The 2026 Southland Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament schedule (officially the 2026 Air Force Reserve Southland Men’s Basketball Championship presented by Explore Louisiana) is set for March 8–11, 2026, at The Legacy Center in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Hosted by McNeese State University, this mid-major postseason event features the top eight teams in a single-elimination bracket, with the champion claiming the Southland’s automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Tournament. All games stream on ESPN+.
2026 Southland Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament Schedule & Bracket Overview
Here’s the 2026 Southland Conference Men’s basketball tournament schedule & bracket overview for you. The format includes a first round for lower seeds, followed by quarterfinals, semis, and final at The Legacy Center.
- First Round
- Sunday, March 8, 2026
- Game 1: No. 5 seed vs. No. 8 seed – 5:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
- Game 2: No. 6 seed vs. No. 7 seed – 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
- Sunday, March 8, 2026
- Quarterfinals
- Monday, March 9, 2026
- Game 3: No. 4 seed vs. Winner Game 1 – time TBD (ESPN+)
- Game 4: No. 3 seed vs. Winner Game 2 – time TBD (ESPN+)
- Monday, March 9, 2026
- Semifinals
- Tuesday, March 10, 2026
- Game 5: No. 1 seed vs. Winner Game 3 – time TBD (ESPN+/possibly ESPNU)
- Game 6: No. 2 seed vs. Winner Game 4 – time TBD (ESPN+)
- Tuesday, March 10, 2026
- Championship Game
- Wednesday, March 11, 2026
- Game 7: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6 – time TBD (ESPN+)
- Wednesday, March 11, 2026
(The winner earns the auto-bid to the NCAA Tournament. Times for later rounds are approximate; check Southland.org or ESPN for final confirmations and any TV upgrades.)
Current Standings Snapshot & Tournament Preview (as of late February 2026)
The Southland features 12 teams, with Stephen F. Austin (SFA) dominating the regular season. Here’s the latest conference standings and projected seeding:
- Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks (17-1 conf, 24-3 overall) – Projected No. 1 seed; on a 12-game win streak and clear favorites.
- McNeese Cowboys (15-3 conf, 22-5 overall) – Projected No. 2 seed; defending champs with strong home support in Lake Charles.
- UTRGV Vaqueros (11-7 conf, 15-12 overall) – Projected No. 3 seed; solid but facing uphill battle.
- Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders (10-8 conf, 14-13 overall) – Projected No. 4 seed; potential for upsets.
5-8. Lower seeds (e.g., Nicholls, Lamar, Incarnate Word, others) round out the field.
SFA is the heavy favorite to win the tournament, but McNeese’s home advantage and recent form could lead to a competitive run. The Southland’s mid-major style often produces gritty games and NCAA underdog stories.
Printable 2026 Southland Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament Bracket
Here’s the printable 2026 Southland Conference Men’s basketball tournament bracket for you. Can can print or save it to PDF format.
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.
