 7
| Game | Matchup | Time (CT) | TV |
| 6 | Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 5 | 6:00 p.m. | CBS Sports Network |
| 7 | Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4 | ~8:30 p.m. | CBS Sports Network |
Championship – March 8
| Game | Matchup | Time (CT) | TV |
| 8 | Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 7 | 8:00 p.m. | CBS Sports Network |
Key Storylines and Teams to Watch
- North Dakota State Bison (Projected #1 Seed, 20-6 Overall, 10-1 Summit): The Bison dominate with a 9-1 record in their last 10, boasting efficient offense (81.3 PPG) and stout defense. They’re favorites to win it all and could snag an at-large bid if they falter but finish strong.
- St. Thomas Tommies (Projected #2, 20-6, 9-2): In just their fifth Division I season, the Tommies match NDSU’s overall record and ride a three-game streak. Their balanced scoring (83.1 PPG) makes them a serious threat.
- Contenders: North Dakota (14-13, 8-3) has solid road wins but needs consistency. South Dakota (14-12, 6-5) is on a two-game heater and could upset in quarters.
- Dark Horses: Denver (12-14, 5-6) and Omaha (12-14, 5-6) are mid-pack but have upset potential with recent wins. South Dakota State (11-14, 4-6), the perennial power, might channel past success despite a subpar year.
- Lower Seeds: Kansas City (4-20, 1-9) and Oral Roberts (5-20, 0-10) face uphill battles but could play spoiler in the play-in.
- League Context: The Summit ranks mid-major (NET ~25th), with NDSU and St. Thomas leading in efficiency. Expect high-scoring games, as the conference averages over 75 PPG per team.
Printable 2026 Summit League Basketball Tournament Bracket
Here’s the printable 2026 Summit League Men’s Basketball tournament bracket. You can also download the PDF from the tournament Website.
Tie-In to March Madness & Regional Buzz
The CUSA often produces bracket-busting moments and solid NCAA performers. 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),
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 & Predictions
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.
- Implied Probability Calculator
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
