The 2026 Ivy League Men’s Basketball Tournament schedule (commonly known as Ivy Madness) is set for a compact two-day event at Newman Arena on the Cornell University campus in Ithaca, NY. This postseason tournament determines the Ivy League’s automatic qualifier for the NCAA Tournament, offering a focused format with high stakes and strategic play that appeals to bracket fans.
2026 Ivy League Men’s Basketball Tournament Schedule & Key Dates
Here’s the 2026 Ivy League Men’s basketball tournament schedule & Key Dates for you.
- Semifinals: Saturday, March 14, 2026
- Game 1: No. 1 seed vs. No. 4 seed – 11:00 a.m. ET (likely ESPNU)
- Game 2: No. 2 seed vs. No. 3 seed – 2:00 p.m. ET (likely ESPNews)
- Championship Game: Sunday, March 15, 2026
- 12:00 p.m. ET (likely ESPN2)
All games take place at Newman Arena (Bartels Hall), Ithaca, NY. The top four teams from the regular-season conference standings qualify automatically. There are no first-round games in the men’s bracket. The champion secures the Ivy’s automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
(Times and TV networks are based on official Ivy League projections and standard broadcasting; check IvyLeague.com or ESPN closer to the event for final confirmations or changes.)
Current Standings Snapshot & Projections (as of February 20, 2026)
Here are the current Ivy League Standings for you. Yale leads the Ivy League race with a strong record and momentum on a four-game win streak. Here’s the latest conference standings and our projections for the final seeding into the tournament (factoring in remaining schedule, recent form, KenPom metrics, and team strength):
- Yale Bulldogs (8-2 conf, 20-4 overall) – Projected No. 1 seed and clear favorites (high probability of repeating as champs; strong offense and experience).
- Harvard Crimson (7-3 conf, 14-10 overall) – Likely No. 2 seed; solid defense keeps them in contention.
- Penn Quakers (6-4 conf, 13-10 overall) – Climbing with a four-game streak; projected No. 3 seed and a threat for an upset run.
- Cornell Big Red (5-5 conf, 12-11 overall) – Hosting at home; projected No. 4 seed with potential to leverage crowd support.
5-8. Columbia (4-6 conf), Dartmouth (4-6 conf), Princeton (4-6 conf), Brown – Battling for positioning; lower seeds could still influence the race.
The Ivy League remains competitive, with parity that often leads to close games and surprises. Yale holds the edge, but home-court advantage for Cornell and Penn’s surge add intrigue.
Printable 2026 Ivy League Men’s Basketball Tournament Bracket & PDF
Download our free printable 2026 Ivy League Men’s Basketball Tournament bracket PDF here.
Use it to fill in seeds, make predictions, and follow along. You can also get the latest bracket from the league here.
Why Does Ivy Madness Appeal to Basketball Fans?
The tournament’s short structure (semis + final), focus on fundamentals from academically strong programs, and direct path to the NCAA Tournament make it a solid bracket option. With no byes and a single-elimination push, upsets are always possible in this compact field.
Bookmark this page for ongoing updates, live scores during the event, and post-tournament analysis.
(Last updated: February 20, 2026. Standings and projections based on latest available data; subject to change with remaining regular-season games.)
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.
