The 2026 SWAC Men’s Basketball Tournament schedule is set to deliver high-stakes HBCU hoops action, crowning the Southwestern Athletic Conference champion and securing an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament. The tournament runs from March 9-14, 2026, at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia (near Atlanta). All games will stream on ESPN+ platforms, with select later rounds potentially on higher ESPN networks like ESPN or ESPN2.
Seeding is based on regular-season conference standings, with the top teams earning byes into later rounds. The format features a full bracket for the SWAC’s 12 member teams, starting with first-round play-in games for the lower seeds.
2026 SWAC Men’s Basketball Tournament Participating Teams
The SWAC includes the following 12 men’s basketball programs (listed alphabetically):
- Alabama A&M Bulldogs
- Alabama State Hornets
- Alcorn State Braves
- Bethune-Cookman Wildcats
- Florida A&M Rattlers
- Grambling State Tigers
- Jackson State Tigers
- Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils
- Prairie View A&M Panthers
- Southern Jaguars
- Texas Southern Tigers
- Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions
(Note: Seeding will be finalized at the end of the regular season; check swac.org for the latest bracket updates.)
2026 SWAC Men’s Basketball Tournament Schedule
The 2026 SWAC Men’s basketball tournament schedule uses a standard single-elimination format with preliminary rounds for lower seeds (typically 7-12). Times are Eastern (ET) and subject to adjustment; broadcasts are primarily on ESPN+.
First Round: Monday, March 9
| Game | Matchup | Time | TV |
| 1 | No. 10 vs. No. 11 | 2:00 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| 2 | No. 9 vs. No. 12 | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN+ |
Second Round: Tuesday, March 10
| Game | Matchup | Time | TV |
| 3 | No. 8 vs. Winner of Game 1 | 2:00 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| 4 | No. 7 vs. Winner of Game 2 | Approx. 8:30 p.m. | ESPN+ |
Quarterfinals: Wednesday-Thursday, March 11-12
(Top six seeds enter here; exact pairings and times depend on prior results. Games typically spaced throughout the day with afternoon and evening sessions, e.g., ~2:00 p.m. and ~8:30 p.m. slots.)
- No. 1 vs. Winner of a second-round game
- No. 4 vs. No. 5 (or similar matchup)
- No. 2 vs. Winner of a second-round game
- No. 3 vs. No. 6 (or similar matchup)
All quarterfinal games on ESPN+.
Semifinals: Friday, March 13
| Game | Matchup | Time | TV |
| SF1 | Winner QF1 vs. Winner QF2 | Afternoon | ESPN+ |
| SF2 | Winner QF3 vs. Winner QF4 | Evening | ESPN+ |
Championship: Saturday, March 14
| Game | Matchup | Time | TV |
| Champ | Winner SF1 vs. Winner SF2 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN / ESPN2 (TBD) |
(Note: Exact quarterfinal and semifinal times may vary; refer to the official SWAC bracket PDF or swac.org for confirmed details as the tournament approaches. The championship often airs on a national ESPN channel.)
Printable 2026 SWAC Men’s Basketball Tournament Bracket
Here’s the printable 2026 SWAC men’s basketball tournament bracket for you. You can also download the latest in PDF format from the league here to share and print.
What to Watch For
The SWAC tournament is known for its passionate fan base, competitive parity, and spotlight on HBCU programs. Teams like Grambling State, Jackson State, Southern, and Texas Southern have strong recent histories in the conference race. With the regular season still ongoing, upsets are common in this format – lower seeds often make deep runs.
Stay updated on seeding, live scores, and bracket changes at the official SWAC website (swac.org) or follow along on ESPN.
College Basketball Postseason Resources
- Championship Week 2026 – All Conference Tournaments Guide
- Printable 2026 March Madness Bracket
You should also checkout our Implied Probability Calculator as well.
