The 2026 MEAC Men’s Basketball Tournament schedule is set for March 11–14 at Norfolk Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia, serving as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference’s postseason showcase and automatic qualifier for the NCAA Tournament. This mid-major event features eight teams in a single-elimination format, delivering high-energy games, potential upsets, and a path to March Madness for HBCU programs. All games stream on ESPN+.
2026 MEAC Men’s Basketball Tournament Schedule & Bracket Overview
The 2026 MEAC Men’s basketball tournament schedule & bracket uses the top eight seeds from the regular-season standings. Norfolk Scope Arena hosts all sessions, with digital tickets required (download to mobile wallet via Ticketmaster or MEAC site).
- Quarterfinals
- Wednesday, March 11, 2026
- Game 1: No. 4 seed vs. No. 5 seed – 6:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
- Thursday, March 12, 2026
- Game 2: No. 3 seed vs. No. 6 seed – 6:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
- Game 3: No. 2 seed vs. No. 7 seed – 8:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
- Game 4: No. 1 seed vs. No. 8 seed – time TBD (ESPN+)
- Wednesday, March 11, 2026
- Semifinals
- Friday, March 13, 2026
- Game 5: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 4 – time TBD (ESPN+)
- Game 6: Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3 – time TBD (ESPN+)
- Friday, March 13, 2026
- Championship Game
- Saturday, March 14, 2026
- Game 7: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6 – time TBD (ESPN+)
- Saturday, March 14, 2026
(The winner earns the MEAC’s automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Times are approximate based on standard MEAC scheduling; confirm via MEACsports.com or ESPN for exact start times and any adjustments.)
Current Standings Snapshot & Tournament Preview (as of February 20, 2026)
The MEAC race is competitive, with Howard leading at 7-3 in conference play. Here’s the latest standings and seeding projections (from MEACsports.com and analytics sources):
- Howard Bison (7-3 conf, 17-10 overall) – Projected No. 1 seed; strong momentum with a two-game win streak.
- Morgan State Bears (6-3 conf, 10-14 overall) – Tied for second; solid but inconsistent overall.
- North Carolina Central Eagles (6-3 conf, 10-14 overall) – Projected No. 3; balanced play.
- Norfolk State Spartans (6-4 conf, 13-14 overall) – Projected No. 4; defending champs with experience.
5-8. Lower seeds include Coppin State, Delaware State, Maryland Eastern Shore, South Carolina State – upsets possible in early rounds.
Howard holds the edge as favorites, but Norfolk State’s home-state advantage (near Norfolk) and past tournament success make them a threat. The MEAC often produces Cinderella stories.
Printable 2026 MEAC Men’s Basketball Tournament Bracket
Here’s the printable 2026 MEAC Men’s Basketball tournament Bracket for you. You can download and print the PDF from the league’s website here.
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.
